CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Chattanooga State Community College professor, Dr. Kenneth Goldsmith will take a sabbatical this semester to teach at Ningbo University of Technology in China. Goldsmith who is the Professor of Legal Studies and Paralegal program director in the Business and Information Technologies Division will spend 12 weeks teaching business law in a bachelor of science of accounting program. The accounting program is a joint degree between Ningbo University of Technology and Delaware State University.

When asked why teach in China, Dr. Goldsmith responded, “It’s a unique professional development opportunity. Being a visiting scholar is the ultimate goal of any faculty member.”

Dr. Goldsmith will be teaching Chinese students in English. However, he must still take into consideration the cross-cultural differences. “Overall, I expect the experience to enhance my teaching skills at Chattanooga State.” Dr. Goldsmith, who has been on Chattanooga State’s faculty since 2008, is well versed in business practices. He has a law degree from the University of Florida and earned a Doctor of Business Administration in Leadership from the University of Phoenix.

Ningbo University of Technology is located in Ningbo, a city of approximately seven million people, which is two and a half hours south of Shanghai. It is a port city known for seafood. The climate is hot and humid due to its subtropical location. While in China, Dr. Goldsmith received word that he had been hired by Delaware State University to deliver four-year degree level courses in accounting at Ningbo University.

Dr. Goldsmith traveled to China in May for three weeks to shadow and study Southern Adventist University’s study abroad program He was invited by the retiring Dean Don Van Orman (retired), who knew of Goldsmith’s interest in Asia and building foreign relations opportunities for faculty, staff and students.

While there in May, Goldsmith also visited Canton, Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong. He even had the chance to go to Zhangjiajie National Park, a United Nations World Heritage site and the number one tourist attraction for the Chinese people.

According to Dr. Goldsmith, numerous Chinese students he met expressed the desire to come to the United States to pursue graduate studies. “It only goes to show that education is truly a global resource in today’s economy,” he says. Dr. Goldsmith hopes to build the beginning stages of a relationship with the Chinese that will lead to exchange programs for both Chattanooga State faculty and students while he is in the region. He intends to visit two university campuses in Taiwan. Armed with a letter of agreement signed by Chattanooga State President Jim Catanzaro, he will be able to cultivate a more mature and formalized relationship with the university officials who meet with him.

“We want our students to be more aware of internationalization and globalization in education and employment,” adds Dr. Goldsmith.