On August 24th, the 2nd Seminar on the Construction and Development of Educational Disciplines in Comprehensive Universities" was held by the educational schools of Tsinghua University, Tianjin University and Peking University at Tianjin University’s Zhengdong Library.

The theme of the seminar is "education talent training and teaching innovation". More than 120 university leaders, education experts and scholars from colleges and universities across the country attended the seminar.

Yan Guangfen, Dean of Tianjin University’s School of Education presided over the opening ceremony. Zhao Meirong, deputy party secretary of Tianjin University, delivered a speech. In her speech, Zhao Meirong extended a warm welcome to the guests, and elaborated on the importance of education for the construction of a comprehensive university.

Professor Wu Daguang，former vice president of Xiamen University and President of the Institute of Higher Education of Lanzhou University delivered a speech about "who is served by higher education research". By comparing the research on higher education between China and the United States, he focused on the history of the development of higher education in the United States from research fields to disciplines, and came to the conclusion that the research on higher education started from the needs of universities, transited to policies and human civilization, and finally attributed to the needs of universities. Professor Wu clarified the definition of higher education research as "aiming for human development (both teachers’ and students’), and as a value perception mode based on facts and data".

Yan Fengqiao from Peking University’s School of Education conducted a report on what to expect from students majoring in education in comprehensive universities. Taking Peking University as an example, Yan discussed whether talent training is to help students find their needs or to meet their needs. She also called on the researchers to think about whether the primary goal of education discipline is to cultivate teachers for basic education.

Liu Fuxing from the School of Education at Renmin University of China, talked about several problems in the cultivation of interdisciplinary and cross-cultural talents in education. He pointed out that interdisciplinary and cross-cultural talents are essential to cultivate first-class innovative talents, and introduced the theory and policy of interdisciplinary and cross-cultural training.

Yan Guangfen made a report entitled "Talent cultivation from the perspective of the professional development of undergraduate students in Education -- also on the undergraduate talent cultivation system of Tianjin University’s school of education." Yan pointed out the problems existing in the professional development of undergraduate students in education and explained the reseaons. Yan said she looked forward to pedagogy development in comprehensive universities, and warned that pedagogy should have an "imagination" and actively respond to the changes of the times.

Ren Youqun, director of the teacher work department of the Ministry of Education concluded the seminar with a report entitled “seize the opportunity, shoulder the mission bravely, and build a teacher education system with Chinese characteristics.” He pointed out that people should deeply understand the requirements on educators in the new era, and construct the teaching staff team accordingly.

By the School of Education

Editors: Eva Yin & Doris Harrington