On November 2-3, 2019, the International Conference on Teaching Innovation in Higher Education and World-class Undergraduate Education was held in Xiamen University. Over a hundred distinguished scholars and experts from home and abroad to discuss new opportunities, challenges and strategies in teaching innovation and world-class undergraduate education.
The opening ceremony took place on the morning of November 2 at the Science & Art Center. Attendees included Zhang Rong, president of Xiamen university; Qu Zhenyuan, member of the National Education Advisory Committee and former president of the China Association of Higher Education; Pan Maoyuan, honorary Dean of the Institute of Education and distinguished professor of Humanities and Social Sciences at Xiamen University.
Zhang Rong highlighted in his address that higher education serves as a vital indicator of a nation's development capacity and potential. He underscored Xiamen University's commitment to positioning undergraduate education at the core of its mission, actively exploring innovative teaching methods to cultivate well-rounded talents of high quality. He expressed hope that the conference would provide a platform for global scholars to exchange insights and jointly advance innovation in world-class undergraduate education.
Pan Maoyuan emphasized that undergraduate education is the foundation for cultivating high-level talents and the starting point for nurturing innovative talents. World-class universities, while possessing inherent advantages in developing top-tier undergraduate programs, must also shoulder the responsibility of advancing undergraduate education excellence.
The keynote session featured presentations by renowned experts including Professor Qu Zhenyuan, former President of the China Association of Higher Education; Wu Yan, Director of the Higher Education Department at the Ministry of Education; Professor Wu Daguang, former Vice President of Xiamen University and Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Development; Professor Bie Dunrong, Director of the Center for Higher Education Research at Xiamen University; Professor Liu Zhentian, Distinguished Professor at the Institute of Education of Xiamen University; Professor Doune Macdonald, Vice Chancellor of the University of Queensland; and Professor Hong Huaqing from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
This international conference, featuring insights from scholars across over ten countries, provided both high-level policy guidance and practical case studies. The outcomes will significantly contribute to enhancing teaching reform and advancing world-class undergraduate education in China.
Translated by: Lin Hanying
