Students in the College of Education and Health Professions as well as students from other University of Arkansas colleges are invited to participate in a three-week faculty-led study abroad experience in the summer of 2016 to Xuzhou, China, to learn about education in the People's Republic of China.

Applications for the program will be accepted beginning Sept. 23, and information is available on the Office of Study Abroad & International Exchange website or from Carsten Schmidtke, 133B Graduate Education Building, 479-575-4047, cswded@uark.edu. Students can also learn more about the program at the first scheduled information meeting at 2 p.m. Sept. 30 in Peabody Hall 317.

Jiangsu Normal University in Xuzhou will host the students. They will attend several lectures on education in China (held in English) and have an opportunity to interact with university faculty and Chinese peers to learn about college life in China.

Participants will also visit local schools, observe classroom teaching, and be able to speak with teachers and students from elementary, middle, high, and vocational schools.

Finally, participants will learn about Chinese culture and history. They will participate in Chinese language and culture classes and take weekend trips to Beijing and to Qufu, considered the hometown of Confucius and a UNESCO world heritage site.

Carsten Schmidtke, assistant professor of human resource and workforce development, and Vinson Carter, assistant professor of STEM education, will lead the trip, which is a new program offered by the College of Education and Health Professions.