Kunming IFP 2008

Kunming, Yunnan Province, China

The Kunming IFP provides students with a unique opportunity to explore environmental or minority issues in Yunnan Province, a region recognized for its rich ethnic and bio diversity.

The New School’s local partner in Kunming is the School for International Relations at Yunnan University (SIRYU), one of the oldest comprehensive universities in Southwest China. Like GPIA, SIRYU is a relatively new school (established in 2002) at the Yunnan University (http://www.ynu.edu.cn). It is considered to be a key national university that encompasses such disciplines as humanities,

law, sciences, engineering, technology, management, and arts. Currently there are 22,000 undergraduates, 5,160 graduates, 15,000 adult students, and 320 international students. It has 1400 teaching staff, 292 full professors, and 600
associate professors in 18 schools and 7 research institutes. SIRYU's primary purpose is "To cultivate it (SIRYU) into a training base for top-quality personnel in the field of international affairs and to make it a research base for first-class studies on international relations."SIRYU current consist of 98 graduate/PhD and 148 undergraduates.

 


Note: In addition to GPIA , Ashok Gurung, Director of India China Institute at the New School will serve as a contact person, facilitator, and adviser, to ensure a successful launch of this new initiative in China.


Proposed Outline of the Summer Program:

The summer program aims to provide the following learning opportunities, organized in three inter-connected phases:

1) Internships/Applied Research: In light of particular history and opportunities, GPIA & SIRYU have agreed to organize internship and applied research in two thematic areas: minority issues and the environment. SIRYU has extensive working arrangements with a wide range of local, national, and international organizations in Yunnan Province. Based on GPIA students' backgrounds and interests, SIRYU will identify, arrange, and help supervise about 6 weeks of internships and applied research projects in Yunnan.

2) Basic Chinese Language Skills: Provide basic Chinese (Mandarin) Language skills: 48 hours of intensive language classes (2 hours a day for four days a week)

3) Understanding Contemporary China: Selected Seminars: Organize eight carefully designed sesminar-style lectures on contemporary China by prominent scholars and practitioners. This will be organized during the first two weeks of the program. The following topics have been suggested: Contemporary Chinese History; Chinese Political System; Chinese Economic Development; Chinese Culture & Tradition; Chinese Nationalities/Minority Issues; Chinese Educational System; Chinese Foreign Policy/US Relations; and the Role of Emerging Civil Society.


Another very important feature of the proposed summer program is to identify interested Chinese graduate students with knowledge of English from the SIRYU network in Yunnan University to pair up with The New School students, especially to work on conducting research and internship projects involving minority and environmental issues. Such an arrangement would greatly help in addressing the communication challenge because most New School students will not have prior knowledge and skills in Chinese language and culture.

Three Phases of the Summer Program (suggested dates):

Phase 1: June 2 to June 15, 2008 (four days/week)

  • 9:00 am - 11:00 am: Intensive Chinese Language
  • 12:00 m - 1:00 pm: Lunch
  • 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Seminars: Contemporary China

Phase 2: Junes 18 - July 13:

  • 9:00 am - 11:00 am: Intensive Chinese Language
  • 12:00 m - 1:00 pm: Lunch
  • Afternoons open for internships or idependent research with selected individuals and organizations. In some cases, students may be asked to volunteer to work full day on Fridays at the host organizations.
  • SIRYU will organize two group field trips

Phase 3: July 14- July 30:

  • Intensive field work and travel within China (no formal classes)

Logistics:

Housing and Food: Yunnan University offers very good housing facilities for international students. Each room has two beds. It contains a desk, attached bath, television and telephone. On average, three Chinese meals a day in the university cafeteria would cost less than $5 per person. Plenty of western and international restaurants in the immediate vicinity of the campus.

Transportation: SIRYU will arrange for pick-up and drop-off at the Kunming International Airport. Local transporation - buses, bicyles, and taxis - is readily available and very affordable.

 

  • Language note: Students applying to the Kunming program are encouraged to attend a Mandarin course.
  • Program Coordinator: TBA
  • Information Session: Friday, Oct. 5 at 4 pm, Room TBA
  • Program Dates: June 2 – July 28 2008

Please visit the Kunming 2008 student page.