Bellevue Community College has signed a sister-school agreement with Beijing University of Agriculture (BUA). The agreement will expand opportunities for students to learn in depth about one of the world’s fastest growing economic powers, and a major trading partner for Northwest business and industry.

The new agreement is the eighth such relationship for BCC, which has another sister school in China (Shanghai Business School,) as well as relationships with colleges and universities in Japan, South Korea and Mexico.

“Our students have experienced wonderful academic and personal growth on business study trips and performing tours in China,” said BCC President Jean Floten. “Now, with Beijing University of Agriculture as our sister school, we will be able to offer even higher-impact education about this important nation.”

Floten said such learning is crucial because China, which has given the world so much in terms of culture and scientific knowledge over the millennia, is now taking a major economic role on the world stage and has become one of Washington’s largest trading partners.

As sister institutions, BCC and BUA will exchange students and faculty to create more powerful learning experiences about each other’s culture, educational practices and language.

One activity already under development is a “2+1” program leading to a BCC Business Management Associate Degree for Chinese students. After studying in Beijing for two years, students will come to BCC for another year to complete the degree.

The new relationship also will give BUA the opportunity to study BCC’s business transfer program, which is the largest single source of transfer students for University of Washington business programs. One thousand BCC students pursue freshman- and sophomore-level study in this program at BCC each year, prior to completing a bachelor’s degree in business at a four-year institution — most frequently the University of Washington in Seattle and UW-Bothell.

The Beijing school also has expressed interest in learning more about BCC’s alliances with leading corporations such as The Boeing Company and Microsoft Corporation.

Serving 8,000 students, Beijing University of Agriculture awards advanced degrees in eight fields and bachelor’s degrees in 22 fields.

In August, BUA will host the Summer Olympics wrestling competition.

Floten and BUA’s President, Younian Wang, signed the agreement at ceremonies on the BCC campus June 24. Bellevue City Councilman Conrad Lee was present for the event.

The BUA delegation also included Dr. Zhiyong Zhang, Director, Office of Science and Technology; Dr. Jinbao Pan, Professor, College of Plant Science and Technology; Hua Li, Dean, College of Economics and Management; Chunhui Wu, Director, Human Resources Department; and Xiaoging Fan, Vice Dean, Polytechnic College and Continuing Education College.