On the morning of September 18, 2024, the opening series of activities for the Shanghai Training Program for Brazilian Gold Medal Mathematics Teachers, hosted by the UNESCO Teacher Education Centre, was successfully held. As one of the cultural exchange events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil (supported by the Consulate-General of Brazil in Shanghai), the program was attended by Dr. Katia Helena Serafina Cruz Schweickardt, Vice Minister of Brazil’s Ministry of Education, who led a delegation of 16 Brazilian educational officials, scholars, and high school gold medal mathematics teachers to Shanghai. The opening ceremony was chaired by Professor Hu Guoyong, Deputy Director of the UNESCO Teacher Education Centre. Guests including Zhou Li, Vice Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Ministry of Education; Yang Zhenfeng, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission; Yuan Wen, President of Shanghai Normal University; and Augusto Pestana, Consul-General of Brazil in Shanghai, attended and delivered speeches.
On behalf of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Ministry of Education, Vice Director Zhou Li extended congratulations on the successful launch of the 2024 Shanghai Training Program for Brazilian Gold Medal Mathematics Teachers. She emphasized that China and Brazil have established a comprehensive strategic partnership, and education is also a key area of strategic cooperation between the two countries. The exchange of mathematics teachers between China and Brazil has opened a new chapter in China-Brazil educational cooperation, and she expressed hope that this exchange would inspire joint innovation in the field of mathematics education between the two countries, helping the next generation of both nations better address the development challenges of the 21st century.
Dr. Cruz Schweickardt introduced the current state of basic education in Brazil, with a particular focus on the difficulties in mathematics teaching methods and student development. She expressed hope that this training program would promote in-depth exchanges between teachers of the two countries in teaching concepts, methods, and practices, bridge the gaps in basic education between China and Brazil, and drive the common prosperity of both societies through educational progress.
In his speech, Deputy Director Yang Zhenfeng pointed out that the training program represents another important manifestation of in-depth cooperation between China and Brazil on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. On the one hand, Brazilian representatives will gain a comprehensive understanding of Shanghai’s education system and best teaching practices over the course of a week; on the other hand, Shanghai’s teachers will also have the opportunity to learn from outstanding Brazilian counterparts, jointly exploring solutions to educational issues faced by China, Brazil, and more developing regions around the world.
Consul-General Augusto reviewed the achievements of China-Brazil exchanges over the past 50 years in areas such as economy, politics, culture, and youth development, and looked forward to the broad prospects for cooperation between the two countries in knowledge production and academic exchanges. Drawing on his own and his grandfather’s educational experiences, he confirmed that excellent teachers can truly open up a world of learning for students, and highlighted the great potential of China-Brazil academic exchanges in the training of basic education teachers.
President Yuan Wen cited the China-UK Mathematics Teacher Exchange Program and the Tanzania Mathematics Teacher Professional Development Program implemented by the UNESCO Teacher Education Centre team, expressing hope that the China-Brazil Teacher Exchange Program would achieve long-term development. This year marks the 50th anniversary of China-Brazil diplomatic relations and the 70th anniversary of the founding of Shanghai Normal University. Conducting China-Brazil educational exchanges with teacher education as a starting point will inject new vitality into the international development of Shanghai Normal University, while deepening mutual understanding between the educational circles of the two countries and promoting progress in the theory and practice of teacher professional development for both sides.
After the opening ceremony, in response to the request of the Brazilian side, the UNESCO Teacher Education Centre hosted a Seminar on Shanghai's Digital Education Development. Han Chonghu, Director of the Information Technology Division of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, provided a detailed introduction to the Brazilian side on the overall progress of Shanghai’s digital education development, key priorities for smart education in primary and secondary schools, and the application of artificial intelligence in educational scenarios. He also joined Vice Director Zhou Li of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Ministry of Education in answering questions of concern to officials from Brazil’s Ministry of Education.
As the largest developing countries in the Eastern and Western Hemispheres respectively, China and Brazil actively speak for developing countries under the frameworks of BRICS and the G20, and are both firm supporters of the collective rise of the Global South. However, mutual understanding of each other’s educational cultures remains insufficient, and the China-Brazil Mathematics Teacher Exchange Program has been in the making for a long time, facing multiple challenges. In September last year, a delegation from the UNESCO Teacher Education Centre visited Brazil, including stops at the State University of Campinas, Fundação Getulio Vargas (a leading think tank), the Institute of Pure and Applied Mathematics, and several senior high schools. They also delivered a presentation at the National Congress of Mathematicians and Mathematics Teachers, strengthening ties with Brazilian mathematics educators to build a foundation for professional community understanding of Shanghai Mathematics. Accompanied by Counselor Wang Zhiwei from the Chinese Embassy in Brazil, the delegation also held talks with relevant departments of Brazil’s Ministry of Education to secure high-level support for the China-Brazil Mathematics Teacher Exchange Program. After multiple rounds of consultations, it was decided that the first Shanghai Training Program for Brazilian Gold Medal Mathematics Teachers would be held in Shanghai in September this year. During the opening activities on September 18, Vice Director Zhou Li of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Ministry of Education mentioned on multiple occasions that the 2024 G20 Education Ministers' Meeting would be held in Fortaleza, Brazil, in October. The elevated level of China-Brazil educational cooperation holds great significance for the development of education in both countries and around the world.
Photos and text provided by: UNESCO Teacher Education Centre
