Apr 08, 2008 - Claremont, Calif. - Harvey Mudd College President Maria Klawe returned to the United States this month after a historic trip to Asia as part of the first liberal arts college delegation to China. During the trip, she addressed the need for collaboration between U.S. and Chinese colleges and universities in meeting the world's challenges.

Klawe was joined in China and Singapore by the presidents and other leaders from The Claremont Colleges, which includes Claremont Graduate University, Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences, Pitzer College, Pomona College and Scripps College. With more than 7,000 students and 1,000 faculty, The Claremont Colleges offer the benefits of a small-college education combined with the resources of a larger university. Harvey Mudd College enrolls 735 students and has a full-time faculty of 84. 

During her trip to Asia, Klawe visited Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. On April 2, she delivered an address, "The Role of the Humanities and Social Sciences in Educating Leaders for a High-Tech Economy," at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences. While in China, Klawe also visited Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Fudan University and Tsinghua University in Shanghai; Tsinghua University, Peking University and the International School in Bejing; and Chinese University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in Hong Kong.

"We want to attract some of the brightest students from China to liberal arts education in science and engineering." Klawe said. "The liberal arts model produces leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to address the major challenges facing the world, such as climate change, energy, literacy and healthcare. We also know these challenges cannot be addressed without Chinaís participation and leadership."

During their meetings with Chinese education leaders, Klawe and The Claremont Colleges delegation shared with their Chinese counterparts the benefits of a liberal arts approach to science and engineering, which is generally not available in Chinese universities. Among those benefits are:

• A small, supportive, undergraduate-only learning community (i.e., less than 1,000 students).
• Exceptionally bright students, a rigorous curriculum and faculty members whose sole focus is on undergraduate students.
• Breadth and depth in social sciences and humanities in addition to a superb education in science and engineering.
• A focus on leadership development and addressing the major challenges facing the world.
  

"The presence of Chinese students on our campus will enhance learning for students at Harvey Mudd College, as well as all of the Claremont Colleges," Klawe said. "Students from the U.S. and the rest of the world need to learn more about China and Chinese culture in order to be effective leaders in this century.

"In order to do this, we will seek to establish collaborations with Chinese academic institutions to help China develop its own liberal arts educational opportunities and to offer more opportunities for students at The Claremont Colleges to learn about China today."

Among the next steps resulting from the trip is the development of a conference about liberal arts education, to be held in Beijing. President Klawe also plans to visit some of the leading high schools in China to attract their graduates to Harvey Mudd College.

Harvey Mudd College (www.hmc.edu) is a national leader in undergraduate education in engineering, science and mathematics, with a strong emphasis on humanities and the social sciences. The college's mission is to produce citizens sensitive to the impact of their work on society. Harvey Mudd College is a member of The Claremont Colleges (www.claremont.edu), which also includes Claremont Graduate University, Claremont McKenna College, Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences, Pitzer College, Pomona College and Scripps College.