The institution has launched an undergraduate degree in Linguistics with Chinese and all students at Lancaster University are offered the chance to study Mandarin and the university offers Chinese cultural courses to local schools and businesses.

BBC: Lancaster University wins award for China links

Her courses include Cultural Anthropology, Global Cultural Diversity and Gender through Comic Books, which she is teaching this spring as a massive open online course (MOOC) via Canvas.net.

FORBES: What Do Comic Books Teach Us About Gender Attitudes?

Sometimes to accommodate cultural and individual needs, the courses are arranged for evenings and weekends.

FORBES: Training 10,000 Future Women Entrepreneurs

They can learn new subjects, like film or cultural studies, or take advanced courses in familiar subjects like English and maths.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | Gifted schools 'getting better'

Salvador's Steve Biko Cultural Institute, for example, offers preparation courses for the university entrance exams.

ECONOMIST: Brazil��s unfinished battle for racial democracy

Starting in July, Mr. Kerbel's new company, Practice LLC, will offer courses in five areas: academic preparation, career development, language and cultural orientation, software and library research skills and personal performance.

WSJ: B-Schools Try to Make Transition Smoother for International Students