The Office of International Initiatives at Georgia State is responsible for the strategic integration and coordination of the university’s international initiatives. Innovative student mobility opportunities, robust partnerships in research, business, science, and education, and an award-winning Confucius Institute are all part of Georgia State’s connections to China, a global powerhouse.

Study Abroad Programs & Exchanges

Georgia State offers 11 faculty-led study abroad programs and exchanges in China and Hong Kong, including innovative opportunities in hospitality, language, architecture and biotechnology in top destinations such as Macao, Beijing and Chengdu.

Business & Community Initiatives

Through the Confucius Institute, the Office of International Initiatives engages in business and community partnerships and provides­ year-round programming with a focus on Chinese business, language and culture, including the annual China Breakfast Briefing; Doing Business with China Forum, Belt and Road Initiative Luncheon, Young Leaders to China Fellowship, Discover China’s Educational System program for professional educators and more. Focus areas include education, leadership, politics, entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, economics, law, policy and society. Key faculty engaged in these initiatives includePenelope B. Prime, Dr. Andrew Wedeman and Dr. Maria Repnikova.

Institutional Partnerships

Georgia State has 31 agreements with institutions in China and Hong Kong, representing the highest number of partnerships. The partnerships involve diverse and significant activities, ranging from those with the Confucius Institute to collaborative research, professional development and scholar engagement. Key faculty engaged in these relationships include Dr. Binghe Wang, Dr. Ritu Aneja, Dr. Yali Zhao and Dr. Huanbiao Mo.

Awards & Achievements

The Georgia State Sheth International Awards were established in 2018 to recognize one distinguished faculty member and one exceptional international alumnus or alumna for their achievements. Both inaugural recipients have significant connections to China: Dr. Michael Eriksen, the principal investigator for the China Tobacco Control Partnership, and Dr. Baoyun Qiau (Ph.D. ’01), an international alumnus and dean of the China Academy of Public Finance and Policy at Central University of Finance and Economics.