NAFSA provides an overview of international education in American colleges and university. (Washington, D.C.)

ISEP staff and delegation members continue discussing international student exchange programs during a coffee break. (Washington, D.C.)

Mr. Ma Chao (Beijing Language and Culture University) with students in a Chinese immersion class. (Detroit, MI)

Beginning in 1981, the National Committee has administered a program on behalf of the United States Department of Education to bring delegations of education officials and administrators from across China to the United States. Twice each year, participants have the opportunity to observe the challenges facing the American education system and how institutions across the country are dealing with them. Funded by the Department of Education and the Chinese Ministry of Education, these trips, along with the reciprocal visits of American educators to China under the auspices of the Fulbright-Hays Seminars Abroad, strengthen educational ties between our two countries and build mutual understanding of how we teach future generations.

In fall 2012 we welcomed a delegation focusing on a new theme: K-12 physical and arts education, educational facilities and school-community relations. The delegation members received briefings from officials at the U.S. Department of Education, state government agencies and related non-governmental organizations. They also visited public and private K-12 schools for discussions about different approaches to developing and strengthening PE and arts programs. In addition, they met with an architecture firm specializing in constructing school buildings and facilities to discuss relevant rules, policies, guidelines and procedures. The program took them to Washington, D.C.; Austin, TX; Los Angeles, CA; and Portland, OR.

In 2009 and fall 2010, three Chinese delegations focused on career counseling for university students; the spring 2010 delegation examined secondary school science education. In spring and fall 2011, the theme shifted to international student services and the creation and maintenance of exchange relationships at American colleges and universities. A list of the cities the delegations visited is below:

Spring 2012: Washington, D.C.; Little Rock, AR; Denver, CO; Los Angeles, CA
fall 2011: Washington, D.C.; Raleigh-Durham, NC; Detroit and Lansing, MI; San Francisco, CA
Fall 2010: Washington, D.C.; Milwaukee, WI; Little Rock, AR; Los Angeles, CA
Spring 2010: San Francisco, CA; Brookings and Sioux Falls, SD; Washington, D.C.
Fall 2009: Washington, D.C.; Dayton, OH; Dallas, TX; San Francisco, CA