On Tuesday, March 2, IBM announced
that its award-winning, U.S.$70 million Reinventing Education
program would be expanded to include the People's Republic
of China (PRC). Under Reinventing Education partnerships,
IBM technologies and expertise are used to help induce systemic
educational change. The Chinese effort will be called “Basic
Education, Innovative Teaching and Learning.” It is
expected to reach thousands of Chinese teachers and students
over the next two years.
“[IBM's] contribution to education is far beyond only
IT applications,” said Ms. Chen Xiao Ya, Assistant Minister
of Education and Director-General of Basic Education Division.
“IBM [also] underpins the development of not-for-profit
organizations and education institutions with its advantage
in technology, capital and global resources.”
Stanley Litow, Vice President, IBM Corporate
Community Relations enjoys his tour of Cuiweilu Elementary School
in Beijing. Litow was in the country to announce IBM's first
Reinventing Education grant in China.
“Basic Education, Innovative Teaching & Learning:”
Building on Success
IBM and Chinese representatives gather
for the historic Reinventing Education announcement at Cuiweilu
Elementary School in Beijing. (Left to right) Ms. Chen Xiao
Ya, assistant minister of Education and Director-General of
Basic Education Division; Stanley Litow, Julie Coyne, program
manager, CCR AP; Qiu Xiao Ping, CCR manager China; Victor Kuo,
University Relations Manager China.
The Reinventing Education grant
is a joint effort by IBM and the People's Republic of China
Ministry of Education. A key feature of the effort is utilization
of educational experts and practitioners from within China
and abroad to share innovative teaching methods and skills
with in-service teachers.
Already, 24 leading Chinese teachers from 12 schools representing
four regions of China have participated in skills-transfer
sessions led by leading Australian education experts benefiting
3,200 students. As the program expands over the next two years,
1,200 teachers will be trained, directly benefiting 60,000
students.
“IBM believes that a strong community is a key to a
company’s success,” said Litow. “To this
end, a key focus of our work has been on raising the quality
of public education and bridging the digital divide. Reinventing
Education is IBM’s flagship philanthropic grant program.”
The
new Reinventing Education initiative represents the latest step
in an ongoing collaboration between the company and the Chinese
Minister of Education that includes the IBM University program and
the IBM KidSmart Early Learning program which targets preschool
students and teachers.
During the past five years, IBM has donated $80 million in cash,
equipment and expertise to not-for-profits organizations and education
institutions in China. On January 15, 2004, IBM received from the
PRC Ministry of Education the inaugural “Outstanding Contribution
to Education Award” in recognition of IBM's outstanding contribution
to China's education community.
For more information on the IBM Reinventing Education initiative,
go to the Reinventing
Education Web site.
