In April 2024, at the invitation of some partners in the Pacific region, a delegation consisting of Professor Zhang Minxuan, Professor Hu Guoyong, Professor Ning Bo, and Associate Professor Zhu Xiaohu visited Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia), Deakin University (Australia), the University of Fiji, and Fiji National University in sequence.
The Centre is the only global multilateral cooperation institution established by UNESCO in the field of teacher education. In line with UNESCO’s strategy of prioritizing support for educational development in Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, and Pacific island countries, the development of teacher teams in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Pacific island countries has been a key priority for the Centre. Since 2021, the Centre has collaborated with the China-ASEAN Centre and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization to host multiple high-level training programs. During the 2023 Belt and Road project, it also signed a cooperation framework agreement with Gadjah Mada University in Indonesia.
During this visit, the Centre’s delegation jointly hosted a training program for key school principals of Indonesia with Gadjah Mada University. After the opening ceremony, Professor Zhang Minxuan delivered a special report on New Trends in International Teacher Education. Professor Hu Guoyong, Professor Ning Bo, and Associate Professor Zhu Xiaohu gave academic lectures respectively on The Logic and Structure of Educational Reform, Teacher Education and Professional Development in China's Basic Education, and China's Basic Education from the Perspective of PISA and TALIS, which were well-received by the participating key principals.
Dialogue and cooperation with developed countries are an important part of the Centre’s capacity building. During the 2023 Belt and Road project, the Centre, together with Linda Hobbs, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Education at Deakin University (Australia), co-hosted an online forum on Capacity Building for Teachers Teaching Outside Their Subject Areas, which attracted many peers from developed countries to present their academic research results. During the visit to Deakin University, the Centre’s delegation exchanged views on cooperation topics such as STEM teacher training, the development of international master's programs in education, and joint doctoral training. Professor Zhang Minxuan and Professor Ningbo delivered academic speeches on teacher education on behalf of the Centre.
Teacher education in Pacific island countries is a key priority for the Centre. Since 2019, participants from Pacific island countries such as Fiji and Papua New Guinea have been invited to participate in the Belt and Road projects hosted by the Centre. During the visit to the University of Fiji, the Centre’s delegation held in-depth discussions with counterparts from the university’s Faculty of Science and Technology and Faculty of Humanities and Education on issues related to STEM teacher training in Fiji.
At the welcome ceremony of Fiji National University, Professor Zhang Minxuan delivered a warm speech, reviewing the cooperation history between the Centre and Fiji National University, and expressing expectations for deepening bilateral exchanges and cooperation to promote the professional development of teachers in Pacific island countries. The two sides held talks on the possibility of establishing a cooperation centre and carrying out joint training of mathematics, English, and Chinese teachers. The Centre also invited teachers from Fiji National University to pursue doctoral and master's degrees at our university.
