SIFT-- UCLAN joint program was awarded PMI2 “Partnerships in Employability and Entrepreneurship” funding in March. The program is to last for two years. Both SIFT and UCLAN have established their program teams. Lou Wei, deputy party secretary and vice president of SIFT, serves as a senior consultant of the program. The SIFT team is composed of members from The Post-Degree Training Base--Wang Xingsun, Ruan Xiao, Lin Xing, Xu chaoyi, and those from China-UK cooperative project--Chen Jie, Zou Nan’nan, as well as Xu Dongfeng from The International Exchange Office and Yu Zheng from Students’ Administration. “Prime Minister Initiative”(PMI) was launched by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as a move of the government to adjust to the requirements of the new situation resulted from educational globalization. Any UK university with a joint program with a foreign university can apply for PMI funding. The application of the joint program should be in the name of the UK University. Programs applying for the Initiative will be examined by experts hired by the British Council. Applicants face substantial competition since there is a great number of applications for the funding. In recognition of the rapid development of global economy and advanced education, the program aims to explore and create practical models of employability of college students by means of exchanging the knowledge and experience concerning re-employment and entrepreneurship. The models are then expected to guide the course design and syllabus improvement, so as to infiltrate the teaching process with a proper awareness of employability and entrepreneurship and to facilitate the education and cooperation of other higher institutions and joint programs. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(Translated by Tang Wei)

A delegation from Arnhem Business School, HAN University, the Netherlands, visited SIFT on April 2nd. Peter Steemers, a professor of HAN University, gave SIFT students a practice course on “Strategic Management” in Room 322, Information Building at 9 o’clock in the morning. Taking Dell.Inc as an example, Professor Steemers analyzed the traits of the company’s strategic marketing, as well as the effects of its market strategies. Students from the two universities participated in the discussion in a relaxed atmosphere. In the practice sessions, students were divided into 6 groups and discussed LENOVO’s marketing strategy and potential problems. After the discussion, the six groups shared their opinions and findings. At the same time, the Netherlands teachers attended a model lesson of a bi-lingual course on material management given by Yang Xiaoyan from SIFT in the Teaching Building. They were impressed with Yang’s scope of knowledge, rich experience and effective classroom teaching. In the afternoon, teachers from the two universities discussed the management of exchange students, in meeting room 510, Information Building. Both agreed to open up new possibilities and opportunities for further cooperation between the two universities. A gathering was held in the evening for the students and teachers. “Doing Business with Chinese”, an activity held by HAN university twice every year, features a 10-day visit to China, in which teachers and students from the university communicate with and learn from universities and corporations in China. SIFT has received HAN University delegation for three times. The communication has deepened, both academically and culturally, the exchanges and understanding of both parties, broadened the horizon of students, and promoted the cooperation between the two universities. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　　　　(Translated by Liang Wenting)

On March 19th, the presentation ceremony of Shanghai Governmental Scholarship (SGS) for foreign students was held in the international conference room of Shanghai Distance Education Group. The scholarship was the first governmental fund for foreign students in Shanghai. Liu Baoli, deputy-director of the Department for International Co-operation and Exchanges, the Ministry of Education, Li Bing, director of Foreign Students Division, China Scholarship Council (CSC), Wang Qi, deputy-director of Shanghai Education Commission, Yang Wei’ren, director of International Exchange Office, Shanghai Education Commission attended the ceremony and gave speeches. Wang Guangling, dean of SIFT’s School of International Studies, attended the ceremony with foreign student representatives. 29 foreign students at SIFT won the scholarship. SIFT’s School of International Studies had detailed exams and verification procedures to select the best foreign students for the scholarship. Foreign students who won the scholarship expressed their gratitude for this honor. They said they would keep on studying the Chinese language as well as their own major, to complete all study tasks required for the bachelor’s degree in the Foreign Trade Major. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(Translated by Zhao Yining)