BUILDING THE BRIDGE USC CHINA RESEARCH INSTITUTE

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BUILDING THE BRIDGE--USC CHINA RESEARCH INSTITUTE

• James Ellis
• Senior Executive Director for Global Initiatives

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The Importance of China in the World

• News stories about China in every newspaper and
  news magazine
• Covering aspects of current landscape culture,
  role as a rising power, space exploration,
  military build-up, natural resources, energy
  needs
• Tremendous opportunities and challenges for
  American companies in Chinas growing market
• In 2005, Chinas economy grew nearly 10, and it
  is now the worlds fifth largest economy

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Challenges for China, U.S. and the World

• U.S. relationship with China in 20 or 30 years,
  as China continues its ascent as an economic and
  military power
• Internal conflict between a communist government
  and free market economy
• The Taiwan issue
• Future relationships with other countries,
  particularly in Asia and Latin America

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Existing USC-China Connections

• More than 1,600 students from China and Taiwan
  attend USC
• 3,000 Alumni from China and Taiwan
• 6 APRU members in China 1 in Taiwan
• International Offices in Taipei and Hong Kong

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USC Education Focused on China

• Global Executive MBA program Marshall School of
  Business and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (56
  students admitted 2005)
• Distance Education Network Viterbi School of
  Engineering and Tsinghua University
• Study abroad opportunities journalism,
  architecture, law, pharmacy, business, College
• Digital documentary project in LA and Beijing
  School of Cinema-Television
• Orchestral and operatic programs Thornton
  School of Music and Shanghai Conservatory of
  Music

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USC Research Focused on China

• Approximately 45 USC faculty members conducting
  or collaborating on research involving China and
  Taiwan
• From the College of Arts and Sciences, Keck
  School of Medicine, School of Social Work,
  Marshall School of Business, Viterbi School of
  Engineering, School of Policy, Planning and
  Development, and School of Gerontology
• China Seven Cities Study and advanced training
  for Chinese public health officials
• Research on aging and effect on China

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USC Existing Assets in the Rigorous Academic
Study of China

• East Asian Studies Center
• Korean Studies Institute
• Pacific Council
• Faculty experts in many departments and schools,
  including Political Science, International
  Relations, Economics, Anthropology, East Asian
  Languages/Cultures, Public Policy, Business,
  Medicine

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USC Academic Programs LinkedDirectly to China

• Majors American Studies and Ethnicity (Asian
  American Studies) East Asian Area Studies East
  Asian Languages and Cultures Linguistics/East
  Asian Languages and Culture
• Minors Asian American Studies East Asian Area
  Studies East Asian Language and Cultures
  Pacific Rim Development
• Graduate Programs East Asian Area Studies (MA)
  East Asian Languages and Cultures (MA and PhD)
  Joint MBA/MA in East Asian Area Studies Politics
  and International Relations (Ph.D.)

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USC Increased Enrollment inChinese Language
Classes
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USC China Research InstituteOur Preliminary
Thoughts

• Establish interdisciplinary research institute to
  produce rigorous, policy-relevant social science
  research
• Create the China Studies Center of the 21st
  Century
• Focus on U.S./China relationship but also address
  related regional and global issues

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USC China Research InstituteOur Preliminary
Thoughts

• Objective To become the place scholars, policy
  makers, government officials world-wide, and
  journalists turn to for cutting-edge social
  science research on significant questions and
  long-term trends related to China/US relations
• Objective To become a catalyst to attract top
  faculty and develop innovative academic programs
  for undergraduate and graduate students

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USC China Research InstituteUnique Capabilities

• There are virtually no university centers on
  China that focus on policy-relevant social
  sciences or on US/China relationship
• typical focus is on humanities and cultural
  studies
• Unlike D.C. think tanks, USC Institute will bring
  an interdisciplinary research perspective to an
  understanding of larger structural trends
• Existing training programs and academic
  connections provide excellent foundation for
  connections to Chinese policy makers and
  academics

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USC China Research InstituteUnique Capabilities

• Our location provides a rationale for a
  distinctive emphasis on Pacific Rim issues,
  including trade and other economic issues and the
  developing role of China in Latin America
• The Los Angeles connection allows for a focus on
  issues of diversity, immigration, and cultural
  transformation

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USC China Research InstituteFellows Program

• Resident Fellows Drawn from USC faculty
  appointments in schools but affiliation with
  Institute
• Visiting/Affiliated Fellows Scholars drawn from
  China, the US, and other parts of the world
• Media Fellows Drawn from reporters who cover
  China and East Asia
• Graduate Fellows PhD and Post-doctoral students
  working on policy-relevant social science
  research on China

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USC China Research InstituteOpen Questions

• Specify mission beyond a commitment to rigorous
  social sciences addressing important policy
  issues relevant to US/China relationship
• Define relationship of Institute to existing
  centers and schools
• Identify Director and work with schools to
  recruit outstanding faculty
• Develop distinctive activities beyond research
  and academic programs, e.g., retreat for top
  journalists in area to focus on larger issues
• Identify physical space for Institute to allow
  room for interdisciplinary interactions and space
  for fellows
• Embark on fundraising to build endowment