CSULB gets new program

By Linda Prendez, On-Line Forty-Niner

Wednesday, October 28, 1998

A Beijing media group has reached an agreement with the Asian and Asian-American studies department to establish an exchange program for students, keeping good on its promise to develop a lasting friendship with Cal State Long Beach.

As a gesture of appreciation for hosting a journalism certificate program for Chinese journalists this summer, the China Business Media Conglomerate donated 1,000 works of Chinese literature to the university earlier this semester. At a ceremony before CSULB staff, faculty and students, executives vowed to continue significant relations with the university.

Next summer, that vow of support will take the form of a reciprocal study abroad program between China Business Media Conglomerate employees and CSULB students, who may be chosen from any academic department.

Eligible students do not have to be fluent in Chinese, but must have some working knowledge of the language, Asian and Asian-American studies department chairman John Tsuchida said.

For three months, four CSULB students will work with the China Business Media Conglomerate in a department that best suits their skills. Some students may be employed to tutor English to company employees who are not totally fluent in the language, Tsuchida said. Others may write for a company publication.

The China Business Media Conglomerate will pay for the students' airfare, and will provide them housing and a modest stipend.

When the students return from their three-month stay in Beijing, a Chinese Business Media Conglomerate employee will accompany them. That employee will be fluent in English and will come to CSULB for one year as a graduate student.

"We had the option of sending one student to China for a year," Tsuchida said.

However, the department opted for the summer program to extend the opportunity to more students.

"There are more Chinese-speaking people in Southern California and in major trading posts. Many jobs will require knowledge of the Chinese language," he said.

A stint at the Chinese company and direct exposure to the culture can complement that skill, Tsuchida said.