Friday, 10 April 2009 01:20
An International exchange program sponsored by the United States government and organized by the Ameson Foundation was recently launched to help Chinese students experience a mixture of eastern and western cultures while at the same time sharpening their independent-analysis ability and problem-solving skills. In order to provide Junior 3, Senior 1, and Senior 2 students the means to participate in cultural exchange programs with American institutions, the Ameson Foundation collaborated with a number of elite Chinese high schools to select and then groom well-rounded elite Chinese students (aged from 15-18) to study for one academic year at American council schools.
As part of the program, students would live with local American families, who are expected to play a crucial role in helping them understand the nuances of American culture. In addition, relevant social activities will be organized to help further cultivate the social abilities of the Chinese students.
Professor Sean Zhang, Vice Chairman of the Ameson Foundation joined distinguished education experts from the US, including Dr. Robert.B.Schwartz, Academic Dean of Harvard Graduate School of Education, Dr. Steven. G.Seleznow, Program Director for Education, Gates Foundation, Dr.Allan Alson, Executive Director, High School Transformation, Dr. Evan Glazer, chancellor of Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, for an education visit to Hangzhou No. 2 Middle School in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.
Although Ameson actively engages in promoting the cultural values of many foreign countries in China as part of its numerous exchange programs, it also supports the cultural activities of young people in China. Ameson held its First Annual College Students' Hip-hop Dance Competition in Nanjing where more than 15 different dance ensembles preformed different dance routines. The competition was an opportunity for students express their passions in dance while emphasizing the importance of camaraderie and teamwork.
In an effort to encourage educational information exchange between China and other countries, Ameson will sponsor and assist with the organization and promotion of conferences between international education institutions. These collaborations will usually involve education administrations of various Chinese provincial governing bodies.
On Oct. 15, 2008, numerous dignitaries convened at Ameson Foundation’s Nanjing office to commemorate the signing of an agreement of cooperation between University of Warwick and the Ameson Foundation. Among those in attendance was Prof. Michael Whitby, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick, Mr. Kennedy, director of Warwick’s International Office and Ms. Xua, University of Warwick representative from the Shanghai office. In addition, senior consultants of the Ameson Foundation, including Prof. Cao Yamin, Mr. Li Rong and Mr. Wang, Principal of Ameson’s Institute of Foreign languages.
After taking part in the Dialogue with Elite Universities event hosted by the Ameson Foundation, a representative from the University of Bristol signed on with Ameson on July 23, 2008 to join the Ameson Chinese Elite Identification Scheme (ACEIS). 
Dr. Alan Bersin, the Education Secretary of California, Prof. Arlene Ackerman, Director of the Urban Education Leaders Program and the Superintendents Leadership Institute, Teachers College, Columbia University, and Mr. David Taylor, former Director of Inspection, Ofsted, UK, were invited by Professor Sean Zhang to participate in the “International Seminar of Practice and Theory of School Innovation” in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province.
Several education experts were invited by Professor Sean Zhang, Vice Chairman of the Ameson Foundation, to visit Zhejiang Province and participate in the "International Seminar of Practice and Theory of School Innovation" in Jiaxing.
“Student evaluation – collaboration between leading Chinese High Schools and leading UK universities”, a symposium organized by the Ameson Foundation and Cambridge University was held in March 2008 at the University of Cambridge in England. 
The Middle School Affiliated to Inner Mongolia Normal University became a test center of Ameson's ACEIS program. The school is a one of the very first key middle schools in the Inner Mongolia region of China. Its reputation and history of educating elite students has excelled in the evaluation of the Ameson Foundation. 
