Kennesaw State faculty visit Shanghai for cultural exchange
Visit could result in future international student programs
KENNESAW, Ga.—Three…
Georgia
(Jun 3, 2010) —
Visit could result in future international student programs
KENNESAW, Ga.—Three Kennesaw State University faculty members recently participated in a Faculty
Arts and Cultural Exchange project with Shanghai Normal University. On May 4, Associate
Professor of Dance
Ivan Pulinkala, Professor of Theatre
Ming Chen and Professor of Voice
Oral Moses departed for Shanghai. During the trip, the professors performed recitals, participated
in master classes and explored Shanghai. In the fall, several Chinese professors
will return the visit, bringing their insights and expertise to KSU students.
“It was a unique opportunity to get to work with students from China,” says Pulinkala,
who taught master classes, participated in lecture demonstrations and set a piece
of choreography for the students based on the interactions during the classes. Pulinkala
adds, “The students were very receptive to my work. They are very eager to learn
and grow. Learning took place on many different levels; the creative, artistic, technical
and cultural.” The piece choreographed by Pulinkala is scheduled to be performed
in Shanghai this summer.
Chen initiated the project, helped to contact and coordinate with SHNU in preparation
for the trip and also served as translator for part of Pulinkala's master classes
and other activities. When Chen was not translating, the university provided a translator
for the other activities. “The university was so hospitable. They did a lot of work
to make sure that our China trip was productive and enjoyable,” Chen says. The trip,
according to Chen, was a great success. The project enhanced and will continue to
enhance global learning.”
On the night of arrival, Moses performed a recital at the university. Accompanied
by a student musician who learned all the music beforehand, Moses performed songs
from his repertoire. Moses says, “The recital was very well received, and I was very
impressed with the accompanist. The experience was wonderful.”
The next day, while Pulinkala and Chen were teaching master classes to dance students,
Moses taught master classes to the whole voice department at the university. During
the classes, the students helped Moses learn a Chinese folk song, which he will practice
during the summer and perform for the KSU community and the public in September.
Through the trip, KSU established connections that will continue to provide unique
learning experiences in the future. For instance, according to Chen, Shanghai Normal
expressed interest in establishing a joint curricular program that would allow students
from each university to take classes offered by the dance program at the other university
and receive credit towards their degree.
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A member of the 35-unit University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State University is
a comprehensive, residential institution with a growing student population of more
than 21,000 from 142 countries. The third-largest university in Georgia, Kennesaw
State offers more than 65 graduate and undergraduate degrees, including new doctorates
in education and business.
The KSU College of the Arts is one of only four Georgia institutions to have achieved
full national accreditation for all of its arts programs.
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
