Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Taking the Lead with Institutional Alliances:
Collaborations and Educational Outreach at
Pitt
NCTA
Dennis Hart, Ph.D.
Associate Director
Asian Studies Center
University of Pittsburgh
Title VI 50th Anniversary Conference
Enhancing Outreach Models for the Future
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Structure of Presentation
Asian Studies Center at the University of
Pittsburgh
 Challenges & the benefits of partnerships
Confucius Institute
NCTA (National Consortium for Teaching
about Asia)
 Future collaborations
The University of Pittsburgh
 Founded
in 1787
 Fact Book:
3,800 full-time faculty members
 34,000 students
 15 undergrad/grad/professional schools
 5 campuses
 4 National Resource Centers

Asian Studies Center
Overview

The ASC has been designated since 1988 as an
undergraduate National Resource Center in East Asian
Studies by the U.S. Department of Education. This
identifies the ASC at the University of Pittsburgh as being
among the best and most comprehensive in the country in
research, public service, and teaching about East Asia.
Asian Studies Center
Overview (continued)

Typically more than 3,500 graduate and undergraduate students
enroll each year in Asia-related courses.

Graduate and undergraduate students interested in Asia can
supplement and strengthen their major field of study by
enrolling in the Asian Studies Certificate Program.
Asian Studies Center
Outreach
Outreach is an integral part of ASC’s mission to serve the greater Pittsburgh
community as well as the multi-state region of Delaware, Maryland, West
Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Toward this end, the ASC provides a range of
programs.

Educational Outreach:
Pre-K through 16 educational outreach focuses on teacher-training workshops, early
childhood education programming, and educational events for middle and high
school students.
Asian Studies Center
Challenges

Financial Troubles:
As is the case with many universities, recent economic troubles in the US
and the world have made funding for outreach more difficult to maintain.

Reduced Resources in Schools and Community:
Fewer schools and community organizations have the ability to support
outreach by themselves.
Asian Studies Center
Partnerships as one solution

Title VI can help leveraging existing funding sources:
When a single funding source can not support a project,
Title VI funding can supplement /complement.
 Strategic use of Title VI funds can draw attention/invite
interest reciprocal support for projects.
 Title VI funding and host institution can combine to produce
leadership and inter-organizational focus for existing funds
and organizations.

Asian Studies Center
Bringing in Confucius Institute and
creating a partnership for out reach
NCTA
Making use of existing
program funded by the
Freeman Foundation to teach
about East Asia.
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
The Confucius Institute
Initiative
 Initiated by PRC in 1987 by 12 National
ministries & commissions (e.g. MOE, MOF,MOP)
 Mission: To promote & enhance Chinese
language & culture.
 First CI was established in 2004.
 Now, 305 CI institutes/classes in 78 countries.
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
The Confucius Institute
 CI-Pitt was first established in 2007.
 CI-Pitt is housed in ASC, which helps oversee its
budgets, provides staff, and helps coordinate its
impressive outreach efforts.
This close relationship encourages shared activities
among the ASC, Title VI, NCTA, Pitt, private institutions,
public institutions, and our community.
http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/cipitt/index.html
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
2008 Award for CI-Pitt
 “The Confucius Institute of the Year”.
 Only 3 in the US selected as CI of the year: CIPitt, CI-Kansas, CI in Chicago.
Only 20 in the world selected as CI of the year.
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
The Confucius Institute at Pitt
 Establishment: May 2007
 Satellite Campus: St. Vincent College
 Fourteen Visiting Teachers from Wuhan
University
 School Districts & University/Colleges surrounding Pittsburgh
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
CI Pitt Growth
Classroom
Learning
Teachers
Students
2007
2008 2009
2
146
10
14
1,128 1,500
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Adult Evening Classes
•Using Pitt staff, faculty, facilities, and connections, CIPitt and ASC have extended the outreach of both
programs.
•Both Title VI and CI funding have come into play.
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Seminars and Lectures
 Sponsored by CI-Pitt and ASC
 Nanjing Massacre Film and Lecture, 2007
 "Great Wall, Terrible Towel: Understanding China, Connecting to
Pittsburgh" a series of 6 lectures sponsored by the Confucius
Institute, ASC, and Winchester Thurston School, 2008
 China’s Water Woes, 2008 (Pitt)
China’s Environmental Symposium at St. Vincent College, 2008
Number of participants
Students & Adults: 2007 / 80; 2008 / 449
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Cultural Outreach
 K-12 Cultural Activities

