At 10:00 a.m. on July 2, 2024, the pre-departure meeting for the International STEM Education Volunteer Group (hereinafter referred to as the Volunteer Group) bound for Tanzania was successfully held at Chengxu Hall of the UNESCO Teacher Education Centre (TEC). The meeting was chaired by Professor Hu Guoyong, Deputy Director of TEC and Leader of the Tanzania-bound Volunteer Group.
Guests from both within and outside the university invited to attend included: from Shanghai Normal University, Xu Xiaoming, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Education; Zhu Ying, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice Dean of the School of Education; Jin Liqiong, Deputy Secretary of the University Youth League Committee; Hao Sijia, Director of the Social Practice Center of the University Youth League Committee; and Qiao Yian, Section Chief of the Exit and Entry Division of the University International Exchange Office. External guests included Lü Cuihong, Director of the Pudong New Area Education International Exchange Center; Zhu Hailan, Principal of Yangjing Juyuan Experimental School; and Shi Jiali, Director of the Primary Section of the International Department of High School Affiliated to Fudan University. Also present were Zhang Minxuan, Director of TEC; Hu Guoyong, Deputy Director of TEC and Leader of the Tanzania-bound Volunteer Group; Zhang Huafeng, Part-time Deputy Director of TEC; Song Jia, Secretary of the Party Branch of TEC; and members of the International STEM Education Volunteer Group, specifically including Huang Xingfeng, Chief Expert of the Project; Tian Hongjiong, Mathematics Education Expert; Ding Ruoxi, Project Coordinator; Shen Yihua, STEM Education Expert; Wang Hao, Technical Expert; Cheng Yijun, Mathematics Teacher from Yangjing Juyuan Experimental School; Zhang Minxue, Mathematics Teacher from the International Department of High School Affiliated to Fudan University; Zhang Yunji and Hu Qi, PhD candidates at Shanghai Normal University; and Zhu Jiawen and Cheng Jialei, master’s students at Shanghai Normal University.
At the beginning of the meeting, as the Leader of the Tanzania-bound Volunteer Group, Professor Hu Guoyong first briefly introduced the attending guests and elaborated on the origin of the project and its significant importance. He pointed out that the project aims to improve the professional level of Tanzanian mathematics teachers through China-Tanzania educational cooperation, while promoting the international dissemination of Chinese educational concepts and teaching methods. He emphasized that this trip to Tanzania is not only a strong impetus for the internationalization of Chinese education, but also an important measure to respond to the national Belt and Road Initiative, enhance global educational governance capabilities, and promote China-Africa friendly cooperation. He called on members of the Volunteer Group to give full play to their professional expertise, actively explore and innovate in practical work, and contribute to China-Tanzania educational exchanges and cooperation.
Ding Ruoxi, Coordinator of the China-Tanzania Mathematics Teacher Professional Development Project, provided a detailed introduction to the background of the project, the members of the Volunteer Group, and the specific arrangements for teacher training between China and Tanzania after the group’s arrival in Tanzania.
Secretary Xu Xiaoming expressed high recognition and support for the project, announced the establishment of the Temporary Party Branch of the Volunteer Group and appointed Teacher Wang Hao as Secretary of the Temporary Party Branch. On behalf of the School of Education, he presented the Volunteer Group with a Party flag and 12 Party badges. Xu Xiaoming emphasized that this activity is not only a new chapter in educational cooperation between China and Tanzania, but also an important initiative for the Party organization to play a role as a fighting fortress and promote international educational exchanges and cooperation. The establishment of the Temporary Party Branch of the Volunteer Group will further enhance the team’s cohesion and combat effectiveness, ensure the smooth progress of the project, and contribute wisdom and strength to the development of education in China and Tanzania.
Cheng Jialei, a master’s student majoring in comparative education and a member of the Volunteer Group, reported on the topic selection of the proposed incubated project for the 2024 Challenge Cup. Jin Liqiong, Deputy Secretary of the Shanghai Normal University Youth League Committee, expressed appreciation for the project and the proposed topic for the Challenge Cup, believing that the topic echoes the current era background and national positioning requirements. Jin Liqiong pointed out that the success of the project requires not only independent innovation, but also the integration of multiple resources and experiences to form more in-depth and extensive research results, adding more highlights to the Challenge Cup.
Lü Cuihong, Director of the Pudong New Area Education International Exchange Center; Zhu Hailan, Principal of Yangjing Juyuan Experimental School; and Shi Jiali, Director of the Primary Section of the International Department of High School Affiliated to Fudan University, delivered speeches respectively. They agreed that the project has effectively enhanced the international literacy of school teachers, serving as an innovative form of professional training for teachers. It not only helps Tanzanian teachers, but also greatly contributes to the professional development of Shanghai teachers. They reviewed the cooperation history and close ties between their respective institutions and TEC, and expressed hope to maintain close cooperation in the future to jointly promote the development of education.
Zhang Minxuan, Director of TEC, made a concluding speech. He emphasized that the Volunteer Group’s trip to Tanzania is not only a strong boost to the internationalization of Chinese education, but also an enhancement of global educational governance capabilities. He pointed out that in the face of complex international situations, open cooperation is an important foundation for self-reliance and self-improvement. Through international educational cooperation, members of the Volunteer Group can gain experience and improve their capabilities in practice, laying a solid foundation for the smooth implementation of China-Tanzania educational cooperation projects. This not only enhances the international influence of Chinese education, but also makes positive contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
