United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia Newsletter

1. s P r iNg 2 0 1 1 U NiTE D Boar D f o r C h r i sT i a N h i gh Er EDUC aT i o N i N a si a
N E w P r E s i DE N T, o l D fr i E N D
Dr. Nancy E. Chapman became When and hoW did you first from my service on the board had
President of the United Board on learn about the united board? prepared me to make a contribution
January 3, 2011. Though new to to the United Board’s work. I have
Early in my career, I worked with
the position of President, she has a spent my entire career working in
several U.S. organizations engaged
long-standing relationship with the or with Asian institutions of higher
in educational exchange work with
United Board, which she discusses education, and I also have experience
China. There were not very many
in this interview. in the field of philanthropy.
American organizations working with
China in those days, but the United
Board was one, so I got to know ...the opportunity to
some of its staff then.
build on this foundation
you had been a trustee of is very appealing.”
the united board since 2003.
What made you seek the role
of President? And perhaps most fundamentally,
the faith and values that undergird
From my earliest days on the board the United Board’s work are ones
of trustees, I have been struck by that I share and that resonate with
the deep sense of partnership and my personal history, since a number
shared purpose that pervades the of my forebears were missionary
organization and characterizes educators in Sri Lanka and
our relationships with our partners South Africa.
throughout Asia. It’s extraordinary
– whenever I meet a scholar or hoW is the united board’s
university administrator who has mission of suPPorting
worked with the United Board or christian Presence in higher
participated in one of our programs, education in asia best Put
I sense the high esteem in which the into action?
United Board is held throughout the
With flexibility, great sensitivity and
region, as well as the affection that
PagE
inside this issue: discernment. There is such diversity
people feel for our organization. This
of all kinds throughout Asia –
1 New President, Old Friend reflects, I think, the thoughtfulness
diversity of resources, of needs,
and dedication of our staff and
2 AULP: Empowering New Leaders of culture, and of approaches
trustees, along with that of our
to education. Fortunately, the
3 Miriam College: Local predecessors over the years. So,
United Board has a very inclusive
Knowledge in a Globalized Age the opportunity to build on this
understanding of Christian presence
3 United Board Friend: foundation is very appealing.
that can accommodate a broad
Dr. William K. Lee range of educational endeavors.
I also felt that my professional
4 Program Calendar background and what I had learned continued on next page 

2. NE w P rEsiDEN T, o l D fr i E ND
continued from page 1
I think we work best when we work Oh, certainly! I spend most of my I’ve always considered him a kind of
collaboratively, listening to, supporting, free time with my two boys, and kindred spirit. I just wish I had a fraction
and complementing the efforts of they’ve taught me all sorts of things: of his talent!
our partners. the rules of baseball, amazing card
tricks, and what it’s like growing up go online
What do you like to do When
in the digital age. I also enjoy reading Go to unitedboard.org
you’re not at Work? is there
mystery novels and modern history. for Dr. Chapman’s full bio.
a side of you besides the
Also, I love to listen to or play anything
Professional one?
by Bach – we share a birthday, so
Programs
aUl P: EmP owE r i Ng NE w l E aDEr s
“The experience I gained in an education, to quality assessment,
American academic environment to resource generation – she also
fueled my passion for teaching valued talking to other leaders about
and research,” she said in a recent how they meet challenges. “AULP
interview, “and strengthened me was an invaluable experience because
through the challenges I faced in a new it provided new insights into leadership
establishment, a new workplace, a new styles. The cross-cultural experience
team and of course a different culture. – interacting with leaders from
When I returned to WCC invigorated universities across Asia – was truly
and with a broader perspective of inspiring and motivating.”
education, I was identified by the
Dr. Waller continues to draw benefits
then-principal for an administrative
from her United Board experiences.
position as the dean of residents, which
“I’m nurturing leadership among my
further empowered me for leadership.”
colleagues,” she said, “and my focus
AULP is designed to give new and is on capacity building and infusing
seasoned leaders of Asian colleges and team spirit among them. I’ve learned
universities specialized skills training, to be more structured, systematic and
as well as an opportunity to share disciplined, which I observed in United
When ridling margaret Waller
information with their peers. Each year, Board programs.” She finds even
attended the United Board’s Asian
about 15 presidents, vice presidents, greater inspiration in her Christian
University Leaders Program (AULP) in
deans and other key administrators faith. “I consider leadership a ‘calling.’
January 2007, she had been Principal
attend the four-day program. In my case, it was with a purpose – to
of Women’s Christian College (WCC)
serve a diverse college community
in Chennai, India, for only seven Dr. Waller found common ground
unconditionally.”
months. But she had begun to hone with the other participants at the
her leadership skills seven years earlier, 2007 AULP, in terms of “responsibilities,
as a United Board visiting scholar at challenges, lifestyle, commitment go online
Davidson College in the United States and vision.” As important as the Go to unitedboard.org for
from 2000 to 2001. presentations were – on topics more information on AULP.
ranging from trends in higher
mis s io n neW york office hong kong office
The United Board for Christian 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1221 1/F, Chung Chi College Administration Building
Higher Education in Asia works New York, New York 10115 The Chinese University of Hong Kong
to support a Christian presence in 212.870.2600 Shatin, Hong Kong
2 www.unitedboard.org colleges and universities in Asia. info@unitedboard.org 852.3163.4215

