Last week, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) held its Annual Teaching Conference. SUSTech President Chen Shiyi, University Council Vice Chairperson Li Fengliang, and Vice President Tang Tao attended the conference. They were joined by the heads of academic, administrative and research departments, along with nearly 400 other representatives across campus.
Chen Shiyi opened the conference. He pointed out that the theme of the conference is “Quality and Innovation,” which aims to create a new start for teaching reform and development.
Professor Li Junfeng from Tsinghua University spoke about “Growing up Together”. He shared his experience from three points of view: motivation, restraint and teaching management. He believed that education should be student-centered and encouraged students to study deeply. Furthermore, he stressed that university teaching is based on academic research and thus, their education should have the same characteristics as scientific research. Educators should absorb and use the latest teaching knowledge in teaching practice.
Director of the Office of Teaching Affairs at Sichuan University (SCU) Zhang Hongwei spoke about “Cultivating excellent undergraduate talents with teaching reform – SCU practice”. She discussed SCU educational practice in terms of its teaching ability and small-class teaching. Director Zhang Hongwei also discussed interdisciplinary and international education, while encouraging innovation.
Vice President Tang Tao’s report was on the development of cultivating excellent undergraduate talents in SUSTech. The report reviewed the process of professional development at SUSTech and mainly interpreted new ideas to improve the teaching quality. He pointed out that SUSTech should do well in developing personnel training in various fields, in realizing the goal of proper undergraduate personnel training.
Vice Provost and Deputy Director of the Office of Teaching Affairs Huang Kefu discussed innovation in teaching at SUSTech and the existing problems. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining stability in training programs and curriculum.
Department Head of Mathematics Wang Xiaoming briefed everyone on the Department’s teaching work. Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences Chen Yuehong talked about the “writing and communication” courses, as he emphasized the importance of curriculum in his teaching work. Dean Wu Jingshen of the School of System Design and Intelligent Manufacturing put forward the idea that new teaching theories are characterized by cultivating students’ comprehensive ability, subject to the needs of society.
At the end of the conference, President Chen Shiyi pointed out the importance of teaching to SUSTech. It is currently at a critical stage of development, and while SUSTech has accumulated a lot of experience, there are potential problems ahead. Based on the reform and innovation of education at SUSTech, professors made numerous constructive suggestions. He hoped that all teachers would consider the development of education at SUSTech in constructing a high-level personnel training system.
