Oberlin Shansi Response to COVID-19

The COVID-19 public health emergency has created special challenges for Oberlin Shansi, for our Fellows, and for our partners in Asia. First and foremost, our thoughts are with the faculty and staff of our partner universities and organizations in China and Japan, and their families.

Shansi’s work in Asia continues, but with some adjustments. In early February, we temporarily suspended programs in China and our three China-based Fellows returned to the United States. Our university partners – Shanxi Agricultural University and Beijing Normal University – have postponed the beginning of the semester until at least the end of March. We hope that our Fellows will be able to return to China this Spring, but in the meantime, they are working with the host universities to identify ways to teach classes and engage with students remotely.

Shansi Fellows remain in place in Japan, India, and Indonesia. The Fellows, the Shansi team, and our partners are closely observing developments in all three countries.

We appreciate the support and concern expressed by Shansi’s partners and friends, and we look forward to resuming our China programs when the public health environment allows.