Henan Polytechnic University (HPU) has a long and distinguished history in China. One of the earliest institutions of higher education, HPU was also the first mining university in China, which was formerly known as Jiaozuo Coal Mining School. HPU has been interested in international exchange and internationalization since the 1980s, when the school began establishing sister-school relationships with colleges and universities in 15 countries. The first international students were enrolled in 2006. In order to continue internationalizing the university, HPU has been sending administrators and faculty to the University of Minnesota for training since 2012.
The third cohort from HPU arrived on the University of Minnesota campus for training in higher education policy and administration on July 27, 2014. For two weeks, the delegation enjoyed a series of customized lectures given by distinguished University faculty and entertained discussions with their instructors in regard to the chief differences between the U.S. and Chinese higher education systems. Mingda Training Program staff also accompanied the delegation on visits to other higher education institutions in the region, where they were warmly received by the administration of those universities and colleges. The delegation then journeyed to California for the third week of their training program and visited west coast universities, including Stanford and the University of California-Berkeley.
