On the morning of November 23, a sharing session was held between the CAD and Columbia College Chicago over the ‘3+2’ Inter-Institution Exchange Program and the short-term program for postgraduates. The talk, which took place at the CAD’s Changping Campus, was attended by Prof. Philippe Ravanas with Columbia College Chicago, Director Ju Ping of CAD’s Foreign Affairs Office, and students involved in the two programs. Ms Zhang Na, Secretary of General Party Branch at Department of Theatre Management, acted as the moderator.

Ms. Zhang Na first briefed on the two programs: ever since the Inter-Institution Exchange Program and the short-term program for graduates started in September 2017, 9 students have graduated, 4 have obtained certificates, and 2 are still pursuing their degrees. Eligible graduates of ‘3+2’ programs will be granted a bachelor’s degree by the CAD, and a master’s degree by Columbia College Chicago. This program has boosted the training of innovative professionals in art management with better international competitiveness and cross-cultural leadership. It is also an important move by the CAD to nurture international theatrical practitioners.

Ms. Zhang Na

Prof. Philippe Ravanas then made an introduction to Columbia College Chicago. Founded in 1890, according to Prof. Ravanas, the College is located in the heart of downtown Chicago. It is by far the largest private college offering a distinctive curriculum that blends creative and media arts. It aims to prepare students with mature interests to be both competent artists and successful professionals. The College has a faculty team featuring experienced practitioners and outstanding academic resource. Columbia is built around the essential competencies of complex problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity.

Prof. Philippe Ravanas

3rd-year undergradate students Huang Xin and Wang Qianyi shared online their current courses and life at Columbia College Chicago. They mentioned the continuity and commonality in the courses of Theatre Management taught at the CAD and that of Art Management at Columbia. They also pointed out that the curriculum of Columbia was designed to combine theoretical study with hands-on training, which allowed students to improve academic and practical capabilities.

In her online speech, Song Jiayu, a graduate from Class of 2018 who now works as a teacher, summarized the pedagogy she had learned from the exchange program. Xiao Huihan, a graduate from Class of 2019, introduced the city of Chicago and the cost of studying there. Zhao Dudu, a master graduate from Class of 2019, put forward specific suggestions for the theatre management practices in downtown Chicago; while Li Qiyun, a 3rd-year postgraduate, shared her experience in English learning, stressing the importance of frequently using and speaking the language.

Students Sharing Their Experience

Philippe Ravanas took several questions during the Q&A session. He explained that in the US, Art Management was an art-related business study, and that the students of this subject were supposed to engage themselves into more practices. Chicago, as the business centre for theatre industry in the US, has everything needed for art business, according to Prof. Ravanas, which is conducive to students in this field. He also touched upon the differences in the cultural policies, cultural backgrounds and the ways of theatre operation between China and the United States, as well as in what and how things were taught at the two institutions.

At the end of the talk, Ms. Ju Ping concluded that the CAD had been working to further the internationalization of higher education in theatre arts, by leveraging top educational resources at home and abroad to nurture qualified professionals of theatre art who adapted to the trend of globalization. Speaking of the future plan, Ms Ju promised that the Academy would provide students with more opportunities for international communication, and help them achieve constant self-improvement through the research and practice in theatre management. This is part of the CAD’s effort to contribute to the prosperity and development of China's theatre, film and television industry.

Ms. Ju Ping

Previous CAD Participants in the ‘3+2’ Program at Columbia College Chicago