To advance the reform and innovative development of the general education system in higher education institutions and promote information sharing and academic exchange, China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL) hosted the “ Enlightening Minds through Cultures: Seminar on General Education in Higher Education Institutions” on October 21 at the Changping Campus of CUPL. Scholars and experts in the field of general education from Tsinghua University, Peking University, Renmin University of China, Beijing Normal University, as well as research institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, gathered for active discussions and the sharing of insights. The seminar aimed to explore and exchange new ideas, concepts, and methods for the development of general education in Chinese colleges in the new era and further enhance collaboration and communication among higher education institutions in the field of general education. The opening ceremony was presided over by Lu Chunlong, Vice President of CUPL.
(Ma Huaide and Yang Zongyuan jointly unveil the textbooks Comprehensive Overview of Chinese Civilization and Comprehensive Overview of Western Civilization, photo by Lu Yunkai)
During the opening ceremony, President Ma Huaide from CUPL and Yang Zongyuan, President of the Humanities Division of China Renmin University Press, jointly unveiled the textbooks Comprehensive Overview of Chinese Civilization and Comprehensive Overview of Western Civilization. The mandatory general education courses “Comprehensive Overview of Chinese Civilization” and “Comprehensive Overview of Western Civilization” have been offered to undergraduate students at CUPL since 2006. After 17 years of development, these two courses have evolved into well-established ones with outstanding faculty and rich content, serving as a model for high-quality general education. After years of comprehensive preparation and compilation, the supporting textbooks for these two courses have been published.
In his opening speech, President Ma Huaide stated that CUPL initiated the reform of general education in 2005, putting forward the concept of “cultivating a soulful general education” and continuously innovating the curriculum system and teaching methods. After three rounds of reforms over the past 18 years, CUPL has gradually developed a distinctive, well-structured, and content-rich general education curriculum system with characteristics unique to CUPL. CUPL has also established close collaborative relationships with numerous colleges nationwide, achieving positive educational outcomes and influence both within and beyond the campus. In the future, CUPL will continue to leverage its distinctive features, actively respond to the challenges of the digital era, and engage in in-depth exploration and practice of the talent cultivation model for general education. It aims to contribute the wisdom of CUPL to the high-quality development of general education in colleges.
(Ma Huaide presents certificates of appreciation to external experts, photo by Lu Yunkai)
On behalf of CUPL, President Ma Huaide presented certificates of appreciation to the external expert representatives who have dedicated their expertise to teaching general education courses at CUPL. These certificates serve as a token of appreciation for their significant contributions to instilling moral values, nurturing individuals, and enlightening minds.
After the opening ceremony, a plenary forum and seminar were held, chaired respectively by Song Jingbo, Deputy Director of the Academy Office, and Huo Zhengxin, Director of the Office of Development and Planning of CUPL. Zhao Xiaohua, Dean of the School of Humanities, CUPL, Xue Zhenghui, Director of the Academic Affairs Office at Beijing Institute of Technology, Tian Xiaohui, Deputy Director of the Academic Affairs Office at Beijing Foreign Studies University, Shi Chao, Chairman of Chaoxing Group, Wen Bing, Professor of the School of Humanities, CUPL, Jiang Chongyue, Professor of the School of History at Beijing Normal University, and Zhang Hongwei, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Palace Museum Press, made keynote speeches in the forum and seminar.
(Exhibition on general education textbooks, photo by Lu Yunkai)
During the break, the participating experts and scholars visited the 22nd Chinese Civilization Season Lunheng Poster Exhibition and the Exhibition on General Education Course Textbooks at the Cultural and Art Exhibition Hall in Yifu Building, Changping Campus.
In the seminar, participating scholars engaged in discussions and theoretical outlooks from various perspectives, exploring and providing insights into various aspects of general education under the backdrop of globalization and digitization. Topics included “Comprehensive History of Chinese and Western Civilizations and the Cultivation of College Students' Personalities”, “Art General Education”, “General Education on the Chinese Language”, “General Education on History”, and “Philosophical Development in General Education”. The discussions explored the relationship between general education and professional education, and the future of general education.
General education holds significant importance in the era of globalization. In the seminar, all scholars engaged in extensive discussions on how to cultivate students' global awareness and cross-cultural understanding. They shared experiences and the latest achievements in the construction of general education, providing theoretical reflections and exploring pathways for advancing reforms and innovative development in building general education systems in higher education institutions.
reproduce from:Enlightening Minds through Cultures: Seminar on General Education at China University of Political Science and Law-中国政法大学英文站 (cupl.edu.cn)
