On July 6, TEC and Shanghai Normal University (SHNU) jointly held the pre-departure ceremony for the 2026 Summer International Education Volunteer Program at the Shicheng Lecture Hall of TEC.
The event brought together Prof. Zhang Minxuan, Director of TEC; Mr. Abduvali Ismailov, Rector of National Institute of Pedagogical Skills named after Abdulla Avloni, Uzbekistan; Mr. Mamadou Amadou Ly, Laureate of the Yidan Prize; and representatives from SHNU Graduate School, Graduate Student Affairs Office, Academic Affairs Office, International Affairs Office, and Youth League Committee. Delegates from the Schools of Education, Humanities, Life Sciences, Information, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, and Civil Engineering also attended the ceremony, together with faculty members from TEC and student volunteers. The ceremony was moderated by Prof. Hu Guoyong, Director of the International Teacher Education Center at SHNU.
At the outset, Prof. Ning Bo, Vice Dean of the School of Education, announced the establishment of a temporary Party branch to support the overseas practice. Afterwards, Mr. Qiao Yi’an, Deputy Director of the International Affairs Office, delivered a safety briefing covering personal safety, property security, political and diplomatic safety, and psychological well-being.
Team leads then presented their respective project details. Dr. Song Jia introduced that a team of eleven postgraduate students would conduct research on the internationalization of education in Thailand and China–Thailand educational cooperation through field visits to institutions including Chulalongkorn University, Chiang Mai University, and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). Dr. Li Ruimiao introduced the Central Asia program, featuring institutional exchanges with international organizations, universities, and primary and secondary schools in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Dr. Shen Yihua outlined the Tanzania online program, which focuses on mathematics curriculum study and teacher training for local educators.
Dr. Zhang Huafeng reported on TEC’s progress in preparing young professionals for international organizations, highlighting the curricular and systematic development of the undergraduate and the postgraduate programs, and the overseas practice. Dr. Ding Ruoxi then introduced the three-stage training system for overseas volunteers, comprising pre-departure training, field work, and reflection, designed to support students’ professional growth and generate diverse learning outcomes.
Prof. Zhang Fang, Executive Vice Dean of the Graduate School; Prof. Huang Haitao, Dean of the School of Education; Prof. Zhu Meichun, Vice Dean of the School of Civil Engineering; and Prof. Yang Fan, Deputy Director of the Academic Affairs Office, reviewed the program development, sharing experiences from multiple perspectives including postgraduate cultivation, comparative education, disciplinary internationalization, and talent development for international organizations.
Mr. Abduvali Ismailov recalled the longstanding partnership between his institution and TEC, expressing appreciation for further collaboration and welcoming the upcoming visit of the Central Asia team. Mr. Mamadou Amadou Ly,Yidan Prize laureate, shared his experience in promoting bilingual education in local languages and French in Senegal, underscoring the important role of international volunteer initiatives in advancing educational development.
In the closing remarks, Prof. Zhang Minxuan noted that TEC has evolved from its early stage of independent exploration into a collaborative platform involving multiple schools, administrative departments and partners. He reaffirmed that TEC will continue to actively engage in global education governance and share China’s experience in educational development with the global community.
Student representatives Ms. Liu Qingpei from the Thailand team and Mr. Yi Siyu from the Central Asia team expressed their gratitude to TEC and SHNU, as well as their confidence in successfully completing the overseas activities.
Over the coming weeks, participating teams will depart for Thailand, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to conduct educational research and cross‑cultural exchanges. Through these activities, students will share China’s experiences in educational development while contributing to international dialogue and cooperation in education.
Text and Photographs | YOU Jiaqi, HE Ming
