Chinese delegation wraps up MTSU visit with closing ceremony [+VIDEOS]

Middle Tennessee State University said “see you later” Saturday to a delegation of schoolchildren, teachers and administrators from China’s Dongcheng Educational Group wrapping up the sixth in a series of reciprocal visits between the institutions.

Dongcheng is an affiliate of Hangzhou Normal University, MTSU’s partner in the creation and operation of the Confucius Institute on the MTSU campus. Dongcheng oversees a network of magnet-style schools in Hangzhou, China.

The visitors, who departed the Nashville area Saturday, were honored in a closing ceremony Friday night at MTSU.

This week, they toured facilities on campus, saw cultural sites in Nashville and participated in classroom activities at Overall Creek Elementary School in Murfreesboro. Also, they were treated to performances by students from Murfreesboro’s Reeves-Rogers and Bradley Academy schools and visited the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

The week-long visit was the third time MTSU has hosted the Dongcheng delegation, who also visited before in 2013 and 2015. Students, parents and teachers from Rutherford-area schools were hosted by Dongcheng in China in 2012, 2014 and 2016.

Dongcheng Educational Group Chairman Lin Zhengfan makes remarks at the Friday night, July 14, closing ceremony at MTSU for the Chinese delegation’s visit. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Bradley Academy students perform Friday night, July 14, at a closing ceremony at MTSU for the Chinese delegation’s visit. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

MTSU President Sidney McPhee and Dongcheng Chairman Lin Zhengfan look at cakes celebrating their partnership Friday night at a closing ceremony at MTSU for the Chinese delegation’s visit. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Chinese students hit the buffet line Friday night, July 14, at a closing ceremony at MTSU for the Chinese delegation’s visit. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Chinese students prepare to perform Friday night, July 14, at a closing ceremony at MTSU for the Chinese delegation’s visit. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee, right, and first lady Liz McPhee, center, pose with Dongcheng Chairman Lin Zhengfan, left, and other guests during the Friday night, July 14, closing ceremony at MTSU for the Chinese delegation’s visit. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

Chinese students perform at the Dongcheng Educational Group exchange delegation closing dinner ceremony Friday, July 14, at the MTSU Student Union. (Photo by J. Intintoli)

American and Chinese students pose for photos Friday night, July 14, at a closing ceremony at MTSU for the Chinese delegation’s visit. (MTSU photo by J. Intintoli)

MTSU hosts picnic for Chinese delegation on weeklong exchange

July 11, 2017

Middle Tennessee State University hosted a picnic Tuesday for a delegation of schoolchildren, teachers and administrators from China’s Dongcheng Educational Group.

The group’s visit this week is the sixth cultural exchange in a series of reciprocal visits between the institutions.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee and first lady Elizabeth McPhee hosted the picnic Tuesday morning for the guests on the lawn of the President’s Residence, aided by cheerleaders from MTSU and Murfreesboro’s Blackman High School.

Students with China’s Dongcheng Educational Group give high-fives Tuesday, July 11, during a picnic on the lawn of the President’s House hosted for the 30-plus member delegation visiting this week as part of a reciprocal cultural exchange program. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

The visiting Chinese delegation, which includes more than 30 elementary/middle school age students, was treated to games of corn hole, volleyball, airplane toss, a drone demonstration, face painting and other activities.

This visit will be the third time MTSU has hosted the Dongcheng delegation, who also visited before in 2013 and 2015. Students, parents and teachers from Rutherford-area schools were hosted by Dongcheng in China in 2012, 2014 and 2016.

Mrs. McPhee, aided by local teachers and parents who have travelled with MTSU to China on previous trips, will conduct joint classes for Chinese and American students and host a workshop for Chinese teachers. The visitors will be paired with local families who participated in last year’s exchange trip to China.

