On February 1, 2024, the kickoff meeting for the Project on Developing a Core Competency Framework for Chinese Adolescents under the Ministry of Education - United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) initiative was successfully held at Mingyuan Hall of the UNESCO Teacher Education Centre (55 Guilin Road). This project is one of the key tasks in the scientific research segment of the Ministry of Education - UNICEF Adolescent Core Competency Enhancement program. The Institute of International and Comparative Education, Shanghai Normal University, as the leading institution of the project, is specifically responsible for its implementation.
Deputy Director Huang Hui of the Ministry of Education's Vocational Education Development Center participated fully online. Associate Researcher Zheng Jian (acting head) of the International Cooperation and Exchange Department and Professor Zhang Jingjing attended the meeting on-site for guidance. Mr. Sanaullah Panezai (Pan Sina), Director of the Education Section at UNICEF China; Ms. Wang Haiyan, Senior Education Officer; and Mr. Du Wei, Education Officer, were present at the kickoff meeting. Professor Shi Weiping, Honorary Director and Lifetime Professor of the Institute of Vocational and Adult Education, East China Normal University; Professor Kuang Ying, Party Secretary of the institute; Associate Professor Zhu Yan of the College of Teacher Education, East China Normal University; Researcher Lu Jing, Vice President of the Shanghai Academy of Educational Sciences; and Professor Guan Jing of the College of Education, Shanghai Normal University, attended as core members of the research team to provide guidance. Professor Zhang Minxuan, chief expert of the research team; Professor Hu Guoyong; other team members; and graduate student representatives from our institute also attended the meeting.
(Professor Zhang Minxuan, Director of the Centre; Mr. Sanaullah Panezai (Pan Sina), Director of the Education Section at UNICEF China; and Professor Shi Weiping, Honorary Director and Lifetime Professor of the Institute of Vocational and Adult Education, East China Normal University)
(Group photo of experts and core members of the research team)
Director Zhang Minxuan of the Centre, on behalf of the Institute of International and Comparative Education, Shanghai Normal University, expressed sincere gratitude to all experts for their care and support. He hoped that the participating experts would provide targeted suggestions and guidance on the research plan to help the team smoothly advance subsequent studies. The kickoff meeting was chaired by Dr. Xu Jinjie from our institute. On behalf of the research team, Dr. Xu reported on the project implementation plan and conducted lively and in-depth discussions with experts, as well as leaders and experts participating online, on key technical issues.
After listening to the report, the participating experts agreed that the research team has a solid foundation in preliminary literature review, clear research approach, and sound research design. Meanwhile, the expert group put forward targeted suggestions on subsequent technical aspects of the research. Deputy Director Huang Hui of the Ministry of Education's Vocational Education Development Center, after listening to the team's report online, fully affirmed the preliminary preparations of the research team and sincerely thanked Director Zhang Minxuan for his guidance and support. He hoped that the university, our institute, and the Ministry of Education's Vocational Education Center would further strengthen collaboration and in-depth cooperation, taking this project as an opportunity to support vocational education in strategically underpinning the building of a strong education country.
