The 23rd China Annual Conference & Expo for International Education (CACIE) held its Plenary Session on February 17, 2023, with the theme of “Reshaping Education: Adaption and Transformation”. The event was held both online and offline at the Beijing International Conference Center.
The conference was hosted by the China Education Association for International Exchange and was attended by educators, scholars, and representatives from various universities, institutions, and academia. The purpose of the conference was to discuss the current state of education and the future of its development.
The theme of the conference, “Reshaping Education: Adaption and Transformation”, reflected the need for education to evolve and adapt to the changing world. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of technological advances in education, and the conference aimed to discuss how technology can be used to improve and transform education.
The conference provided an opportunity for educators and scholars to exchange ideas and discuss the direction and goals of education in the face of global changes. The event aimed to encourage collaboration and cooperation among institutions, academia, and industry to promote the development of education in China and beyond.
Huai Jinpeng, China’s Minister of Education, spoke via video during the opening of an event. In his speech, he highlighted the strides China has made in the past decade regarding education. He emphasized that the country will continue to prioritize the development of education, with an emphasis on all-round human development, innovation and reform, high-level opening-up, and the modernization of education to build a powerful nation of education. This underlines China’s commitment to education as a fundamental aspect of national development.
Huai recognized that win-win cooperation has been the primary driver of development. He proposed that education development should be approached through a multilateral mechanism, which can promote common development in education. Additionally, he stressed the need for comprehensive digital education cooperation to promote education modernization. By working together and sharing resources, countries can collectively enhance the quality of education and expand access to educational opportunities.
To further promote international understanding and cooperation, Huai emphasized the importance of cross-cultural communication skills. He suggested that by improving these skills, individuals can enhance mutual understanding and build stronger friendships. This, in turn, can promote the construction of a more open and inclusive world, where different cultures and ideas can coexist and interact positively.
Huai Jinpeng’s speech demonstrates China’s commitment to education as a vital aspect of national development. By prioritizing education, fostering cooperation among nations, and promoting cross-cultural communication, China seeks to build a more connected and prosperous world.
Dr. Patricia Flor, Ambassador of Germany to China, delivered a speech in which she highlighted the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between China and Germany. She acknowledged the numerous exchanges and collaborations between universities and institutions in both countries. Germany was the country of honor at the event and Flor expressed that Germany has been and will continue to be a solid partner with China, especially in the field of education.
Scholars and representatives from universities shared their perspectives on education and innovation during the event. Wang Shuguo, President of Xi’an Jiaotong University, expressed that the world is standing at a crossroads, with major changes that have not been seen in a century. Wang pointed out that emerging technologies are bringing significant impacts on education today. Therefore, universities and schools must move beyond merely teaching knowledge to innovating the knowledge system.
Wang stressed that the ultimate goal of universities is to serve the development of society. In this context, enhancing international educational cooperation is crucial to building a community of shared future for mankind. In an interview with People’s Daily Online, Wang further elaborated on the importance of education in creating mutual understanding and friendship. He stated that as we all live on the same planet, it is essential to create a better future for future generations. Education can be a powerful tool to achieve this goal by alleviating misunderstandings and building mutual understanding.
The discussions during the event highlighted the significance of educational cooperation in fostering mutual understanding and friendship between nations. The relationship between China and Germany has been exemplary in this regard, with numerous exchanges and collaborations between universities and institutions over the past five decades. The role of universities and schools in creating an innovative knowledge system that serves the development of society was also emphasized.
The remarks made by Wang Shuguo on the importance of building a community of shared future for mankind through education are particularly relevant in the current global context. As the world faces major changes and emerging technologies continue to impact education, it is essential to create a better future for future generations by fostering mutual understanding and friendship between nations.
Liu Ningrong, Associate Vice President of the University of Hong Kong, recently shared his insights on the impact of digital technology on education. According to Liu, the internet has fundamentally changed the way students learn, and teachers now have a new role in the classroom. Rather than simply imparting knowledge, they must guide students to form their own thoughts and ideas. The internet has helped students better understand themselves and their own cognitive styles, which has made learning more personalized and effective.
Despite the many benefits of digital technology, Liu also acknowledged that it has brought some challenges to education. The fragmentation of knowledge, for example, has made it difficult for students to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the subjects they are studying. This has led to a situation where students may have a lot of information at their fingertips, but lack a deep understanding of the material. Misinformation is another problem, as it can be difficult for students to discern what is accurate and authentic, and what is not.
To address these challenges, Liu emphasized the importance of educators having a clear idea of the kind of information they want their students to acquire. It is not enough to simply provide students with access to information; teachers must guide them in developing the critical thinking skills needed to evaluate that information and determine its relevance and accuracy. By doing so, they can help students develop a deeper understanding of the material they are studying.
Despite these challenges, participants in the discussion reached a consensus that globalization is still the major trend of world development, even in the face of uncertainty caused by events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical crises. In order to better understand each other and learn from one another, they agreed that enhancing international exchanges is crucial. By learning about the strengths and weaknesses of different education systems around the world, educators can work together to create a more effective and inclusive approach to education that benefits all students.