Cultivating an International Academic Relationship: The China Experience

An increasingly global economy is driving the need to understand cultural differences that impact social, political, and business interactions. Recognition of the need for a more global perspective is evident in the design and delivery of increasing numbers of university-based study abroad programs which provide students the opportunity to study health and health systems around the world. This article chronicles the efforts by the University of North Florida's (UNF) health administration faculty to provide study abroad opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students while developing academic relationships with faculty at several universities in China. Discussion of the planning, course objectives, travel, and student reflections of the experience are provided along with lessons learned by program faculty. Efforts to build academic relationships with faculty members at Shandong University's Center for Health Management and Policy (CHMP) in Jinan, China resulted in transformational learning opportunities for UNF students, a collaborative research project, and the foundation for an active and productive international study program.