At the invitation of the Research Institute of Educational Science of Hunan University and workshop on student experience at the university, John Douglass, chief policy analyst of the University of California's Systemwide Academic Senate, head of the Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) Consortium in the US and senior research fellow of the Center for Studies in Higher Education (CSHE) at the University of California, Berkeley, paid a visit to Hunan University during May 16 to 18.
Vice president Chen Shou of Hunan University met with Professor Douglass and discussed about the research on student experience in Hunan University and the further cooperation between the two universities. They agreed that the investigation on student experience in a research university is important to examine and assess the quality of undergraduate education. Sharing data and experience with other universities was a major way to cognize and improve undergraduate education. Meanwhile, they also reached agreement on further cooperation in the future.
Professor Douglass made a lecture “What is the Research University Advantage?: Exploring Academic and Other Forms of Engagement”. Over 100 students and teachers from Research Institute of Educational Science and College of Foreign Languages attended the lecture. And Professor Douglass communicated with students and answered their questions after the lecture.
Professor Douglass’s visit this time accelerates the development of research on student experience and institutional research of our university, and plays a significant role in promoting exchanges and cooperation in area of higher education and management between University of California and Hunan University. The project of research on student experience of research universities would provide a sound platform for us to communicate and cooperate with other top research universities in the world.
