About Sias
Sias International University is the first solely American-owned University in Central China. Affiliated with Zhengzhou University and in cooperation with Fort Hays State University of Kansas, it is a totally new type of university designed in response to current educational demands. The establishment of Sias has been approved by the State Council and licensed by the Henan Provincial Education Commission to carry out higher institutional education. It is the first university that has been permitted by the State Degree Office to offer core classes such as Western Civilization, Sociology and Government.
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The aim of Sias International University is to develop diligent and innovative professionals to meet the urgent demands of trans-national corporations and enterprises. Combining both Chinese educational philosophies with a Western model of education, Chinese students have the benefit of a fresh learning perspective while having access to alternative ways of thinking about business and liberal arts.
Since its first graduating class in 2002, Sias graduates have been in a position to gain employment by American and Chinese corporations. Due to their well-rounded international education, a wide range of unique experiences through service organizations and clubs, and a variety of hands-on activities, Sias graduates are expected to grow into the civic and community leaders of tomorrow.
Why Study at Sias?
Ideal Location in a Traditional Chinese Setting
Situated in the heartland of central China near the Yellow River in Henan province, the town of XinZheng houses the Sias campus and is the birthplace of Chinese history dating back over 5,000 years. Numerous archeological sites are in close proximity to the Sias campus including the dynastic ruins of several ancient Chinese capitals such as ZhengZhou, Luoyang, Kaifeng, and others.
Unlike many of the other international programs in China, the location and environment surrounding Sias retains much of traditional Chinese culture, allowing the student to experience the “real” China. Just outside the campus, students can still see ‘rural’ China and village farm life, while also witnessing in the same panoramic view the current industrialization of modern China in nearby cities and the emerging middle class urban neighborhoods.
Soft Landing
Sias is located in rural, central China but offers the latest in Western style amenities and creature comforts such as fully furnished modern housing, airport pickups and transfers upon arrival and departure, and a Western food cafeteria with meals prepared by an American chef. Many other services and benefits are available including a state of the art gymnasium and swimming pool, an on-campus health clinic, help in establishing a local bank account, and numerous other recreational activities including historical and cultural field trips. Sias is able to offer these services because of its experience in dealing with large numbers of foreigners over the last decade including the presence of one hundred foreign faculty who are always available to assist and befriend international students, making the Sias experience not only educational and fun, but nearly hassle free.
Administrative Staff
Founder & Chairman: Shawn Chen
Educated in both China and the United States, Shawn Chen’s career has embraced education, business, and entrepreneurism in both countries. His business ventures include the hospitality industry and a steel door manufacturing business that sells its products in both China and the United States. He has served as President of The Sias Group, Inc. since 1991.
In 1998, with the approval of the Minister of Education and the State Degree Office in China, Chen founded Sias International University, an innovative educational institution through which students, leaders, and scholars from both East and West can meet and profit from an exchange of ideas expressed in both Chinese and English. Located in Henan Province near the City of Zhengzhou in Central China, Sias International University now has a student population of over 16,000 and has graduated almost 9,000 seniors.
Chen’s future plans for the University, a campus of 46 new buildings, now include a 250-acre park, an Olympic-size swimming pool, an indoor gymnasium that seats 5,000 and a campus golf course.
As Founder / Chairman of the University, Chen is solely responsible for financing, planning, implementation and assessment of the university’s overall operations.
Awards and Recognition
Shawn Chen has received many awards from both educational institutions and the governments of China and the United States. Recent recognition includes Resolutions and Commendations from the City of Zhengzhou, the provincial government of Henan Province, the Governor of Kansas, the Mayor and City Council of Los Angeles, the Missouri State Legislature, and the Arizona State Legislature.
He is regularly selected by both provincial and national government officials in China to lead cultural and trade delegations throughout the United States. He has also led League of California Cities elected officials and Mayoral associations on trade missions throughout China.
Educational Background
An advocate of life long learning, Chen’s educational career spans the last twenty five years and includes a Bachelor’s Degree from Chongqing University in China, an MBA from Willamette University in the United States and most recently, a Special Certificate Program from Harvard University designed specifically for university presidents. He has also participated in advance study programs at UCLA, and in 1987 received a Masters Degree in Education from Linfield College.
Personal Information
Shawn Chen is married to former media personality Angel Chen and has two children, Brandon and Brenda Chen. His hobbies and special interests include basketball, table tennis, skiing, cooking and films.
President: Li Haijun
Li Haijun, a native of Wuwei, Gansu province, graduated from the prestigious Lanzhou University in September, 1976 with a degree in English Literature and Languages. From 1979-1981 and 1985-1986, Li worked towards masters degrees from the foreign languages department at Jilin University and Nanjing University respectively. His time as a visiting scholar at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) teaching socio-cultural anthropology laid the ground work for his tenure as the director of foreign affairs at Zhengzhou University (1999-2004). During this period, Li served successively as the president of the labor union and the deputy dean of the foreign languages department. Prior to taking over his administrative duties at Zhengzhou University, Li worked as the dean of the literature and languages department at Tibet University (1976-1978, 1982-1984, 1987-1994) and also served in a similar capacity at Zhengzhou University (1994-1999). Li was named president of Sias University in the spring of 2005. His passion and desire to see Sias set the standard in China for international education is inspiring to all who serve under his leadership.
Provost Emeritus: Dr. Caleb K. Zia
Dr. Caleb K. Zia, a Chinese-American, has lived in the United States for more than forty years. At the University of Southern California, he earned his bachelors and masters degrees in Electrical Engineering and his doctorate in Leadership in Higher Education. His doctorial dissertation “China’s Critical Educational Access Demand and United States Higher Education Distance Learning Curriculum: An Answer?” earned the Dissertation of the Year Award.
During the past five years, he helped organize and direct Sias International University, an affiliate of Zhengzhou University of China’s Henan Province. He served as its provost the first three years and now holds the title of Provost Emeritus. He also served as the first director of the Asian Affair Liaison Office of Fort Hays State University in Kansas.
His involvement in education includes serving as Director of Recruitment and Special Project Coordinator for USC and as Director of the Center for International Trade Development for the Coast Community College District. He is the Director of International Relations (China) for USC, as well as Chancellor of Educational Services Exchange with China, Inc.
He was appointed by the Governor of California to the Statewide Pupil Assessment Review Panel, to the California Public Utility Commission’s Electric Deregulation Education Committee, as well as to the California State Board of Pharmacy. For his services, he was presented with the 1993 MBC Minority Person of the Year Award, the 1996 Small Business Administration, Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year Award and the 1999 Protocol Foundation Certificate of Recognition.
Sias University
Attn: I.C.E.D.
168 People’s Road East
Xinzheng City, Henan 451150
The People’s Republic of China (PRC)
Tel: 86-371-62600860
Fax: 86-371-62605536
Email: iced@siasuniversity.com
and in the USA
Sias University Los Angeles Office
150 S. Los Robles Ave, Suite 930
Pasadena, CA 91101
Tel: 626-449-2233
Fax: 626-449-2255
Email: siasoffice.usa@gmail.com