“Chinese Wisdom, Global Vision” Youth Talk Report Release: A New Journey for a New Era – an Action Plan of Education for International Understanding was Successfully Held
To navigate the development path of education for international understanding and explore the implementation of effective education that can best benefit the youth, on April 28th 2021, Beijing Royal Charity Foundation, Research Institute of International Education South-South Cooperation, and Center for China and Globalization co-hosted the “Chinese Wisdom, Global Vision” Youth Talk Report Release: A New Journey for a New Era – an Action Plan of Education for International Understanding in Beijing.
Guests who attended the conference were:
Mr. Qu Shengwu, Acting Chairman and Secretary-General of the South-South Cooperation Promotion Association,
Mr. Chen Chuang, Deputy Director of Department of Administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Mr. Gao Fei, Vice President, Professor and Ph.D. Supervisor at China Foreign Affairs University,
Mr. Sang Peng, President of Beijing Overseas Study Service Association,
Mr. Wang Jing, Chairman of International Chinese Language Education Committee of Beijing Society of Education,
Mr. Wang Guangfa, President of Fazheng Group and Founder of Beijing Royal Charity Foundation,
Ms. Pan Jun, Vice President & CEO of Fazheng Group, Chairperson of Beijing Royal Charity Foundation,
Mr. Cen Jianjun, Director of the Institute of South-South International Education Think Tank, Former Minister-Counselor(Education) at the Chinese Embassy in US, Former Director of the Ministry of Education's International Cooperation and Exchange Department,
Mr. Tang Zhenfu, Deputy Director of the Academic Exchange and Research Department of China Education Association for International Exchange,
leadership and representatives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Beijing Municipal Education Bureau, Research Institute of International Education South-South Cooperation, Center for China and Globalization, and guests from Peking University, China Foreign Affairs University, Capital Normal University, and other universities and media.
The conference was hosted by Mr. Heng Xiaojun, Former Minister-Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Canada.
The Report Series on Education for International Understanding is China’s first research plan initiated by charitable organizations in China that systematically analyzes the theories, practices and development of Education for International Understanding. The first report was initiated and sponsored by Beijing Royal Charity Foundation in 2019, academically supported by Research Institute of International Education South-South Cooperation, and composed by Center for China and Globalization. In late 2019, the Education for International Understanding in China - the Present and the Future 2019 was released at the first Forum for World Education (FWE), which introduced to the international society about the Chinese Non-government Organizations’ comprehension of Education for International Understanding in China. In 2020, based on the research conducted in 2019, Beijing Royal Charity Foundation extended its cooperation with the Research Institute of International Education South-South Cooperation and the Center for China and Globalization to complete the second report entitled A New Journey for a New Era – an Action Plan of Education for International Understanding 2020 in order to answer the fundamental questions on Education for International Understanding, and provide guidelines for action for practitioners. The report elaborates on the definition of Education for International Understanding in the post-pandemic era, the target audience, the faculty, the method, the content and the publicity strategy.
This conference consisted of 6 sections: “Chinese Wisdom, Global Vision” Youth Talk, Presentation on Teacher’s Role in Education for International Understanding, Report Release, Report Overview, Guest Comment and Q&A. The event was livestreamed, and representative teachers from Dalian, Chengdu, Yuncheng campuses attended the conference from online.
At the beginning of the conference, Mr. Gao Fei, Vice President, Professor and Ph.D. Supervisor at China Foreign Affairs University delivered a speech in which he stressed that in the face of the opportunities unseen in a century and with the mission of rejuvenating the Chinese nation on our shoulders, we should establish a good international image of China, grasp the opportunity endowed by time, build a community with a shared future for mankind, and give priority to talent development. He also noted that talents should not only serve domestic needs and requirements, but have global vision, understand international rules, and are familiar with the know-how of dealing with complex global issues. He believes that in today’s world, countries are becoming ever more connected, and they should develop their relationship through communication to promote international cooperation in the future. This testifies to the necessity of promoting Education for International Understanding.
▲Mr. Gao Fei, Vice President, Professor and Ph.D. Supervisor at China Foreign Affairs University Delivered a Speech
Ms. Pan Jun, Vice President & CEO of Fazheng Group, Chairperson of Beijing Royal Charity Foundation, also delivered a speech. First, on behalf of the organizer and Beijing Royal Charity Foundation, she expressed gratitude to all the guests dedicated to education innovation and talent development. She also focused on the necessity and urgency of establishing international understanding and cooperation against the backdrop of COVID-19 and other global issues. Moreover, she stated that all education practitioners need to reflect on how our education can serve future talents, and how to deal with uncertainties and risks.
She noted the requirements of future talents and the general background of global dynamics both imply that Education for International Understanding is becoming the theme of world education. From the perspective of individual development, well-rounded education depends on Education for International Understanding; from the perspective of China's development , Education for International Understanding is in need of Chinese solutions. As a result, improving international understanding, especially promoting Education for International Understanding among young people, has become a top priority. In her speech, she stated that Beijing Royal Charity Foundation, as a non-profit organization, will become a platform and provider of Education for International Understanding in the future at home and abroad. The Foundation will provide information and products that can serve the educational efforts in schools, family and the society. Also, BRCF will remain dedicated to exploring the integration of technology and liberal arts, and will promote the equality of China’s education and rural revitalization in a bid to provide high quality education for rural children.
