Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications Partners with Software Engineering Program for Educational, Cultural Exchange

July 16, 2012
News

Photo of cultural exchange group 2012Dr. David Weiss recently traveled to Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications (NUPT) to oversee the signing of the Sequential Undergraduate Plus Graduate Degree Program (3+1+1) in Software Engineering. Dr. Zhen Yang, President and Professor at NUPT signed the agreement on July 3. The new program represents the collaborative interests of both ISU and NUPT. It will improve higher education in China and the U.S. in the area of software and promote the U.S./China educational and cultural exchange.

This agreement establishes a joint exchange program that facilitates and supports the granting of degrees in software related disciplines at both universities. Weiss is excited about the program. "This kind of exchange is increasing in popularity among top level universities. It will greatly add to our reputation and is great for our students." 

CS Department Chair Carl Chang comments, "NUPT has been traditionally strong in telecommunication and information engineering & technology research. I very much look forward to receiving NUPT students enrolled in this collaborative program that will add to the diversity of the ISU student community. Faculty's research in computer science, computer engineering and software engineering can also benefit from the talents of some of the brightest NUPT students sent to ISU.

Candidates who have completed the 1st three years of undergraduate coursework required by the Software Engineering program at NUPT, pass an English proficiency exam, and pass a Software Engineering proficiency test (SEPT) may enter ISU to complete their BS program in one year, or enter ISU's concurrent BS/MS program. The concurrent program leads to the BS degree in Software Engineering from NUPT and the MS degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering. Once a graduate program is formally established at ISU, the concurrent degrees will be offered in Software Engineering. 

ISU Software Engineering faculty will go to NUPT in December to administer the qualifying exam. The program will start on a trial basis in September of 2013 with the initial admission of 5 NUPT students to ISU. The trial will continue in September of 2014 with the admission of 10 students. Full scale implementation is set to begin in September of 2015 with admission of 50 or more students.

David Jiles, ISU Electrical & Computer Engineering Department Chair, also recognizes the importance of this program. "This is a very significant development for us at ISU, which establishes collaboration with our Chinese colleagues in an important subject area for ISU - Software Engineering. This will greatly strengthen our Software Engineering program, which is developing rapidly. Bringing these collaborations to completion requires enormous efforts, and the lead negotiator from our side, the Lanh and Oanh Nguyen Professor of Software Engineering David Weiss, deserves a vote of thanks from both faculties for his tireless efforts that have made this a success." 

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