OREGON CHINA COUNCIL
Program overview
OCC responds to the world's "new normal" in the face of challenging U.S-China relations, and a climate of apprehension and confusion. We strive to alleviate uncertainties through information sharing and hosting knowledge-based webinars. Our series of webinars provide information and promote dialogue on culture, education, climate change and trade.
Our goals are:
• to reconnect OCC constituencies and learn about their current concerns
• to identify the problems and needs of OCC constituencies
• to develop webinar programs to address these needs and strive for common solutions
CLIMATE
CHANGE
CULTURE
EDUCATION
TOURISM
TRADE
A webinar series for each topic above. As we learn about specific problems from the communities, we stay focused to assist in resolving them, so we can build positive momentum and make our way to solutions.
#Oregon together
TRADE
Trade Webinar Series#1:
Oregon Agricultural Products Promotion Web-Conference
Hosted by: Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco
Oregon Department of Agriculture
Oregon-China Council
Over 300 Chinese buyers, importers, and trade-related officials from Oregon's sister state-Fujian (福建省) and sister city-Tianjin (天津市) attended the conference
EDUCATION
We started our webinar series with a focus on international education. A diverse pool of education experts from Oregon shared information and resources on supporting international students (from all countries) and their parents and also encouraged collective efforts to raise the profile of Oregon schools in China. Topics included the current situation affecting international students, international recruitment, student/teaching visas, and so on.
Our first webinar in October, 2020, was a diverse pool of panelists and attendees including:
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Government: Chinese Education Counsellor Jun Tang and Consul Cheng Zhen;
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NGO: William Velez, Chair of Study Oregon Consortium;
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Eight Leading schools in Oregon: University of Oregon, Portland State University, Lewis & Clark College, Western Oregon University, Willamette University; Portland International Academy, St. Mary's School (Medford), and Pacific Northwest College of Art.
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Five Innovative programs in Oregon: Bamboo International School, Engineer For Kids program, Hillsboro Aero Academy, Oregon Rhythmic Gymnastics & Dance Academy, and Xstream Learning Center;
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An audience of over 500 including international students, parents, educators, school principals, international recruiters from China, Korea, Japan and other nations.
Our first webinar was successful. We have received positive feedback from the panelists and attendees, and they are excited about OCC's future webinars. The webinar helped establish sincere and positive relationships between OCC, Oregon schools, and the Education Section of the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco. The schools and programs expressed their confidence in working together through OCC to raise the profile for Oregon Education, and promote school-to-school partnerships in China.
Moving forward, OCC plans to host two more Education webinars (tentative topics are below) to complete this Education Webinar series.
Education Webinar Series #2: Policy Analysis on U.S-China Education and Communication to Chinese students
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Date: Mid-January 2021;
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Goal: to improve Oregon schools' ability to communicate with their existential students in China and to do expanded outreach in China.
Education Webinar Series #3: Student Recruitment
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Date: March 2021;
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Goal: to promote Oregon schools in China, facilitate school-to-school partnerships to increase recruitment.
