<p>True to its slogan, The Gator Nation is everywhere. Or at least, it's trying to be. </p>
<p>In its increasing efforts to globalize its research and internationalize its faculty and students, the University of Florida has established international offices to promote itself worldwide.</p>
<p>The Beijing Center for International Studies, which began in the summer of 2005, aims to set up study abroad programs, market distance education to Chinese students and engage in joint research, said the center's director, Sherman Bai.</p>
<p>The small office, with three full-time staff members, works as a facilitator between UF and Chinese universities, allowing various UF colleges to market themselves to students in China, he said.</p>
<p>Bai said there is a demand for international study programs within various colleges, and because China is quickly developing into a large economic power, it was a good location to establish an office. It is not very common for American universities to set up offices in China, and UF was probably one of the first, he said.</p>
<p>When Chinese students think of American universities, they usually think of a school like Harvard, he said. Although the center does not directly recruit students, one of its aims is to make students aware of UF's presence.</p>
<p>In fall 2006, 569 Chinese students were enrolled at UF, making China the university's second-largest exporter of students, according to UF statistics. India was first with 595.</p>
<p>Dennis Jett, dean of UF's International Center, said providing students with a means to study internationally is an important part of preparing students to compete in a globalized market.</p>
<p>Recruiting students from other countries is another important aspect. Jett said 90 percent of foreign students are graduate students, who are critical to the university's mission because they perform a significant amount of teaching and research.</p>
<p>"We want the best students from wherever they are in the world," Jett said.</p>
<p>Although another of UF's international offices, the Paris Research Center, is a more popular study abroad destination, the distance education market is more significant in China than France, he said.</p>
<p>James Knight, dean of the Division of Continuing Education, said that the distance education courses allow opportunities for faculty members to teach and conduct research in China.</p>
<p>Professors have the opportunity to be involved on a global level, giving the university a broader presence in the world, he said.</p>
<p>Jett said that having an office in Beijing that facilitates between UF and foreign universities makes both study abroad and distance education more efficient.</p>
<p>"China is a country where you need a presence on the ground and a long-time commitment," he said.</p>
<p>Jett said both the Beijing and Paris offices began as faculty initiatives, and he is looking into establishing an office in India, another growing economic power.</p>
<p>Offices such as these are a part of UF's strategic plan to gain worldwide recognition as an academic and research institution.</p>
<p>"I don't think you can be a world-class university if you're not in the world," Jett said.</p>