Welcome to President Mark B. Rosenberg’s blog chronicling his visit to China. The president is sharing commentary, photos and video from his international trip, so be sure to check back in the days ahead to learn more about FIU’s Marriott Tianjin China Program and the students, faculty and administrators who make it a success.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Today I am honored to represent our faculty, staff, and students at the 30th anniversary of our partner in China, the Tianjin University of Commerce. Located south of Beijing, the university is in the bustling port city of Tianjin, home to 11 million people.
I am the only representative from the United States present at the ceremony, but have met representatives from universities in Korea and Japan, among other dignitaries attending the event. The massive ceremony brought nearly 3,000 members of the TUC community to a spacious central plaza on the otherwise tightly packed central plaza on the campus. Sitting on the large stage, we faced our audience. We were framed by large academic buildings behind and in front of us, bordered on either side by grassy areas with newly planted trees as borders to the event. To our back was an oversized red billboard heralding the anniversary, complementing the red stage and formal red linens covering the long tables where we were seated.
In my brief comments to the polite crowd, I emphasized the commonalities between our two universities including our relative youth, our global outlook, our commitment to community, our commitment to world class hospitality management education, and the personal factoid that my son Benjamin had attended the TUC-FIU semester study program there in 2008.
No doubt, the partnership between TUC and FIU has begun to bear fruit–there are now more than 500 students who have graduated with FIU degrees. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a small part of this very strong cooperative relation. Today’s ceremony and the honor of speaking before such an impressive audience reconfirm the wisdom of the School’s leadership, past and present, in strengthening our worlds ahead approach to our mission as an international university.
— Mark B. Rosenberg
To read President Rosenberg’s blog from May 8, 2010, click here.
China is a communist country. Their government oppress their people , there is not freedom of any kind and they are serious violations of human rights everyday.
Shouldn't our dear FIU president take this into consideration and at least express this in his travel's blog. How this new graduates will help their own country in matters of HR and freedom?
Re: ORR ORR
You seem to be pretty much clueless to our Asian counterparts abroad.
Yes, the Communist Party is in power. But the party has long since abandoned marxist principles for a freer economic environment, the actual party itself has lost a majority of its control over the people. China has embraced what is called 'Red Capitalism', and to imply that they resemble any old communist styles like Guevarra's [unmitigated disaster] (edited for content) is wholly ignorant.
Human Rights, and the like? No, China is still way behind.
And what do you expect Rosenberg to do? Make a speech lambasting the Chinese University like its part of Bush's 'Axis of Evil", and through accusations around? Get real….
To RW:
Well first of all, I haven’t offended either you or our president, so the clueless or ignorant parts have no place in our discussions. I just said my opinion as it came to my mind at that moment and I did so respectfully, so is natural that I expect the same from anybody who wishes to debate my comment. If you decide to do so, put aside childlike comments so this could l be a good debate. If not, this will be my last conversation with you.
I know about China “Capitalism”. In my comment I was not speaking about economy. I was just trying to say that Good Economy and Mutual Beneficial relations are only good when you do diplomacy in moral harmony with your principles. Living in America we know how important the principles of democracy are. Freedom of speech and respect to individual’s liberty are pillars in our society. In this topic it seems that we agree.
In other words what it meant was that if will be nice if our president will have mentioned something like ….” To achieve intellectual knowledge and to be part of an Universal FREE SOCIETY we and I mean everybody around the world must respect individual freedoms….”
Naive, possible but in accordance with democracy’s principles…
RE: ORR ORR
Yes the quote you mentioned would be nice to hear. But who is president Rosenberg? And how is he in a position to make such a speech there?
In a face culture like China, having Rosenberg rise to the podium and make a speech calling for a "freer and democratic society" would be the equivalent to slapping it in the face. An American is already viewed with enough Western suspicion in that country, and is naturally walking a narrow line on how to act.
China is not free, and if many international leaders who pressure China on human rights at every big conference can't do it, Rosenberg would be wasting his time and potentially harming relations between FIU and Tianjin University.
This association here is business and political relations for the progress of FIU. Simply to establish more international connections and opportunities for students.
This is not an event to address the evils of the world and how to save them. Leave that to Amnesty International, and the likes.
Yes I definitely agree with you. It’s a very thin line and it was not the time or the place to make such intrusion. I just that sometimes, I would people we trust as our leaders to take a more “strong posture” when it comes to violations of Human Rights.
But you are absolutely correct. It was a pleasure to talk to you.
Thanks for the debate.
I would like to congratulate all the staff and faculty that are involve in this program. I am really surprise that we are the only University in China offering this kind of program, since it will be the one that could generate development and opportunity for new generations of Chinese citizens.
Avanti FIU
Jimmy
I would like to thank President Rosenberg who came to Tianjin a few days ago. His accomplishments here have been recognized all throughout Tianjin University of Commerce-FIU and Miami.
My name is David, and I am majoring in political science. I have been in China for about 8 months and just want to say that I have had an extraordinary experience so far. I have spent most of my time in Tianjin, where I took part in the FIU Hospitality study abroad program for 4 months. At the end of those 4 months I did not leave. I knew very few things about Chinese culture and language, so I decided to learn Chinese and visit many cities around China such as Shanghai and Zhengzhou.
As a student advocate at FIU, my wish is for more American students to get the oppotunity to travel abroad and truly feel and understand what China has to offer. The people of Tianjin have been exceedingly kind and helpful towards me. I feel as if they have strived to make every day as memorable as possible. President Rosenberg, thank you for once again opening the doors for FIU students and all Americans studying abroad in China!
Zai jian!
Hao Da Wei
Hello FIU!
My name is Derek Capo am 2003 FIU Alumnus. In 2008 I started a company to help people who are interested in venturing to China to Study Chinese or do an Internship. The name of my company is Next Step China (http://www.nextstepchina.org) and I invite you all to take a look and see what we can offer you if you are interested in going to China soon.
Hope you all doing well!
Derek Capo