Chinese Group Looks To Buy West Hartford UConn Property For International High School

[Drew]

"A Chinese education group is interested in buying the near-vacant UConn property for use as a private, international high school.

The Weiming Education Group, which owns and operates 42 K-12 schools in mainland China, wrote a letter to the town Wednesday detailing its interest in buying the 58-acre site.

The group hopes to establish an international high school academy serving American, Asian, European and South American students who will board and receive instruction on the campus. It is also interested in pursuing "mutually beneficial, cross‐cultural and global study programs" with area high schools, according to the letter.

"Many families and people in the state of Connecticut are very internationally oriented, a lot of companies are internationally oriented, and it creates an environment with an outward looking view on global commerce and what is possible internationally," said Tim DiScipio, CEO of Weiming Education Group USA."


http://www.courant.com/community/we...n-weiming-education-group-20160217-story.html

 

[Adios]

Things sure have changed. American international schools used to be en vogue.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Things sure have changed. American international schools used to be en vogue.

FWIW, American international schools remain "en vogue" in many nations around the world. That includes in all Tier 1, most Tier 2, and even in a fair number of Tier 3 mainland cities. On the other hand, one friend in China with extensive, solid knowledge of China's private education / international school business (and, that it absolutely is in China) found Weiming's portrayal as "... China's 's largest private school provider ..." a bit "dubious" (his word).

However, Weiming may operate under different names with shared ownership and management. FWIW, their latest website suggests they operate 40 schools. Whether that directly translates to what most westerners view as actual schools, just tutoring services, or something else is subject to interpretation and analysis for West Hartford, potentially UConn, and others. Without a doubt, advertised or publicized capabilities and actual facts often are not one and the same with some Chinese enterprises.

Additionally, West Hartford may want to consider whether a potential finishing school for uber wealthy, one-child Emperors and Empresses is among the WH branch campus' future best uses. Trust, but verify.