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Dean Richman returns from teaching and developing partnerships in China

UNC School of Social Work Dean Jack Richman recently returned from a 10-day trip to China as part of an ongoing partnership with several international peers to share academic research and training. Photo Gallery

Richman, who visited Shanghai from March 16-26, was invited to teach three MSW classes at East China University of Science and Technology, School of Social and Public Administration and one BSW class at East China Normal University. During the trip, Richman also presented to 50 social work practitioners from various agencies in the Huangpu District in Shanghai. His lectures focused on intervention research and translating practice theory into evidence-based practice.

The trip comes two months after a delegation of faculty from the East China University visited Carolina to learn more from School of Social Work faculty who are leading projects and activities on social work research and education. The trips are part of a faculty and student exchange program that developed out of a “memorandum of understanding” agreement that the School signed with East China University in 2008. The partnership enables students to study at the partner universities and faculty to collaborate on research, grants and other projects.

“This really is about relationship, relationship, relationship,” Richman said of his latest trip to China. “Global endeavors, which the university wants you to invest in, really are about developing relationships and then being available to bring in the expertise. They come here and they learn and they get excited about work going on here, and then they want us to share there. It’s also about developing areas of interest in common that will also result in research.”