This summer, Duke University’s Office of Duke Kunshan University Programs hosted 14 of China’s top Gaokao Champions for two days full of unique Duke experiences. From all across China, the students earned top scores on the gaokao exam for their provinces. The trip to Duke and three other prestigious US universities was sponsored by Baidu Wenku, the file-sharing web portal owned by internet giant Baidu. According to Baidu Wenku, the goal of the American university tour was to expose students to innovative technology in education.
Dr. Denis Simon, Executive Vice Chancellor of Duke Kunshan University, warmly welcomed the students and 11 Baidu staff to Duke with a breakfast at the Fuqua School of Business. In his speech, Dr. Simon said that now is one of the most exciting times to enter higher education, and encouraged the students to embrace new technology and research methods and to allow their curiosities to lead the way in their academic endeavors. ‘The answer to most of the world’s new problems will be solved by research that crosses the disciplines,’ Dr. Simon said.
Gaokao champions with Dr. Denis Simon, executive vice chancellor of Duke Kunshan
Energized by a tour of Duke’s Basketball Museum, Sports Hall of Fame, and Cameron Stadium, home of the famous Duke Basketball team, the Gaokao Champions participated in a workshop hosted by the Pratt School of Engineering, in which they learned about US classroom expectations and working on multicultural teams. On day two, the students explored the School of Nursing’s cutting edge simulation labs, participated in a Q&A session with Duke students at Undergraduate Admissions, spent time at Duke Chapel, and met with the world-renowned primate and canine cognition expert Dr. Brian Hare for a fun-filled lecture about his research. In fall 2014, Dr. Hare taught a popular course at Duke Kunshan– ‘Cognitive Evolution: Apes, Kids, and What Makes Humans Smart and Successful.’
Workshop at the Pratt School of Engineering on American lassroom expectations and working on multicultural teams
Visit to Cameron Stadium, home of the Duke basketball team
Tour of Duke School of Nursing simulation labs with Margie Molloy, director of the Center for Nursing Discovery and assistant professor of nursing at Duke
