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CET Academic Programs -- CET Academic Programs is a study abroad organization based in Washington, DC. CET operates semester, summer and customized short-term study abroad programs for students at US colleges and universities.

CET operates programs in seven countries in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. CET programs are known for intensive language training, innovative teaching styles, cultural immersion and local roommates. The CET staff of approximately 40 members has experience living and traveling in more than 100 countries and speaks more than 20 languages.

History

China Educational Tours (CET) was originally founded as a tour company in 1979. Based in Boston, China Educational Tours operated cultural trips to China for nonprofit associations and their members. In the summer of 1982, CET partnered with Wellesley College to offer its first Chinese language program to a group of American students. Based at what was called the Beijing Foreign Language Normal College, located in the Baiduizi neighborhood of western Beijing, this program was among the first in China to be operated by an American third party provider. The program grew to nearly 100 students a term by the end of the decade. Following the Tiananmen Square Incident in 1989, fewer Americans traveled to China, and CET’s tour business faltered. CET’s Chinese language programs, which by then included offerings in Harbin and Taipei, continued in the early 1990’s with smaller enrollment. These programs were purchased by Academic Travel Abroad (ATA) in 1994, and the company’s exclusive mission as a study abroad program provider—“CET Academic Programs”—was born. Following a period of investment and research, CET began to expand its operations to countries outside of China in 1997. Today, CET operates programs in the Czech Republic, China, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Syria and Vietnam. New programs share many of the features found in CET’s original China programs: housing with local students, a focus on language instruction, and a preference for remote locations.

In 2004, CET developed a unique partnership with Middlebury College to launch the C.V. Starr-Middlebury School in China. CET presently works with Middlebury to jointly operate School of China programs in Beijing, Hangzhou and Kunming.

CET cooperates with many US universities. In Italy, CET administers its programs in partnership with Vanderbilt University (CET Florence) and the University of Virginia (CET Siena). CET’s programs in the Middle East were developed in partnership with American University.