Berkeley College Expands Chinese Exchange Program

Berkeley College and Guizhou University of Finance and Economics announced that Westchester Community College would offer credits to students as part of a newly expanded program. The announcement was made on Wednesday at a ceremony at Berkeley’s White Plains campus.

Sixty-eight students from China were welcomed at the Berkeley College campus by a delegation of GUFE officials from China, the presidents of Berkeley College and Westchester Community College, and leaders of government and higher education in Westchester County. The students will earn credits toward their Bachelor’s degrees in business disciplines. Westchester Community College will offer English as a Second Language (ESL) courses to students from China who require ESL instruction.

“We are building a bridge between China and America. By being here you are making yourself a world citizen,” Michael J. Smith, President of Berkeley College, told the students from China. “We are going to challenge you. You are going to work hard, you are going to learn, and you are going to grow.”

“This dynamic collaboration between GUFE and Berkeley College has provided an opportunity for Westchester Community College to create two great things for Westchester County – partnerships and pathways,” said Belinda S. Miles, EdD, President of Westchester Community College. “We are proud to participate in this Global Educational Collaborative and to provide a pathway to higher learning.”

“We welcome you to Westchester County,” George Latimer, Westchester County Executive, told the students. “We hope that you will make friends that will last a lifetime. The bonds of friendship and education will bring us much closer together.”

“I appreciate Berkeley College’s support of GUFE. I hope we can expand our partnership and that we can make progress together,” said Song Zhao, Vice President and Party Secretary at GUFE, assigned by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. “To our students, we hope you can treasure this opportunity to study hard and build a positive presence here.” Mr. Zhao is part of a six-member delegation from China that visited Berkeley College and Westchester Community College in anticipation of the students’ arrival. The delegation also visited the Berkeley College campus in White Plains, NY, and the Westchester Community College campus.

Click here to view more photos from the welcome ceremony.