From 8 to 10 November, the Workshop on Teaching in the International Chinese Language Education major was held, featuring an Academic Exchange on Chinese Language Teaching between the Open University of China (OUC) and Michigan State University (MSU).
This event took place in Qingdao, Shandong Province. Key participants included Fang Xianrui, a member of the Party Committee and vice president of the OUC, as well as the director of the Chinese Language Centre; Li Minggang, secretary of the Party Committee of Qingdao Open University (OU); Shang Ma, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and president of Qinghai OU; and Sun Mingming, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and vice president of Qingdao OU. The event was chaired by Shi Yunzhi, deputy director of the International Department at the OUC.
The event was attended by notable experts and scholars from Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU), East China Normal University (ECNU), as well as Michigan State University (MSU) and Johns Hopkins University (JHU) in the United States. Additionally, approximately 60 representatives from 24 institutions within the open university system participated in the gathering.
Fang Xianrui highlighted that international Chinese language education is not just vital for sharing the richness of Chinese culture and enhancing global cultural diversity, but also plays a key role in promoting global and diverse cultural exchanges. She emphasised the need to capitalize on the strengths of the OUC's educational system to build consensus and adopt various strategies to open new avenues for the growth of international Chinese language education. This approach will not only underscore the OUC's role in portraying and exemplifying China's national image but also in boosting the spread and impact of Chinese civilization.
She underscored the importance of proactively understanding and adapting to changes, and exploring ways to integrate international Chinese language education into initiatives such as the "Digital University" going overseas, cultural exchanges, and study-in-China services. This is aimed at forging new paths for the advancement of international Chinese language education. It's crucial to define clear roles, foster innovation, and tackle challenges related to the developmental direction, operational models, and innovative mechanisms of the international Chinese Language Education major. This includes investigating new models for its development.
Moreover, she highlighted the significance of digital empowerment, stressing the need to enhance teachers' capabilities, increase their digital literacy and skills, and cultivate top-tier faculty for international Chinese language education. This approach is essential for promoting the high-quality development of international cooperation and exchange. She also provided an update on the progress and major projects related to the OUC's internationalization efforts, focusing on the university's contributions to both "bringing in" and "going global" as part of its educational outreach.
Li Minggang warmly welcomed the leaders and educators attending the teaching workshop and academic exchange. He highlighted Qingdao OU's practical explorations and accomplishments in the fields of international Chinese education, Chinese culture dissemination, international cooperation and exchange, as well as in entrepreneurship, marine, and senior education.
During the session on the development of academic disciplines and the teaching of majors, Lin Xiuqin, the deputy director of the Academic Affairs Department at the Open University of China (OUC), presented a report titled "Rising to New Challenges and Promoting the High-Quality Development of Majors in the Open University". This session focused on the exchange of ideas and discussions about the advancement and practical teaching of the major. Li Wei, who oversees the International Chinese Language Education major at OUC, provided a comprehensive overview of the major's development.
Representatives from the teaching community, notably Wang Jun from Qingdao Open University and Chen Yilan from Guangzhou Open University, shared their insights and experiences. Their presentations covered a range of topics, including strategies for student enrollment, analysis of student demographics, implementation of teaching methodologies, practical teaching experiences, faculty team development, academic research, and the quality of talent cultivation.
During the session focused on lectures and exchanges in international Chinese language education, three esteemed professors shared their insights on cutting-edge topics in the field. Professor Ye Jun from the School of International Chinese Studies at ECNU discussed "The Model of Case-based Teaching in International Chinese Language Education." Following him, Professor Zhai Yan from the Research Institute of International Chinese Language Education at BLCU explored "Interpretation and Teaching Application of the New Standard Syllabus of the Graded Grammar for HSK." Lastly, Professor Yu Xiaozhi from the School of Chinese Language and Literature at BLCU delved into "The Focus of the International Dissemination of Chinese Culture." These diverse and advanced topics significantly contributed to enhancing the professional knowledge and skills of the attending teachers.
During the "online + offline" blended immersive Chinese language educational technology workshop, Associate Professor Li Jiahang from MSU and Postdoctoral Researcher Jiang Zilu from JHU shared insights online on the topic "Language Teaching in the Digital Age: Principles, Strategies, and Applications". They detailed the methods and instructional techniques for commonly used software in international Chinese language online teaching. Meanwhile, participants on-site engaged in discussions and hands-on activities, effectively bridging theory and practice.
The event also included the presentation of certificates to the core team of teachers involved in the International Chinese Language Education major. Relevant personnel conducted investigations at Qingdao Open University and engaged in thorough discussions and exchanges on topics related to senior education and internationalization efforts.
Written by Cao Xiaoyan from the OUC and photographed by Qingdao OU