U.S.-China Education Foundation
A
Project of S.A.G.E., Inc.
The Society for Advancement of Global Education, Inc.
About the U.S.-China Education Foundation
The U.S.-China Education Foundation (USCEF) was conceived in 1978 on the eve of "Normalization," (U.S.-China Formal Agreement) and founded in 1979 by Dr. Joseph B. Kennedy, Sr.*, who later became its first president. The Foundation began as a result of his daughter, Jojan, then a student at Duke University, being invited by the Chinese Minister of Education to be the first American to study in a summer language program. Dr. Kennedy was also appointed by Dr. Terry Stanford, President of Duke University, as the representative to China for the university.
With the program formally organized in the summer of 1980, in cooperation with American colleges and universities, Dr. Kennedy arranged for the first group of beginning language students to ever study in China. This breakthrough offered the students, with no former experience in Chinese language study, a "total immersion" program. This experiment proved most successful, and is now a part of the ongoing curriculum of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China.
USCEF was chartered in Washington, D.C., as a nonprofit organization in 1981. Its primary purpose is helping to send students from the United States to the People's Republic of China to study putonghua (Mandarin), the official Chinese language, as well as the rich history and culture of the Chinese people. The experience of a first hand view of life as a student in China is possible only through an educational program. Further, the charter gave the mandate to assist students form the People's Republic of China to come to the United States to learn our language and experience our culture, then return to assist their country in its goals.
USCEF innovated programs in the area of music, sports, martial arts, Mongolian and Cantonese languages, as well as established low-cost trips for students.
Early, USCEF realized that the increasing cost of travel, combined with inflation and other factors, had placed this type of study and travel beyond the reach of many people. USCEF continued to work with the Ministry of Education to keep program costs as low as possible. A student willing to go on a "no frills" travel plan could visit China. Therefore, a program was developed offering a low cost flight and travel plan with students traveling in China and attending a university in Canton for as little as $1,950. In fact, our program costs across the board decreased from 1979 to 1981. For what was offered, it was the lowest cost and highest quality program then available for Americans.
In 1979, 18 students went to China. In 1980, 85 went to China. In 1981, the summer program alone had 130 students. Two hundred forty students participated in 1982, and we grew to over 300 in 1983, almost 400 in 1984. We are now the oldest operating language education foundation in China, as well as the single largest sending education organization to the People's Republic of China from the United States, perhaps the whole world.
We believe that the best place to learn to speak Chinese is in China. Dr. Kennedy has said that the significant achievement of the short-term 4-6 week program was that our American students "learn that they can learn" what they once believed to be the most difficult of all languages. Many, with this introduction, retuned to study Chinese in the U.S. and later return to China for a long-term study from one to four years. One of our oldest students, Dr. Barnett, a retired professor from a New York university, went in 1979 and taught at Beijing University for many years. The USCEF program expanded to include people of all ages and interests. The building of friendship bridges and the learning of each other's language, culture, and history may yet prove to be one of the most significant contributions to international understanding and world peace.
After the Tiananmen Square, June 4, 1999 event, Dr. Kennedy withdrew from sending students until he could go personally and assess the true situation. From that point, the Foundation directs those who apply to other organizations we have investigated and can recommend.
Plans now are for USCEF to begin some innovative and new programs in China, Singapore, and other Asian countries in 2003. Keep in touch through this site; if you want to be on the Newsletter mailing list, send either your email address or your snail-mail address to: uscef@sage-usa.net, S.A.G.E. - U.S.C.E.F., 4140 Oceanside Blvd., Ste 159 - #112, Oceanside, CA 92056-6005.
*Notes About The President
After founding USCEF in 1979, Dr. Kennedy was honored in 1980 when he was appointed "Special Assistant to the President and Consultant to Nanjing University" by Kuang Ya Ming, the legendary president of that university. He was the first American appointed to a position in China since the revolution. That year, Dr. Kennedy served as a consultant to the Ministry of Health, and worked with the outstanding leader of their Foreign Affairs Office, Dr. Chun Keru. Dr. Kennedy has taken many special delegations to China to aid the development and growth of their economy. He has negotiated exchange programs and "sister" relationships between several U.S. and Chinese universities. He is deeply committed to the program of language training in China and cultural exchange. As president and chairman of the board of Kennedy International Associates, Inc. an international consulting firm and "Think Tank," he is also involved in the fields of international business and finance. Dr. Kennedy's firm, ISSUE (International Sales and Services Unlimited Enterprises), established in 1965, then operated with offices in Macao, Hong Kong, Zurich and Los Angeles. As Chairman of this import-export company, he promoted Chinese goods on the international market. One hundred percent of the profit from his companies was invested in the work in China.
S.A.G.E.
The Society for Advancement of Global Education, Inc.
A Non-Profit Foundation
4140 Oceanside Boulevard, Suite 159 - #112
Oceanside, CA 92056-6005
