March 18-22, 2025, the Annual Conference of the Professional Committee for International Competence Cultivation under the China Education Development Strategy Association was successfully held in Shenzhen. Leaders including the President of the China Education Development Strategy Association and the Vice President of Shenzhen University delivered speeches respectively, while Zhang Ning, Director of the Professional Committee for International Competence Cultivation, presented the 2024 annual work report.
At this conference, Professor Zhang Minxuan was awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award for International Competence Cultivation. Other recipients included He Changchui, Wang Zhijia, and Liu Zhixian, former senior officials of international organizations. The organizer produced a five-minute personal video for each awardee, showcasing their life journeys—from their youthful dedication to international organizations to decades of unremitting efforts, with graying hair yet unwavering passion.
The award citation noted: For decades, Professor Zhang Minxuan has been deeply engaged in the field of education. He took the lead in promoting and leading Shanghai’s participation in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS), and the World Bank’s Systems Approach for Better Education Results (SABER). These efforts achieved global leadership, highlighted the achievements of basic education development on the world stage, and promoted the dissemination of China’s educational experience internationally. Building on this, Professor Zhang Minxuan led his team in successfully establishing the UNESCO Teacher Education Centre (TEC), injecting Chinese strength into enhancing the international competence of teachers worldwide. His numerous projects on international competence cultivation, the edited Series on International Organizations and Educational Development, and the monograph Cultivation and Selection of Talents for International Organizations have not only provided theoretical guidance for young students but also laid a solid practical foundation for China’s participation in global education governance.
In his response, Professor Zhang Minxuan expressed sincere gratitude for the award and the thoughtful arrangements by the organizer. He stated that the award is not only recognition of his decades of efforts with his team but also a motivation to continue contributing his remaining energy to serve everyone. He sincerely told the university representatives present: Even local universities have their own characteristics and strengths; we can find our positioning in our professional fields, participate in international organizations, establish international organizations, and cultivate talents for international organizations. Professor Zhang noted: In today’s volatile world, it is even more important to have friends all over the world. We should not only tell China’s educational stories to the world through international organizations but also encourage countries like the UK and others to tell them for us. His remarks were met with warm applause from the audience.
With the theme Demand and Cultivation of Talents with International Competence, the conference aimed to promote research and exchanges on strategic and decision-making issues concerning the cultivation and development of talents with international competence in China’s education sector. Institutions including the China Scholarship Council, Huawei Group, BGI, and LinkedIn China were invited to deliver key analysis reports on the theme Integration of Education, Technology, and Talent. The conference also grandly released the Proceedings of the International Competence Cultivation Training Workshop written by participating university students, and awarded prizes such as the Excellent Organization and Management Award and Excellent Teaching and Research Award to base schools. Participants visited the Shenzhen Reform and Opening-up Exhibition Hall, Tencent, BYD, and other enterprises. The conference featured diverse and innovative formats with rich content, attended by over 130 council members from more than 100 universities nationwide, including Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Wuhan University.
Contributed by: Yan WenlePhotography by: Professional Committee for International Competence Cultivation, China Education Development Strategy Association
