On the morning of May 15, 2019, Professor Alasdair Bowie, a Fulbright expert was invited to give a lecture in the meeting room 408 of our university library. The topic---- “Higher Education in the U.S.: Life and Learning on Four Different Kinds of American University/College Campus' was given and shared with more than 200 students.
Professor Bowie analyzed the differences between universities and colleges in the United States. Universities focus on the cultivation of students’ comprehensive academic abilities, while colleges focus on the cultivation of students’ practical skills. Through his own work experience in different schools, he told the teachers and students about his views on the study and life of American college students. Professor Bowie mainly introduce students the four types of higher education in the USA, namely, large public research universities, Ivy League, church/community colleges, private research universities. In a simple and vivid language, he introduced the enrollment system of these schools and the impact of study and life on students, and analyzed their advantages and disadvantages in detail.
Finally, Professor Bowie and the students had an exchange and discussion on the similarities and differences of classroom teaching in China and the United States, as well as learning conditions and preparations in the United States. During the discussion, the students actively participated to interact with Professor Bowie in full English to share their learning experience. He also visited the “Chinese Talents” class for foreign students in our school and conducted cultural exchanges with them.
Professor Bowie works at George Washington University and is an expert in political science and international relations. He was hired as a specialist of Fulbright in the United States in 2018. He teaches at the School of International Studies at Sichuan University. In the past 35 years, He has taught at the University of California at Berkeley, Cornell University, the Catholic University of the United States, and George Washington University. He studied at the University of Auckland, Princeton University and the University of California at Berkeley.
George Washington University referred to as GWU or GW, the world’s leading private comprehensive university. The university is located in Washington, DC, next to the US States Department, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. It is only a few blocks away from the White House. George Washington University was founded in 1821 by the Congressional Act to commemorate the founding father George Washington. After nearly 200 years of baptism, George Washington University has developed into a word-renowned comprehensive research university. The school has three campuses, located in foggy valleys of Washington, DC, Mount Vernon and Virginia.
Over the past 200 years, the school has produced many influential figures in American history. They are distributed in many fields, such as politics, military, academia, business, the press, sports, etc.
The school has trained a group of famous world politicians, including former US Secretary of State Colin, Powell, Georgia’s current president, King of Morocco, South Korea’s founding President Lee Seung-soo, 20 US governors, and 118 US Senate members. In addition, it also produced a large number of business leaders, such as South Korea’s Samsung Group President----Li Jianxi, Paris L’Oreal President----Edmair Avode and so on. It has also made academic achivements. Nobel Laureate neuroscientist Julius Axelrod graduated here. The world famous computer scientist Zhang Yale also obtained a Ph.D. in electrical engineering.
Because of its reputation for excellence, and location in in the heart of Washington, DC, the US Center for Human Rights, the school has been established for the White House, The States Department and other important international organizations.
