The 2021 meeting of the International Education Branch of the CSE and the 2nd BFSU forum on comparative education and international education were held on Oct 23 in Beijing.

The 2021 meeting of the International Education Branch of the CSE and the 2nd BFSU forum on comparative education and international education are held on Oct 23.

The opening ceremony was presided over by You Sen, deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Society of Education (CSE). The keynote speeches were presided over by Qin Huimin, dean of the Graduate School of Education at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU). 

Representatives from China’s National Commission for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the CSE, BFSU, UNESCO, the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Chinese embassy in Liberia, and Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (FLTRP) attended the forums.

Wang Dinghua, president of the International Education Branch of the CSE and secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, delivers a keynote speech on Oct 23.

Wang Dinghua, president of the International Education Branch of the CSE and secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, delivered a keynote speech titled “strengthening China’s capacity in global education governance”. 

He noted that the CPC Central Committee attaches great importance to building a community with a shared future for mankind, implementing the Belt and Road Initiative, telling China’s stories well, enhancing international communication and participating in international education governance. 

Wang called on attendees of the forums to strengthen foreign language discipline construction and guide higher education to better reform and develop. 

He said he believes that strengthening China’s capacity in global education governance entails intensive training of talents, great efforts in studies, and construction of an international platform as well as strong ability in telling China’s stories about education and close exchanges and cooperation with international institutions. 

Wang called for higher education institutions to actively participate in global education governance and cultivate inter-disciplinary talents with patriotism, global vision and professional skills; strengthen research in the fields of international education, comparative education, and international and regional studies; and carry out joint research with target countries, relevant universities and senior experts. He urged the institutions to exchange views and share experience with fraternal countries and developing countries, communicate with international institutions and make full use of their resources to help enhance the ingenuity and strength of China.

“I hope that the International Education Branch of the CSE will pool the wisdom and strength of all and become an important platform for global education governance participation,” Wang said.

Tang Qian, former assistant director-general for Education at UNESCO, delivers a keynote speech on Oct 23.

Tang Qian, former assistant director-general for Education at UNESCO, said global education governance and international talent training are closely connected. “To actively participate in global education governance, we should take the trend, direction and objectives of global education development as well as the rules, standards, cooperation and exchanges of global education into consideration, so as to cultivate and attract more international talents to make more contributions,” Tang said.

Li Tianshun, vice-president of the CSE and a national education inspector of the MOE, speaks at the 2021 meeting of the International Education Branch of the CSE on Oct 23.

 “To develop international education, we should serve the cause of national rejuvenation, adhere to the principle of moral education and train all-round talents to shoulder responsibilities of the times. While engaging in international education, we should benchmark world-class performance, embody Chinese characteristics, learn with an open mind and serve a great cause,” said Li Tianshun, vice-president of the CSE and a national education inspector of the Office of National Education Inspection at the MOE. 

Ding Hao, vice-president of the International Education Branch of the CSE, a member of the standing committee of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, announces the winners of the UNESCO-APEID Wenhui Award on Oct 23.

The award ceremony of the UNESCO-APEID Wenhui Award for Educational Innovation was held during the forum. Ding Hao, vice-president of the International Education Branch of the CSE, a member of the standing committee of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, announced the winners and issued honorary certificates to the two individuals and three institutions from Maldives, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Australia and Malaysia for their outstanding efforts and achievements in educational innovation with regard to this year’s theme. 

Qin Changwei, secretary-general of China’s National Commission for UNESCO, extends warm congratulations to winners of the Wenhui Award on Oct 23.

Qin Changwei, secretary-general of China’s National Commission for UNESCO, extended warm congratulations to the winners and paid tribute to their achievements. Qin pointed out that global education is facing severe challenges currently, and innovative development is an inevitable choice. He also expressed the commission’s willingness in supporting the Wenhui Award as always, promoting the implementation of the 2030 education agenda and contributing to creating a better future. 

Wang Libing, chief of the Section for Educational Innovations and Skills Development based at UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, explained the background for setting up the Wenhui Award. 

“Educational innovation in response to epidemics and other emergencies is a major challenge for today’s global education. The Wenhui Award focuses on such a heated topic and commended teachers and groups who had brought about educational innovations to respond to the epidemic, so as to make positive contributions to global educational governance,” said Wang.  

Wang Fang, vice-president of the International Education Branch of the CSE and secretary of the CPC FLTRP committee, speaks at the award ceremony of the UNESCO-APEID Wenhui Award for Educational Innovation on Oct 23.

Wang Fang, vice-president of the International Education Branch of the CSE, secretary of the CPC FLTRP committee, chair of the board of the group, and president of the press, said that FLTRP has worked closely with the CSE for years to jointly support the UNESCO-APEID Wenhui Award for Educational Innovation. 

According to Wang, FLTRP will have an in-depth understanding of the latest developments in international education, engage in promoting global education governance, and fully support the work of China’s National Commission for UNESCO as well as the CSE. 

Meng Fanhua, secretary of the CPC committee of Capital Normal University and director of the academic committee of the International Education Branch of the CSE, and Zhang Minxuan, director of the Teacher Education Center at UNESCO, dean of the Research Institute for International and Comparative Education at Shanghai Normal University and a member of the academic committee of the International Education Branch of the CSE, delivered keynote speeches at the forum on Oct 24. 

A round-table forum on the topic “innovation and practice of international education in the new era” was also held. 

The two forums were committed to exploring the development orientation of international education in the new era, building a new paradigm for global education and promoting the construction of a high-quality international education system. The forums are expected to provide strong support for efforts dealing with the common challenges faced by global education with a more open and cooperative attitude and facilitating the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.