▲Ms. Pan Jun, Vice President & CEO of Fazheng Group, Chairperson of Beijing Royal Charity Foundation Delivered A Speech
As a newly added section featuring innovation, the“Chinese Wisdom, Global Vision” Youth Talk invited 5 students from Primary, junior and senior schools in Beijing and Dalian, and also a sophomores from University of Pennsylvania. They shared with the audience their understanding and views on teamworking, building a global village, respecting diverse cultures, and developing a global vision, making their voice heard as Chinese youth attach growing attention to international understanding.
▲Zhao Peng – Sophomore from University of Pennsylvania
▲Zhang Tina –Year 4 student from Beijing Royal Foreign Language School
▲Qian Yingying – Year 9 student from Beijing Royal Foreign Language School
▲Liu Kairan – Year 12 student from Beijing Royal School
▲Guo Yongzhen – Year 12 student from Dalian Royal School
The development of future youth hinges on teachers. Mr. Jason Blind, Deputy Director of the Academic Committee of Beijing Royal School and AP electives teacher, delivered a presentation on Education for International Understanding on the theme of “Developing A Global Mentality”, in which he illustrated how to understand the world from global perspectives.
▲Mr. Jason Blind, Deputy Director of the Academic Committee of Beijing Royal School and AP electives teacher, delivered his presentation on Education for International Understanding.
The release of the 2020 Bluebook on Education for International Understanding was much anticipated. Ms. Miao Lv, Deputy Director and Executive Secretary General for Center for China and Globalization held the release of the resport A New Journey for a New Era – an Action Plan of Education for International Understanding. The report includes 5 major parts. Part 1 clarifies the defenition of Education for International Understanding and its implications in the post-pandemic world, in order to raise the awareness of the society. Part 2 examines the content for Education for International Understanding, and expounds on the dimensions and development of the course. Part 3 explains the faculty for education for international understanding and discusses the necessary qualities and training for such faculty. Part 4 demonstrates the methodology for education for international understanding, opportunities and challenges facing Education for International Understanding, meanwhile focusing on the characteristics of the Information Age. Part 5 proposes solutions for governments, schools, and civil societies on promoting Education for International Understanding.
▲Ms. Miao Lv, Deputy Director and Executive Secretary General for Center for China and Globalization host the report release
Mr. Cen Jianjun, Director of the Research Institute of International Education South-South Cooperation, Former Minister-Counselor(Education) at the Chinese Embassy in US, and former Director of International Cooperation and Exchange Department under China’s Ministry of Education, shared his insights on Education for International Understanding in the overview section. He believed that it is important to build a community with a shared future for mankind and promote world peace through classroom education for international understanding. Moreover, the promotion of Education for International Understanding is faced with misunderstanding, attack, and even prejudice and arrogance of some western politicians, thus making it a long-lasting battle instead of a once and for all endeavor. This is why practitioners should be determined and persistent, which can be compared to the Foolish Old Man who removed the mountains as told in a Chinse folk tale.
▲Mr. Cen Jianjun, Director of the Research Institute of International Education South-South Cooperation, Former Minister-Counselor(Education) at the Chinese Embassy in US, and former Director of International Cooperation and Exchange Department under China’s Ministry of Education, delivered the overview of the report
In the guest comment section following the report release, Mr. Qu Shengwu, Acting Chairman and Secretary-General of the South-South Cooperation Promotion Association, stated that Education for International Understanding is closely related to the concept of the community with a shared future for mankind proposed by President Xi Jinping, based on which Education for International Understanding will flourish.
▲Mr. Qu Shengwu, Acting Chairman and Secretary-General of the South-South Cooperation Promotion Association
Mr. Wang Guangfa, President of Fazheng Group and Founder of Beijing Royal Charity Foundation, accredited the contribution made by Beijing Royal Charity Foundation, Research Institute of International Education South-South Cooperation, and Center for China and Globalization. He stated that through combining real practices and theories, Education for International Understanding in China has accumulated local experience, demonstrated the integration of Chinese culture and global vision. In the future, we wish to see more joint efforts engaged in developing and exploring Education for International Understanding.
▲Mr. Wang Guangfa, President of Fazheng Group and Founder of Beijing Royal Charity Foundation
Mr. Gao Fei, Vice President, Professor and Ph.D. Supervisor at China Foreign Affairs University, believes that educators shoulder the responsibility to shape a perspective of Education for International Understanding, meaning they should nurture talents with global vision and the ability to shape the world. Mr. Sang Peng, President of the Beijing Overseas Study Service Association, Mr. Wang Xiaoyang, Director of the Institute of Higher Education at Capital Normal University, Mr. Shi Xiaoguang, Professor at Peking University, and many other professionals and scholars commented on the report release. They highly acclaimed the report for its research direction and results achieved, and looked forward to the future development for providing theoretical foundation for current Education for International Understanding in China.
Mr. Gao Fei, Vice President, Professor and Ph.D. Supervisor at China Foreign Affairs University
Mr. Sang Peng, President of the Beijing Overseas Study Service Association
Mr. Wang Xiaoyang, Director of the Institute of Higher Education at Capital Normal University
Mr. Shi Xiaoguang, Professor at Peking University
Sina Education, Peopleyun, China Scholars Abroad, China Education Television, Studying Abroad Magazine, Guangming Net, IFENG.com, China Philanthropy Times, China Youth Daily, and China Daily asked questions on Education for International Understanding.
▲Group Photos of Guests