Autumn Festival, Chinese New Year Celebration,
Lantern Festival, International Fair, Chinese Calligraphy,
Paper Cutting, Chinese Music and Songs, Chinese Movies,
China Club, and more.
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Even More Cultural Outreach
CI-Pitt Sponsored Cultural Events
 China Month at Pitt: Celebrating Chinese New Year &
Promoting 2008 Beijing Olympics
 Peking Opera: Peony Pavilion
 China Night at Frick International Studies Academy
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Yes, More Cultural Outreach
 Total Participants :
Students & Adults: 2007: 1,234; 2008: 6,032
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Community-based Activities
 China Night at Frick International Academy
 A School-Parent-Student Event: over 250
participants
 Learning Chinese Culture & Promoting 2008
Beijing Olympics
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Community-based Activities
 2008 China’s Environmental Symposium
 St. Vincent College with co-sponsorship of
CI-Pitt and ASC
 Participants: about 100 scholars and adults
from local community
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
National Consortium for Teaching about Asia
NCTA
 As is the case with CI-Pitt, the NCTA is housed in ASC, who
helps to oversee its budgets, provides staff, and helps coordinate
impressive outreach efforts to teachers.
 NCTA, funded by the Freeman
Foundation and launched in
1998, is a nationwide initiative to
encourage and facilitate teaching
and learning about East Asia in
the K-12 curriculum.
•NCTA targets teachers of world
history, world geography, other
social studies courses, and
language arts/world literature .
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
National Consortium for Teaching about Asia
NCTA
• In August 2001, the University of Pittsburgh joined NCTA as a
regional site serving Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West
Virginia.
• In 2008, the University of Pittsburgh was promoted to an NCTA
National Coordinating Site.
•Website: http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/ncta/
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
National Consortium for Teaching about Asia
NCTA
• In August 2000, the University of Pittsburgh joined NCTA with
one site.
•By 2002 there were five seminars being held. In 2005, NCTA-Pitt
began to support six seminars a year at six different sites. That
continued through 2008.
• In 2008, the University of Pittsburgh was promoted to an NCTA
National Coordinating Site. Ta da!
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
National Consortium for Teaching about Asia
NCTA
• Each site strives to have 20-22 teachers register for the seminar. We
budget for 100 teachers per year. Typically 70-80 finish the course and
complete all requirements.
•Seminars have been held in Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia and
Pennsylvania. 2009 seminars are being held at Bucknell University, in
Berks County, PA with the Berks County Intermediate Unit, University of
Delaware, University of Pittsburgh Bradford campus, and University of
Maryland, Baltimore County.
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
National Consortium for Teaching about Asia
• Study tours: the three-week study tours travel
to China and Japan; one tour has included Korea
on the itinerary.
•Since 2007, NCTA and CI have co-sponsored
these study tours. ASC has arranged for Pitt
support and faculty to head these tours.
NCTA
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
National Consortium for Teaching about Asia
• Collaborations Sponsored through ASC:
•World History lecture series with the
World History Center.
• Peony Pavilion with the Confucius
Institute.
•China Today with Carnegie Melon
University.
•Study tours with universities in Asia.
NCTA
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Partnerships with Title VI
• Collaborations Sponsored through ASC:
•Since 2005, over 60 events involving other institution/partner.
•Title VI funds leveraged at over a 3:1 ration with partners from private
sector, universities, community groups, and major corporations.
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Partnerships with Title VI
• Collaborations Sponsored through ASC:
NCTA
•Food and Culture in Asia outreach with UCIS, Global Studies, Japanese
American Association of Pittsburgh, local K-12 schools.
• Jero Concert teacher workshop with CI, ASC, Pitt African American
Student Association.
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Centers of Excellence starting in 2009:
-4 week long school based at Pitt.
-Grades 10-12.
-3 hours a day of language/culture on Asia.
-Chinese, Japanese, Korean
Partners include:
-ASC
-Global Studies Center at Pitt
-Confucius Institute
-NCTA
-Pitt Honors College
-Title VI
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
Asian Studies Center at the University of Pittsburgh
ED.gov
U.S. Department of Education
Promoting educational excellence for all Americans
NCTA