University of Toronto President Addresses
AP® Canada Conference
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 George Ewonus (right), director of AP® in Canada, introduces President David Naylor of the University of Toronto. |
Canada’s annual Ontario Advanced Placement® Conference was held last month at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York Hotel with 175 teachers, principals, superintendents and school board
trustees in attendance.
More than 80 percent of the attendees were new to AP, which isn’t surprising considering that this College Board program is still fairly new in Canada. George Ewonus, director of Advanced Placement® in Canada, says he has seen astonishing growth within the program in recent years. The number of Canadian high schools offering AP has increased from one to 510 in the last 20 years. Nearly 14,000 Canadian students were enrolled in AP classes last year, taking more than 20,000 AP Exams. The program has really taken off in British Columbia and Alberta, where provincial ministries and high schools use the program to give their students a competitive edge.
The keynote speaker for the conference was David Naylor, president of the University of Toronto, which is one of Canada's most prestigious universities and one of only five universities in the world ranked in the top 16 in all its faculties by peer review. The other four are Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford and Berkeley. In his talk, "Curious and Motivated: Why AP Students Thrive in a Research University," Naylor discussed the reasons he believes AP students are so successful at his university, which received more than 1,000 AP Exams last year. He also explained the reasons behind the university’s decision to award up to three AP credits from 16 eligible AP courses and what he believes the role of research universities should be in undergraduate education.
The next AP event in Canada will be the 2009 Advanced Placement Summer Institute, which will be held in late June and early July at Toronto’s St. Clement's School. The institute will offer intensive training from experienced AP teachers for AP and Pre-AP® teachers and administrators.
2nd Annual National Chinese Language Conference Draws More Than 900 Participants to Chicago
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It seemed fitting to hold the second annual Chinese Language Conference in Chicago, as the Windy City is home to the largest K-12 Chinese program in the United States. From April 30 to May 2, leaders from across K-16 education around the world met at the Chicago Marriott Magnificent Mile to share best practices and build partnerships to advance the field of Chinese language education. The event was co-sponsored by the College Board and Asia Society and hosted by Chicago Public Schools.
The opening plenary dinner on April 30 included remarks from College Board President Gaston Caperton and Robert A. Davis, manager of World Language and International Studies for Chicago Public Schools. Adding to the evening’s excitement, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley addressed the crowd, detailing Chicago’s history with immigrant populations, its dedication to educating all citizens' and its ongoing relationship with its sister city in Shenyang, China. The evening’s guest of honor was Madame Xu Lin, director general of the Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban) and chief executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters, who spoke about Hanban and, Confucius Institute initiatives that support the efforts of U.S. schools and educational institutions. Renowned concert violinist Xiang Gao closed the evening with performances of Western and Chinese music. The Stradivari Society of Chicago and Bein & Fushi Inc., provided the two priceless Stradivarius violins that Gao played in honor of the occasion.
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Utah Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr. caused a sensation
at the luncheon on May 1, when he kicked off his remarks in fluent Mandarin. Continuing in English, Gov. Huntsman shared his views on how much
better the world would be today if we paid more
regard to the teachings of Confucius. Describing
Utah as “the fastest growing state in America,
” the governor said that Utah is taking global engagement to an extra level.
Rounding out the conference activities were comprehensive breakout sessions ranging from “How to Expand World Languages in Your State” to “Supporting, Engaging and Supervising Chinese Guest Teachers.”The conference also included a screening of the film “My Beijing Birthday,” a documentary that takes a heartfelt and humorous look at the changing lives of a group of Beijingers through the eyes of an American, Howie Snyder.
The final plenary of the conference, “World Language Education Around the Globe: What Can We Learn from One Another?” featured remarks by Peter Negroni, College Board senior vice president of relationship development; Joseph Lo Bianco, associate dean at the University of Melbourne; Jun Liu, head of the Department of English at the University of Arizona; and Shuhan Wang, executive director of Chinese Language Initiatives at Asia Society.