The visitors is also touring facilities on the MTSU campus, seeing cultural sites in Nashville and participating in classroom activities at Overall Creek Elementary School in Murfreesboro. Also, they will be treated to performances by students from Murfreesboro’s Reeves-Rogers and Bradley Academy schools and visit the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

The delegation arrived early Monday morning and will depart Friday.

A student from China’s Dongcheng Educational Group gets an assist from Blackman High School cheerleaders Tuesday, July 11, during a picnic on the lawn of the President’s House hosted for the 30-plus member delegation visiting this week as part of a reciprocal cultural exchange program. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

MTSU hosted a picnic Tuesday, July 11, on the lawn of the President’s House for the 30-plus members of Chinese exchange delegation from Dongcheng Educational Group visiting this week as part of a reciprocal program. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

MTSU hosts Chinese delegation for 6th year of unique cultural exchange

July 10, 2017

Middle Tennessee State University is playing host this week to a delegation of schoolchildren, teachers and administrators from China’s Dongcheng Educational Group for the sixth in a series of reciprocal visits between the institutions.

Dongcheng is an affiliate of Hangzhou Normal University, MTSU’s partner in the creation and operation of the Confucius Institute on the MTSU campus. Dongcheng oversees a network of magnet-style schools in Hangzhou, China.

“Our partnership with Dongcheng is truly historic, perhaps the only such venture of its kind in the world that combines educational, instructional and cultural opportunities for student and teacher participants from both countries,” said MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee.

MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee welcomes a delegation of schoolchildren, teachers and administrators from Hangzhou, China, early Monday morning at Nashville International Airport. (MTSU Photo by Andrew Oppmann)

“This exchange has been recognized nationally and internationally for excellence and it is one of the tenets of our deep relationship with Hangzhou Normal University and the Confucius Institute.

MTSU first lady Elizabeth McPhee, aided by local teachers and parents who have travelled with MTSU to China on previous trips, will conduct joint classes for Chinese and American students and host a workshop for Chinese teachers. The visitors will be paired with local families who participated in last year’s exchange trip to China.

Visiting students from China’s Dongcheng Education Group enjoy a model airplane demonstration during welcoming activities Monday, July 10, at MTSU’s Student Union Ballroom. MTSU is hosting the students on a weeklong cultural exchange. (MTSU photo by Kimi Conro)

The McPhees will host a picnic Tuesday morning for the guests on the lawn of the President’s Residence, aided by cheerleaders from MTSU and Murfreesboro’s Blackman High School.

The visitors will also tour facilities on the MTSU campus, see cultural sites in Nashville and participate in classroom activities at Overall Creek Elementary School in Murfreesboro. Also, they will be treated to performances by students from Murfreesboro’s Reeves-Rogers and Bradley Academy schools and visit the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.

Guests pay their own way here. Private donations, including title sponsorship by campus food vendor Aramark, pay most of the local expenses, which with additional support coming from the Confucius Institute.

The Confucius Institute, named after the ancient Chinese philosopher, is sponsored by China’s Education Ministry to promote Chinese language, history and culture through tours, exchanges and university partnerships. There are more than 440 institutes in 120 countries.

The delegation arrived early Monday morning and will depart Friday.

— Andrew Oppmann (andrew.oppmann@mtsu.edu)

Doug Campbell, center, operations manager for MTSU’s Unmanned Aerial Systems program in the Department of Aerospace, explains some of the drone technology used in the program to students from China’s Dongcheng Education Group during welcoming activities Monday, July 10, at Embassy Suites Murfreesboro. The students are on a weeklong cultural exchange. At bottom right is Kevin Corns, assistant professor in the UAS program. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

Students from China’s Dongcheng Education Group arrived early Monday morning for a weeklong visit hosted by Middle Tennessee State University. (MTSU photo by Andrew Oppmann)

Visiting students from China’s Dongcheng Education Group enjoy a robotics demonstration during welcoming activities Monday, July 10, at Embassy Suites Murfreesboro. MTSU is hosting the students on a weeklong cultural exchange. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)