Symposium celebrates next generation of global professionals
<p> In 2007, ASU received a grant from the National Security Education Program (NSEP) to design and implement the program. ASU’s success in this endeavor has recently been recognized and the program has now achieved center status. This new NSEP grant includes a guarantee of funding for the next three years plus additional benefits for students of Chinese at ASU.<br /><br />“We’re pleased that the national Language Flagship program has shown its renewed commitment to ASU,” said Madeline K. Spring, director of the ASU Chinese Language Flagship and professor of Chinese. “By offering highly advanced learners of Mandarin content-based instruction in Chinese, this innovative program is having a tremendous impact on students and faculty of all foreign languages at ASU.” <br /><br />In celebration of the National Security Education Program’s commitment to the ASU Chinese Language Flagship, a Chinese Language Flagship Center Launch Reception will be held from 3-6 p.m. Oct. 6 in the Arizona Ballroom in the Memorial Union. In addition, a group of Flagship students will give presentations of their recent research projects in China during a symposium from 10 a.m. to noon on Oct. 6 in the Mohave room in the MU. The event will be free and open to the public. <br /><br />The Chinese Language Flagship trains ASU undergraduates who seek to achieve superior language proficiency while pursuing degrees in the academic major of their choice. Graduates of the program are able to function professionally in Chinese in their field. <br /><br />“Being a global professional really means being top notch in your field of discipline but also being able to use language when you’re working in that discipline,” said Michael Nugent, director of the national Language Flagship.<br /><br />Vivien Stewart, the vice president of education for the Asia Society, will deliver the keynote address. Michael Crow, president of ASU; Elizabeth D. Capaldi, university provost and executive vice president at ASU; Neal Lester, dean of humanities in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at ASU; Robert Slater, director of the National Security Education Program in Washington, D.C.; Michael Nugent, director of the Language Flagship in Washington, D.C.; Robert Joe Cutter, director of the ASU School of International Letters and Cultures and Madeline K. Spring, director of the ASU Chinese Language Flagship and professor of Chinese, will speak at the launch reception.<br /><br />The ASU Chinese Language Flagship program currently has about 35 students plus six students who have completed the entire program. The Chinese Language Flagship is also actively recruiting more students. Please contact Spring at <a href="mailto:mkspring@asu.edu">mkspring@asu.edu</a> or 480-965-1110 or Irene Hsiao, communications specialist for the ASU Chinese Language Flagship at <a href="mailto:irene.hsiao@asu.edu">irene.hsiao@asu.edu</a> or 480-727-0879 for more information about the program or the celebration. <br /><br />The Language Flagship leads the nation in designing, supporting, and implementing a new paradigm for advanced language education. Through an innovative partnership among the federal government, education, and business, the Language Flagship seeks to graduate students who will take their place among the next generation of global professionals, commanding a superior level of proficiency in one of many languages critical to U.S. competitiveness and security.</p>