UCM Welcomes Hengshui University Faculty as Partnership Reaches Key Milestones

 A building on the campus of Hengshui University in China now bears the name of the University of Central Missouri (UCM), a visible marker of a partnership that is beginning to produce graduates, exchange students and long-term academic ties across continents.

That partnership was on display this week as two Hengshui University (HSU) faculty members visited UCM, meeting with university leaders, observing classes and taking part in campus events, including a photo with UCM President Roger Best in front of a newly installed sign outside the UCM Department of Mathematics, Actuarial Science, and Statistics marking the partnership.

“UCM values its long-standing partnership with Hengshui University,” said UCM President Roger Best. “What began as a dual-degree completion program with opportunities for student exchange has grown to include faculty engagement, allowing HSU faculty to experience UCM’s approach to impactful, applied learning and the Midwestern culture that helps shape the student experience here.”

(left to right): Dean Jeff Robertson, President Roger Best, Dr. Na Zhang, Dr. Phoebe McLaughlin, Dr. Junzi Yang, Ms. Valerie Heming, Provost Tim Crowley.

 

The agreement between UCM and HSU centers on a “3+1” mathematics and applied mathematics program that allows students in China to complete three years of coursework at HSU before finishing their final year at UCM. Students who complete the program earn bachelor’s degrees from both institutions, with an option to continue for a fifth year to earn a UCM master’s degree.

The program was approved by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China in 2021 through a highly selective process that accepted only a small number of international partnerships.

Each year, the partner institutions can recruit up to 100 students into the program, creating a pipeline of students who begin their studies in China before transitioning to UCM to complete their degrees.

“We actually created this program during the pandemic, so for a while it was all delivered via Zoom,” said UCM Vice Provost Online and Extended Studies Laurel Hogue. “We’re really happy to now have faculty visiting here on campus.”

The program launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, with UCM faculty delivering courses virtually to students in China in a synchronized format. Students attended classes together in Hengshui classrooms, supported by local co-instructors while receiving instruction in English from UCM faculty.

Now in its fifth year, the partnership is entering a formal review period that will determine whether it continues for another five-year term.

The visiting faculty members, Na Zhang and Junzi Yang, are mathematics and biology instructors who spent several weeks at UCM observing courses, meeting with faculty and administrators and gaining a closer understanding of American teaching methods. Their visit also gave them a chance to experience the campus and surrounding region beyond formal meetings. They remarked on Missouri’s fresh air, the availability of study space in the library and the more personal scale of UCM classrooms, where students have greater opportunities to interact with faculty and classmates. Their visit also included everyday cultural experiences, from visiting Costco to attending a Kansas City Royals baseball game.

Their visit coincided with a milestone for the program: the first cohort of four HSU students completing their undergraduate degrees at UCM. The students were recognized at a departmental mathematics banquet and are expected to continue their studies in graduate school.

(left to right): President Roger Best, Dr. Na Zhang, Vice Provost Laurel Hogue, Dr. Junzi Yang, Ms. Valerie Heming, Provost Tim Crowley.

 

Faculty involved in the program say the academic differences are significant and beneficial.

At HSU, students often attend lectures with dozens, sometimes more than 100 classmates. At UCM, smaller class sizes and discussion-based teaching create more opportunities for interaction, participation and applied learning.

“It is a very good experience for them, and they also get to know how the American way of teaching is very different,” said Dr. Phoebe McLaughlin, professor, department chair and Actuarial Science and Statistics program coordinator in UCM’s Department of Mathematics, Actuarial Science, and Statistics. “Here, we encourage them to have class discussions. The homework and tests are not about memorization. It’s about understanding and application.”

Dean Jeff Robertson of the College of Health, Science, and Technology said those differences help students build confidence while adapting to an academic environment that emphasizes participation, discussion and applied learning.

The partnership extends beyond the classroom. UCM students participate in a summer exchange program at HSU, where they engage in cultural and academic experiences, while HSU students prepare for their transition through structured academic and language support.

Interest in the exchange continues to grow. This year, UCM will send its largest cohort yet to HSU, with 10 students selected from more than two dozen applicants.

The universities have also launched a “conversation partners” initiative that connects students from both institutions before they travel, helping them build language confidence and cultural familiarity ahead of their exchange.

Faculty say those early connections help address common student concerns, including language barriers and uncertainty about studying abroad. While some HSU students initially express hesitation about living in the United States, those concerns often fade after they arrive and experience campus life firsthand.

The collaboration is also expanding. University leaders are exploring additional academic programs, including biology and statistics, as well as expanded degree pathways that would allow more students to participate regardless of travel constraints.

At Hengshui University, the commitment to the partnership is already tangible. A dedicated building has been identified for the collaboration, with plans to house multiple joint programs as they develop.

For UCM leaders, the goal is both practical and long-term: expand access, strengthen recruitment and give students a broader view of the world.