A Humber business professor has won a West Lake Friendship Award from Zhejiang Province in China, which recognizes the contributions of “foreign experts” to the modernization of the province.
Earl Hotrum teaches financial accounting and operations management in Humber’s business management program offered at Ningbo University, which is located in the city of Ningbo on the East China Sea. The program, which is also run at Jimei University, offers Chinese students the opportunity to study business in English, completing two years in China and a third year in Toronto at Humber.
Hotrum, who’s known to students and staff members as Bojue, the literal translation of Earl, won the award for his work with the Ningbo community, coaching students competing in public speaking contests, helping develop partnerships between the university and global companies, and promoting the university to other institutions, both within China and internationally.
“I’m always involved with things outside of what I’m supposed to be doing,” laughs Hotrum, speaking via VoIP phone from his office in Ningbo. “This is such a rewarding place to work – the people I work with are supportive and open to new ideas. I’m happy to work on projects that go beyond what I do as a classroom teacher.”
Hotrum, who also won Ningbo’s municipal “Camellia Prize” last year, joins more than 20 other recipients from countries including India, the United States, Japan, and Norway.
For business school manager Michael MacDougall, international collaborations with partners like Ningbo University are a vital part of establishing Humber as an educational leader internationally.
“Working with Ningbo allows us to highlight our expertise to the international community,” he says. “As well, our faculty members who travel there to teach also learn a lot, then share innovative ways of teaching with Humber.”
The partnership between Humber and Ningbo University is now in its sixteenth year, and is one of the longest-running of its kind in the world.
