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Students from Gwangju University
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Students from Shanghai Customs College
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International Students Spend Summer at WIU

July 29, 2016

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MACOMB, IL – Students from Shanghai Customs College (China) spent three weeks (July 7-29) studying American Policies, border issues, customs, and the American criminal justice system on the Macomb campus of Western Illinois University. The program included a visit to a state crime lab in Springfield, an introduction to "fusion centers," an overnight stay in the Quad Cities and a trip to Chicago.

The relationship with Shanghai Customs College began when Richard Carter, WIU's executive director of the School of Distance Learning, International Studies and Outreach, received an introduction through his travels on the Illinois Higher Education Trade Mission to China. Two administrators from the college visited campus last July and discussion began on possible collaborations.

The program was developed by Helena Lira, assistant director from the office of Distance Learning, International Studies and Outreach.

"Not only are the students learning about law enforcement and justice administration and a different culture, being on campus gives them the opportunity to consider graduate school at WIU," said Lira.

During the program, students received instruction from several faculty members in the law enforcement and justice administration department, as well as other departments on campus.

Some of the topics covered were branches of American government such as checks and balances, executive, legislative and judicial; an overview of state, local and federal government; the U.S. criminal justice system; team building; a police officer power test demonstration; a speaker from the Illinois State Police; a presentation by the Office of Public Safety; global economics; homeland security; customs and border patrol; and policing in America. Students also got a chance to learn about the American culture, such as the history of music and dance.

Binghong Ximen, a sophomore customs management major from Shanghai Customs College, was very impressed with WIU and the beautiful campus.

"There are no walls and no gates which makes WIU very integrated into the community," said Ximen. "It is nice because it avoids isolating students from the society. At every corner in Macomb we see signs on WIU."

Ximen said he was most impressed with the natural environment and the library.

"We treasure every moment we have spent here and the people we have met are awesome," he said.

"We run a comprehensive, public safety oriented program," said Jill Myers, director of WIU's School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA). The program identifies best practices for policing in various settings. "Ethics and critical thinking are important skills that we stress and reinforce using practical and authentic scenarios," said Myers. LEJA encourages diverse thinking and evidenced based practices.

The students from Shanghai Customs College got to see a comparative analysis of LEJA in the United States versus how they operate in China. They were able to learn how business is conducted in the U.S. – figuring out the happy medium between what the public wants while giving the government what they need.

"I hope that after this experience, the students will have learned that America is very diverse and that we preserve our core values," said Myers.

There were also students from Gwangju University (Korea) and Nantong Normal College (China) that visited campus this summer.

Fourteen students from Gwangju University participated in a five-week (June 24 – Aug 1) English as a Second Language (ESL) short-term program and 21 students and three chaperones from Nantong College participated in a four-week (July 1-28) ESL short-term program this summer.

The students took courses including listening and speaking, reading and writing and American culture. In addition to courses, the students experienced many American culture activities included but not limited to putting up flags at Chandler Park on the fourth of July, a fourth of July picnic, field trips to local cities, overnight in St. Louis and Chicago, a homestay weekend, star viewing at Veterans Park and visiting a local farm.

The School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration at WIU is the largest criminal justice program in the state of Illinois and one of the largest in the United States. LEJA students make up about 15 percent of the student enrollment on campus. It is internationally known for academic excellence – and ranks among the top programs in the United States.

To learn about the LEJA program at WIU, visit wiu.edu/coehs/leja/.

Posted By: Katie Hopping (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing