To further advance the role of universities in building a community with a shared future for mankind, the "Academic Conference on the University Promoting the Development of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind" was convened in Xiamen on April 6, 2021. This international forum, held as part of Xiamen University Centenary Celebration, was jointly organized by the Center for Higher Education Development Research of Xiamen University, UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education (Bangkok), the Institute of Education and the Center for Teaching and Learning Development at Xiamen University. The conference gathered nearly 300 distinguished scholars and experts from home and abroad, including Ministry of Education, PRC, the China Association of Higher Education, Peking University, Tsinghua University, UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education (Bangkok), Canada, Japan, Malaysia, and Kyrgyzstan, participating through both online and offline formats.
The conference focused on several key themes, including the community with a shared future for mankind and the philosophy and values of universities, the mission and responsibility of universities in building a community with a shared future for mankind, the practice and exploration of universities in advancing a community with a shared future for mankind, the relationship between intelligent education and a community with a shared future for mankind, and a community with a shared future for mankind and the development of world-class universities.
Professor Lin Huiqing, former Vice Minister of Education and Vice President of the China Association of Higher Education, emphasized in her report that universities should accelerate the establishment of a higher education quality system. She stressed the importance of integrating the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind into their development strategy, cultivating globally competent talents, advancing the "Double First-Class" initiative, promoting the sharing of high-quality educational resources worldwide, and enhancing international cooperation.
Professor Pan Maoyuan, Senior Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences and Honorary Dean of Institute of Education at Xiamen University, pointed out that advancing the development of a community with a shared future for mankind through the Belt and Road Initiative represents both a long-term mission for universities and a critical opportunity to strengthen China's voice in international forums.
Professor Wang Libing, director of the Section for Educational Innovation and Skills Development, UNESCO Bangkok, stated that the rise of online education presents a pivotal opportunity for universities to implement inclusive education and foster innovation. He urged the establishment of a supportive ecosystem encompassing policy frameworks, infrastructure development, faculty training, and resource networks to mainstream online and blended learning in higher education.
As a vital component of the broader community with a shared future for mankind, the university community with a shared future fosters international trust, cooperation, and mutual benefits by cultivating globally competent talents, advancing cutting-edge research, and preserving and innovating human civilization.
Source: Center for Higher Education Development Research of Xiamen University
Translated by: Lin Hanying
