BPC enters educational partnership with Chinese university

Drs. Smith (third from left) and Moses (sixth from left) join members of Zhoukou Normal University during the official signing of the education partnership between the two universities. Dr. Yu Hailou, ZNU President, is fourth from left, Dr. Carolyn Bishop and her husband, David, is fifth and eighth from left respectively. Dean Li Bengshi, sixth from left, served as an exchange faculty member to BPC in 1997. (Photo provided)

By Kelley M. Arnold

Director of News and Public Information

MOUNT VERNON—Brewton-Parker College of Mount Vernon entered into an educational partnership with Zhoukou Normal University of Beijing, China, June 20, 2008. This partnership will open up new cultures and experience for both institutions, reports Dr. David Smith, BPC president.

Dr. David R. Smith, third from left, and Dr. Billy Moses, former BPC trustee (2001-2006) and Dublin general surgeon, meets with physicians in a medical entity in Beijing. (Photo provided)

Dr. Smith and Dr. Billy Moses, former BPC trustee (2001-2006) and Dublin general surgeon, traveled to Beijing to officiate the partnership with ZNU president Yu Hailuo, members of the college’s administration and Dr. Carolyn Bishop, president of Consortium for Global Education (CGE). CGE is based in Marietta, Ga.

According to Dr. Smith, the partnership establishes opportunities for student and faculty exchanges between BPC and ZNU. He adds BPC is currently working with one Chinese student who would like to attend classes in Mount Vernon in the fall. “We’re waiting on the visa right now,” he said.

Dr. Smith and Dr. Moses also pursued medical partnership with medical entities in Beijing. The partnership, should they be established, would “allow medical service opportunities between Chinese medical providers and Georgia Baptist college students and medical personnel,” Dr. Smith explained.

The trip was made possible by a grant from the Georgia Baptist Healthcare Ministries Foundation to CGE. Organized in 1987 as a consortium to assist in the development of international education, CGE has over 40 private U.S. universities and colleges, all on the cutting edge of higher education. The Consortium for Global Education (CGE) has helped place these member institutions in a global network for the 21st century. Their student enrollments total more than 110,000. Faculty members exceed 6,000. Reaching from coast to coast, these campuses represent 16 states. Dr. Smith serves as chair-elect.

Brewton-Parker College is the only accredited four-year Christian college in south Georgia.

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