Beihai College of Art & Design officials tour Finlandia campus

On May 5, 2018, International School of Art & Design Dean Denise Vandeville, Dean of Student Affairs Erin Barnett, and Chief Financial Officer Angela Price, led officials from the Beihai College of Art & Design in China on a tour of the Finlandia University campus. Beihai Vice Principals Sheng Hu and Jie Qiu, Dean of the College of Fine Arts Bin Cheng, and Dean of the College of Environmental Arts Zhaowei Wang, were all presented with a certificate of recognition as visiting professors. Finlandia officials were given traditional fans designed and made by students of Beihai. The visit to the school continued a growing partnership between Beihai and FinnU to bring Chinese art students to the United States to study.

“We’re very excited about future collaborations with Beihai College,” said Vandeville. “They have been wonderful guests and we have enjoyed hosting them.”

The initial relationship between FinnU’s International School of Art & Design (ISAD) and Beihai College began at the start of the fall 2017 semester with a visit from Professor Cheng. He spent two days on Finlandia’s campus learning about ISAD, meeting the students and faculty, and talking about curriculum. After that interaction, FinnU officials were invited to the Beihai campus in November for a reciprocal experience meeting faculty and talking to students. Beihai currently works with universities in Russia and Britain, but FinnU has been chosen as the first United States art school Beihai will work with to develop international experiences for their students.

Finlandia is continuing discussions for exchanges that will greatly expand the study abroad opportunities for many students and faculty in China and the United States.