An exchange program between the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Brown allowed students from both institutions to compare cultural heritage work in Hong Kong and New England.

One of the aims of the Year of China was to advance internationalization and draw attention to the increasingly global nature of a Brown education. The Year of China expanded the depth and breadth of international experience for students and brought international scholars to Providence. These collaborations strengthened current relationships with colleagues in China and created an opportunity to begin new ones.

In 2006, Brown launched an internationalization initiative, spearheaded by President Ruth J. Simmons.  The process has highlighted the global work that Brown is already engaged in, and helped the University expand into areas such as advancing a global curriculum, addressing global challenges and advancing human knowledge across global academic, political, and social spheres. The Office of Global Engagement facilitates this work, articulating and implementing Brown’s strategy for global engagement, and leading efforts to raise the University’s international visibility. 

The Year of China was a natural extension of Brown’s internationalization work.  It was timely because China's dynamic global presence has already had a visible impact on the Brown community, through the growing number of students with a Chinese background as well as increased ties between faculty and staff in Providence and abroad.  The Year of China's emphasis on broad programming educated and informed the Brown community, fostering a dialogue of exchange about Greater China.  For detailed information about the year's programming, please visit our events archive which includes links to video recordings, photos, and articles from past events.

The Year of China was the fourth of the “Year of” Series, following the Year of Latin America, Year of Africa and Year of India, in the 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 academic years, respectively.  The series aims to create dynamic integrated programming across disciplines to encourage a variety of perspectives.  It furthers the University-wide strategy of engaging in cross-cultural learning and collaboration, and it offers multifaceted programming to the Brown community both on campus and abroad.  

Photo Credit: Larry Au '14