In order to promote international process, the School of Public Economics and Administration of SUFE took the opportunity of MPA NASPAA International Accreditation and cooperated with top international universities. After studied at School of International Public Policy of Osaka University in May 2016, our School of Public Economics and Administration has reached cooperation intents with Maxwell School, Syracuse University. During 23 Sept. to 7 Oct. 2016, 10 MPA students from School of Public Economic and Administration have visited and studied in Maxwell School, Syracuse University. Syracuse University, located in Empire State, is a private comprehensive university with high admiration. Its School of Public Affairs always ranks first in the United States while School of Architecture and School of Journalism and Media come to the top 10 as well.
The team set out on 23 Sept. and arrived at New York City on 23 Sept. local time. After taking a break, they drove for Boston to visit Harvard University and MIT. On 25 Sept. the team took a visit to Yale University and reached Syracuse University late in the day. The campus is relatively small but delicate, and the buildings of various styles complement each other well. The fulfilling and enjoyable learning at Syracuse University began at 25 Sept. After a brief and warm welcome ceremony, Professor Catherine Gerard started the course of Interpersonal Conflict Management. Interpersonal conflict, which is always encountered by public managers in their daily work, was illustrated well in genre, manifestation and solution by Professor Gerard, through questionnaire, discussion and games. Picking apples is an event you have to try in the autumn New York City. Aiming to let the students have a better experience of local life and culture, Syracuse University arranged apple picking and supermarket shopping. That night our students along with a lot of American students of Maxwell School watched the first televised leaders' debate in General Election, which is fierce and exciting.
On 27 Sept. we went to Cazenovia Town. The Brewster Inn is located next to the beautiful Cazenovia Lake near the government. The learning began at a reception room of the Inn with full lake-view. Professor Kristi Andersen, the town councilor, who had retired from Maxwell School, introduced the federal structure of the United States and the division of powers between governments at different levels. He elaborated the local government management, including local government elections, supervision and civic participation and so on. After lunch, at the Cazenovia Town Office which is only a few steps away, Ms. Connie Sunderman, the office staff and exciseman, introduced the constitution and duties of the town government and her daily work as an exciseman. Based on the course in the morning, we got a deep and concrete understanding about the duties and management of America’s local government. In this small town, there is a hidden art park called Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, which is the one of hidden art parks in the work chosen by Discovery. It is ran by PPP model with only 2 managers and 2 sanitors. As the executive chairman and one of the managers, Ms. Emily Zaengle introduced the history of the park and how to raise, operate and manage as a non-government organization, which provided a perfect case and background knowledge of non-government organizations for the related course two days later. At the dinner, Harvey Teres, a professor of literature elaborated the integrity and diversity of American culture.
On 28 Sept, we drove for 3 hours to Albany where the Empire State government is located. We visited the Empire State government budget office and Robert Freeman from the public commission explicitly explained the budget outlays and briefly introduced the progress of finance budget of 2017.
On 29 Sept. Professor Steven Lux, the director of MPA program, gave a lecture about the role of non-government organizations in social governance. He began with history, present situation and development. He then discussed the extensive functions NGOs perform in the social governance and compared the difference of NGO ‘s management between China and America with the students. The site visit and survey at Stone Quarry Hill Art park two days earlier deepened our understanding toward this course.
At lunch time, we came to a nursing home of Jewish community which faced to all residents, Menorah Park at Sycause. While we were enjoying Kosher lunch, Judith Huober introduced the subject, grade of service, fee, financing and so on. The nursing home is separated into 3 parts, taking care of three kinds of elderly respectively. According to the difference of medical insurance and condition of assets, the fee varies. Although it accepts donation, the nursing home mainly relies on the fee to turn around. Then we took a visit in the three sections. The main idea here is the warmth of home. So you will see the ward and spacious reception rooms instead of long and shabby corridors in the hospital. In the afternoon, we took a visit in Onondaga County government in Sycause accompanied by former deputy sheriff, the sheriff's office special consultant Edward. This alumnus of Maxwell introduced us the County government department structure and management and then led us to the County courts, detention house, the museum designed by Bei Liming. After the tour, we finished the site visit and survey at local government of various levels and got an all-round view and understanding towards the operation.
30 Sept. is the last day of the whole course. In the morning, Len Lopoo, the professor of public economics and administration delivered a lecture about poverty status and social security policy. In the afternoon, Hou Yilin, the professor of public economics and administration elaborated local property tax in China, especially theoretical design principles and implementation strategies. The course ended with the heated discussion about regulations of real estate tax in China, and the atmosphere lingered on. At graduation ceremony, we reviewed the past week and shared experience and what we had learned by painting. While enjoying a slice of apple pie with ice cream, everyone received a training certificate from Sycause University.
Professor Steve Lux, the director of MPA program of Maxwell School, Sycause University and Ms. Chen Xueyi, the director of Chinese counterpart attended graduation ceremony. Students’ enthusiasm and eagerness to learn have left a great impression on the teachers. And teachers of Sycause University were really looking forward to making a long-term cooperation and further exchanges with our school to learn from each other.
After a week’s learning, Sycause University arranged a tour to Niagara Falls for the students. Seeing the spectacular view, the gift of nature, we were lost in words. The grand site had just completed our journey of Sycause. After spending a whole day on the road on 2 Oct. the team arrived at Washington D.C. The next day we visited Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the White House, and learned about the American history and the establishment of federal system. On 4 Oct. we came to the New York City and visited the Wall Street and UN headquarter. The staff of UN showed us the lobby of the General Assembly Hall and some main council chambers, and explained the work of UN and related organizations. October 6, a 11-member team of the School of Public Economics and Administration of SUFE left from New York's Kennedy Airport for Shanghai. After a flight of 14 hours, we arrived at Shanghai safely on the evening of 7 Oct. The journey of Sycause came to a successful ending.
Diversified and abundant curriculum and cultural activities have broadened students’ horizons and thinking, promoted their understanding of operation and management of two governments’ public sectors with comparison, and realized another progress of the internalization of MPA program.