3. ParT NEr s UNiTED BoarD friEND
m i r i am C o ll E g E : gi vi Ng B aC k :
lo C al k N owl E Dg E i N a g lo Ba l i z E D ag E Dr . w i l l i a m k . lE E
dr. William k. lee
educators in asia see that globalization offers their
students unprecedented opportunities to acquire knowledge, communicate became a United Board
across borders and, ultimately, embark on 21st-century careers. Yet as Joel trustee in 1997 but his
Yuvienco and Maria Lourdes Quisumbing-Baybay of Miriam College point relationship with the
students toward the future, they also organization actually
are actively promoting education that began decades earlier.
incorporates traditional practices and When he was a student at Yonsei
other forms of local knowledge. University in Seoul, Korea in the 1960s,
many of the school’s library books
For all the benefits of globalization, were purchased with United Board
there are risks as well. “Globalization support. “This was a period of financial
may bring about the homogenization difficulty in Korea,” Dr. Lee said. “Korea
of culture and national identity,” says didn’t have much access to foreign
Dr. Quisumbing-Baybay. “We see this currency then, so its support from the
among our students who increasingly United Board was a valuable source of
are exposed to dominant cultures dollars.” When he used library books
through the Internet.” Mr. Yuvienco for his studies, he was a beneficiary of
points out that the power and popularity the United Board, even before he knew
of digital tools add to this trend. about the organization.
“As digital tools become easier to use,
content production that references Dr. Lee’s career took him from Yonsei
the present context – ‘What is on your classrooms to a successful medical
mind?’ – may tend to trivialize the past.” practice in northern New Jersey. His
commitment to Yonsei and the United
Is there a way for educators to combine Board shows he believes in giving back
the best of both worlds, using these to organizations that have helped him.
These projects,” readily available, modern tools to In the 1990s he served as President
Mr. Yuvienco says, integrate local, traditional or overlooked of the Yonsei Alumni Association and
“open windows into resources into their teaching? That’s helped to solidify relationships between
the minds of the people the starting point for the United the United Board and other Yonsei
Board’s Local Knowledge Initiative, alumni in the United States. As Chair
behind the artifacts.”
which encourages faculty to develop of the United Board’s Development
courses that actively involve students Committee, Dr. Lee has increased
in the process of collecting, organizing and analyzing information related the organization’s network of friends
to cultural practices, languages, music, dance, agricultural practices, social and stressed the importance of close
relations, livelihood and other forms of local knowledge. Miriam College, stewardship of United Board supporters.
located in Quezon City, the Philippines, is the lead institution for the initiative.
“Mature” organizations, like Yonsei
There’s a fundamental role for Asia’s institutions of higher education. Medical University and the United
“While we appreciate the universality of the human person in terms of Board, can also give back, according
values and the need for peace and understanding among different people,” to Dr. Lee, by sharing their expertise.
Dr. Quisumbing-Baybay says, “we also help ensure that the diversity and “Today Yonsei is recognized as a leading
richness of cultures flourish.” For example, a conservation case study on international university,” he said. “Now
Javanese vernacular architecture, conducted by Soegijapranata Catholic it can help rising young institutions to
University with a grant from the United Board, will digitize existing develop.” The United Board, he believes,
knowledge and devise means to incorporate the resulting online archive “can continue to work with its extensive
into the university’s architectural courses. Seven other Local Knowledge network of Asian institutional partners
Initiative projects – on topics as diverse as herbal medicines, ecotourism to champion important educational
and traditional lullabies – are underway in China, India, the Philippines and initiatives.” Dr. Lee added, “With rising
Vietnam. “These projects,” Mr. Yuvienco says, “open windows into the minds wealth and a culture of philanthropy in
of the people behind the artifacts.” Asia, there could be great momentum
continued on next page  for developing support for the important
mission of the United Board.”
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4. Program C a l E NDar ParTNErs
m i r i a m C o l lE g E :
WorkshoP on the reflection and curriculum lo C a l k N ow lE Dg E
integration of Peace develoPment Planning
i N a glo B a l i z E D ag E
education into the teacher for interreligious under-
continued from page 3
education curriculum standing and Peacebuilding
april 25-29 (international conference)
may 21-24 Training in the use of tools is essential,
miriam College (Philippines)
international Christian University particularly for faculty who are not
(Japan) “digital natives.” Miriam College has
local knoWledge field already facilitated six United Board
camP: discovering local workshops and introduced an online
knoWledge in the 21st institute for advanced platform, the Asian University Digital
century, connecting study in asian cultures
Resource Network (link), for faculty
classrooms to the World and theologies (iasact)
to share ideas and resources. It’s
may 9-13 June 12 - July 16
also important “to walk our talk,” as
miriam College (Philippines) Chung Chi College,
Dr. Quisumbing-Baybay and Mr. Yuvienco
The Chinese University of
put it, by actively encouraging
hong kong (hong kong)
religion, Peace and War collaboration across disciplines and
from the PersPective of promoting largely unnoticed pedagogical
Peace studies united board innovations based on local knowledge
(international conference) felloWs seminar and digital tools.
may 21-22 July 18-23
Nanjing University Payap University (Thailand)
(People’s republic of China) go online
Go to unitedboard.org for more
information on this initiative.
4
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