Wright State University, represented by Dr. Angle on a trip to China, recently entered a partnership between the Xi’an universities and the Museum of Terracotta Soldiers and Horses. Dr. Yi Li (Dean of College of Science and Mathematics), Dr. Stephen Foster (Associate Vice President for International Affairs) and Dr. Carol Loranger (Chair of English Language and Literature) accompanied Dr. Angle to determine the specifics of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by all parties. “We are very excited about the potentials this new agreement would bring to our students, faculty for exchanges and building collaborative search projects,” said Dr. Li. The academic student exchange programs between the universities will significantly expand opportunities for WSU. WSU will reciprocate with the Xi’an universities by admitting more of their students to study Math, Engineering, English, Business and other disciplines at WSU. The universities also offer exchange programs for short-term employment and experimental skills training. WSU already has a presence in China through a partnership with Dalian University to offer students from both universities programs to participate in student exchange. WSU has joined Xi’an University of Finance and Economics, Xi’an University of Arts and Sciences, Shaanxi University, and the Terracotta Warriors Museum in China to engage in valuable research opportunities and to increase the student exchange programs between the two countries. Currently, Wright State is offering an Ambassador Study Abroad program to China from May 5, 2013 – May 26, 2013 to study Chinese culture, language, history and business in addition to the semester-long Dalian exchange program. As a result of the partnership, WSU students will have the ability to participate in more study abroad programs, some of which will allow students to study how to protect the terracotta pieces in the museum and prevent exhibits from deteriorating. The museum mentioned the possibility of retaining research students majoring in Public History who excel during their internship and demonstrate motivation to continue studying the museum exhibits. WSU students will also benefit from the inclusion of the Museum of Terracotta Soldiers and Horses, which will be the only university in the U.S. to have research access. The museum features three different areas that hold the terracotta army. The three areas include a total of about 8,000 soldiers, 670 horses, and 130 chariots which are collectively known as the largest assembly of pottery sculptures in China. The terracotta army was constructed for China’s first emperor, Shi-Huangdi. Farmers who were excavating a well for water found the terracotta army in March 1974 in the Shaanxi province. Since its discovery, China has been reluctant to permit academic access to the museum, underscoring the significance of this new partnership.
