Thinking about planning a short-term faculty-led program or even an academic-year experience? We can help create customized programs designed to meet your institution’s unique goals and needs. Hear from one of our on-site staff members below, and learn more about CET Custom Programs here.
On-Site Staff Snapshot
Name and Position: Zuo Cui (左翠), CET Beijing Custom Programs Resident Director
Years Working with CET: 15.5 years
Fun Fact: I started as a local roommate for the CET Beijing program in 2005! I also love getting lost in Beijing’s hutongs on weekends, exploring hidden corners of the city, and uncovering the stories and history of old Beijing.
What is your favorite part of your role as the Custom Programs Resident Director for Beijing?
Each short-term study abroad program has its own unique academic theme and learning objectives. When supporting program design and developing customized activities, I need to first fully understand and immerse myself in the program’s academic goals and themes. This allows me to better align each activity with the program’s expectations and create meaningful learning experiences for both faculty and students.
Designing an itinerary is much like completing a complex puzzle. Every activity needs to be carefully considered and placed in the right position to ensure that the entire program flows naturally, supports the academic objectives, and creates cohesive experience for participants.
Through working with faculty members and students from different universities, I have also had the opportunity to learn about the unique cultures and characteristics of each institution. Every school has its own traditions, values, and student dynamics. By interacting closely with professors and students, I gain insights into different campus cultures, regional backgrounds, and the topics that are currently meaningful and engaging to young people. These experiences not only enrich my understanding of U.S. higher education but also help me design programs that are more responsive, relevant, and impactful.
What are your top 3 favorite field-based activities to run within Beijing? What about outside of Beijing?
In Beijing
- Mutianyu Great Wall day Trip
- Hutong Walking tour
- Beijing Urban Planning Museum
Beyond Beijing
- Shandong Mout Tai excursions
- Shaanxi History Museum in Xi’an
- Sanxingdui Museum in Chengdu
What piece of advice would you give to a faculty leader to help make the most of the program?
When designing an itinerary for custom programs, we need to carefully consider participants’ physical stamina, as well as the amount of time required for each visit and activity. In general, I recommend limiting the daily schedule to no more than three major activities to ensure a balanced and meaningful experience.
I completely understand that professors want to introduce students to as much as possible during their limited time in China. However, based on my experience with program implementation, one of the most common challenges we encounter is that overly packed schedules often lead to activities being rushed, shortened, or even canceled due to time constraints. This not only affects the quality of the learning experience but may also result in unnecessary costs and logistical challenges.
For custom programs, what academic themes are especially exciting to explore in Beijing?
Beijing is China’s cultural and political center, and as the capital city, it offers an incredibly rich range of resources and opportunities for academic exploration. In my opinion, Beijing has strong adaptability across a wide variety of academic themes, making it an ideal location for custom programs.
Common academic themes that can be explored in Beijing include history, culture, politics, education, urban planning, religion, environmental studies, business, arts, etc. The city itself serves as a living classroom, where students can connect academic concepts with real-world examples through site visits, institutional exchanges, and cultural experiences.