College Board and Asia Society Meet with
Chinese Delegation
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| Gaston Caperton and Madame Liu Yandong |
During the last 150 years, the Willard Hotel, located two blocks from the White House and the National Mall, has been the gathering place of great leaders and statesmen. Every American president since Franklin Pierce has either slept or attended an event in this grand space. Therefore, it seemed a fitting backdrop for a high-level delegation from the People’s Republic of China’s Ministry of Education to sign a memorandum of understanding on April 16 with the College Board and Asia Society.
The purpose of the signing ceremony was to extend the collaboration between the College Board and Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters through 2014. In a separate agreement, Hanban/Confucius Institute Headquarters and Asia Society also agreed to extend their relationship an additional five years.
The delegation was led by State Councilor Madame Liu Yandong and included Minister of Education Zhou Ji, Vice Minister of Science and Technology Li Xueyong, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign affairs. Madame Liu is the highest-ranking female member of the Chinese Government and the only female member of Politburo. With a broad portfolio that includes leading the mid-to long-term strategic planning for the nation’s education, science and technology, culture, sports, and social development sectors, she also served as vice chairman of the Beijing Olympics.
“The College Board is honored to continue our historic collaboration with Hanban,” said Gaston Caperton
“The rich cultural exchange we have undertaken during the past three years would not have been possible
with Hanban’s support. U.S. educators, students and families across the country have embraced Chinese
language learning. In continuing our work, we will be able to promote greater understanding between our
two great countries.”
Monts and Montoya Address Educators at the 4th International Forum of Leading Schools in Xi’An, China
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| (left to right) Liu Changming, principal, Beijing No. 4 High School; Clay Hensley, International Services, the College Board; Liu Yanning, China Federation of IT Promotion; Lester Monts, senior vice provost, University of Michigan; Jim Montoya, vice president, Higher Education Relationship Development, the College Board.
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The 2009 European Union Education Foundation (CHEER) International Forum of Leading Schools, held April 4-6 in Xi’an, China, at Xi’an Jiang-Tong University, featured two prominent education leaders associated with the College Board, College Board Vice President Jim Montoya and Lester Monts, former chair of the College Board’s Board of Trustees.
Montoya delivered the keynote address, speaking about the role that education plays in creating global citizens. Monts was featured in a university panel during a keynote session, discussing ways in which world-class secondary schools prepare students for global higher education. Monts is the senior vice provost for academic affairs; senior counselor to the president for the arts, diversity and undergraduate affairs; and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Music at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
More than 200 educators from four continents attended the forum. The conference aims to bring together heads of secondary schools and higher education institutions from around the globe “to communicate, cooperate and offer one another dedicated support.” Speakers focused on how schools can innovate to keep pace with an ever-changing world while staying faithful to their own cultures.
This forum provides an opportunity for participants to explore education reforms, expand school development space and connect secondary school education with world-renowned universities by improving the communication and cooperation between China’s educators and their counterparts throughout the globe.
Increasingly the College Board serves a role of connecting students and educators internationally through its programs and services.
Clay Hensley, representing the College Board’s International Services unit, made a presentation on
College Board programs and their role within international admissions.
The forum also facilitates collaboration and exchange between secondary schools within China and abroad. Agreements were formalized between the school affiliated with Xi’an Jiaotong University and both the University School in Hunting Valley, Ohio (a College Board member), and the Royal High School, in Bath, England.
For more information about this event or CHEER, please visit the International Forum of Leading Schools or CHEER Web sites.
Events & Workshops 
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Click here to see events and workshops in the Southwestern Region.
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During this pivotal time in our nation, the College Board invites you to join us for two special opportunities to connect with education professionals dedicated to impacting change and increasing college readiness.
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For secondary-school related inquiries regarding AP®, PSAT/NMSQT® and SAT® and international university recognition Phone: 212-373-8738 For inquiries regarding international higher education institutions' use of the SAT, international student recruitment resources and programs for U.S. colleges and the Summer Institute for International Admissions for overseas counselors: For inquiries regarding the programs of the Puerto Rico and Latin America Office For information AP Canada |
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