International exchange programs flourishing
The China National School of Administration (CNSA) has established a batch of international exchange programs with some 40 countries in five continents.
The programs offer top-notch training to the nation's government officials, widening their horizons and enhancing their work efficiency.
They also promote Chinese-style government management methods in Western countries.
Apart from the highly regarded China Europe Public Administration Program (CEPA), a series of others projects too have injected new vigor into Chinese officials studying at the school.
The widespread activities cover academic seminars, research, training and consultation. Major projects include the following:
CNSA has entered into sound cooperation with two prestigious Australian universities - the Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Sydney (USYD).
CNSA has also reached collaboration agreements with the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, the Business School of Pennsylvania University and the University of Georgia, all in the United States.
It also conducts exchange activities with American industrial giants IBM and GE.
Flourishing programs are also held with organizations and universities in Britain.
Among them, Britain Overseas Development Administration (ODA) provides funds for academic seminars, official visits and book donations.
The University of Birmingham serves as the organizer of the events sponsored by ODA.
Top-level official visits were exchanged with the United Kingdom Civil Service College. Some staff members of the CNSA have also received the British Chevening Scholarship.
CNSA had its students visit University of Alberta in Canada and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with it. A number of organizations in Canada have also built a relationship of collaboration with CNSA.
German industrial heavyweight Siemens Co has signed a MOU with CNSA for the training of high-level government officials.
Under the MOU, CNSA sends some of its students to Germany every year.
The Administration School of Germany's Speyer University will launch a four-year cooperation program with the CNSA.
High-level exchanges have been carried out with the Dutch Institute for Public Administration, the largest public governance training organization in that country.
Other interesting academic exchanges have also been undertaken with many countries such France, Greece, Japan, Poland, South Korea, Vietnam, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine, New Zealand, Russia and Bulgaria.
(China Daily 11/13/2007 page19)
