The University of Florida’s College of Education has an increasing presence in international education through partnerships with universities in China. Among the current College of Education (COE) initiatives are official teacher preparation partnerships with Nanjing Xiaozhuang University (NXU) and Jiangsu Second Normal University (JSSNU), the former Jiangsu Institute of Education (JSIE). These projects, initiated and directed by Dr. Danling Fu of the School of Teaching and Learning (STL) and supported through the efforts of STL administration, have two key features: 1) to provide a customized teacher preparation program for pre-service teachers from China and 2) to facilitate a faculty exchange and research collaboration program through a structured visiting scholar project.

Since 2014, undergraduate students from NXU have traveled to Gainesville and participated in a full-year customized program of study within the COE teacher preparation program. The Chinese students complete their fourth year of their teacher training at COE and subsequently return to China to receive their Bachelors degrees from NXU. In 2016, the exchange program was expanded to include students from Jiangsu Second Normal University (JSSNU). All of the students enroll in standard undergraduate teacher preparation courses offered through the School of Teaching and Learning. To further enhance their professional development, the students are also placed in practicums throughout the school district where they gain American classroom experiences.Graduates of the COE-NXU and COE-JSSNU bachelor’s programs are then eligible to apply to a Master’s degree program in the College of Education and may return to UF for a second year of coursework.

For faculty exchanges and research collaborations, visiting scholars from NXU and JSSNU work alongside key UF faculty in the COE and participate in graduate level lectures, research, and publications. The visiting scholar project supports and enhances international and intercultural engagement among university faculty members.

For additional information about these programs, please email Dr. Jo Kozuma at jkozuma@coe.ufl.edu or Dr. Danling Fu at danlingfu@coe.ufl.edu