Nov. 22nd, Duke Kunshan University hosted its first school-wide Open House that attracted more than 600 students, parents and teachers from Shanghai and Kunshan. Held on Duke Kunshan campus, this event was designed to allow the local communities to experience its liberal arts education and to have first-hand information about the university’s academic offerings, learning experience, research opportunities and student life.
A total of 15 “attractions” were designed across the Duke Kunshan campus to let visitors experience different aspects of what Duke Kunshan has to offer. During their visit, many of the students had ample opportunities in speaking and interacting with Duke Kunshan faculty and staff, which offered them a window to higher education and the real academic world. At the Program Introduction session held in the water pavilion, students and parents not only learned about the various academic programs offered and to be offered at Duke Kunshan University, they also got to know the univeristy’s education philosophy, vision, mission, and superlative resources. ‘Living and learning in such a diverse community would enable the students to know about many different cultures,’ said a teacher from Kunshan’s Yushan Middle School.
Three special lectures by Duke Kunshan faculty were offered to showcase what college classes are like at Duke Kunshan. Dr. Andrew Field, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs, spoke on the topic of liberal arts education in China. ‘Liberal arts education is about bringing together knowledge from various disciplines. Students can take a course outside his/her major just to fulfill curiosity’, said Dr. Field. ‘By implementing liberal arts education, we aim to broaden students’ horizon and push them to learn about a wide range of global issues.’ Professor Donald Snow, Director of the Language and Writing Programs, turned the classroom into a vibrant studio for learning with his lesson on strategy for English learning. And Professor Lijing Yan, Head of NCD Research at Global Health Research Center gave the students a taste of a real college class by lecturing on Bridging the Chasms in Cardiovascular Prevention and Management.
One of the most popular attractions was the Science Demonstration session, at which students were encouraged to experience a typical Duke Kunshan physics class. Immersed in Duke Kunshan’s signature experiential learning environment, students learned complicated physics concepts and principles in a most fun and intuitive way. In one experiment, for example, a student was invited to stretch and extend his arms with two dumbbells in hand while sitting in a rotating stool, and via observing the movement of the rotating stool, the students learned the basic principle of conservation of angular momentum, a concept taught only in university. Having participated in the 4 experiments designed by experts in physics, all students were impressed by the interactive and engaging pedagogical approach prevalent in Duke Kunshan classrooms. ‘It is very different from how we learn at school. The experiments allow us to feel those physical phenomena, and I would have a deeper impression on the concept,’ said Shimin Cao, student from Yushan Middle School.
The day culminated with honorary degree awards. All visiting students were awarded honorary-degree diplomas according to the number of the stickers they were able to collect from the attractions they visited.
Commenting on the great success of the event, Patrick Moreton, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs at Duke Kunshan University, said, ‘this is the first of a series of regular events. As we really hope to become an active member of the community, we will be sharing our teachers who are giving lectures today.’ Prof. Haiyan Gao, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs who initiated the event’s organization, added, ‘We are very much encouraged by the great enthusiasm, and strong support from our local community: students, teachers, parents, and the municipal government of Kunshan in our endeavor in building a 21st century world-class liberal arts and research university.’
Students, parents and teachers visiting Duke Kunshan campus
Duke Kunshan student volunteers guiding visitors
Visiting the Academic Building
International Culture Fair
Getting a mehndi, an Indian-style skin paint
Interacting with Duke Kunshan faculty and staff
Poster Exhibition
Duke Kunshan student performance
Student performance attracting a big crowd
Professor Don Snow lecturing on English learning strategies
Professor Lijing Yan lecturing on cardiovascular prevention and management
Dr. Andrew Field lecturing on liberal arts education
Science Demonstration 1: Gyroscope Precession
Science Demonstration 6: Effect of acceleration on the speed
Student press corps from Xinmin Evening News
Collecting stickers at each attraction
Awarding honorary degree
