From August 27 to September 1, a delegation consisting of Director Zhang Minxuan from the Teacher Education Centre under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO TEC), Professor Huang Xingfeng from the International Centre for Teacher Education at Shanghai Normal University (SHNU), Associate Researcher Guo Jing from the Shanghai Teacher Institute, and Dr. Shen Yihua from the Research Institute for International and Comparative Education at SHNU, was invited to visit Norway. They conducted in-depth exchanges on themes including teacher professional development, primary and secondary school mathematics teaching, and teacher education systems.
The visit was initiated by the Norwegian Centre for Mathematics Education (NCME), based at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. As a national institution established by the Norwegian Ministry of Education, NCME is committed to enhancing the quality of mathematics teaching in basic education, conducting teacher professional training and educational research, and playing a key leading role nationwide.
During the visit, the delegation engaged in extensive on-site exchanges in Oslo and Trondheim. On August 28, the delegation visited Tåsen Skole, a primary school in northern Oslo that emphasizes inquiry-based teaching. Principal Hilde warmly received the delegation and invited its members to participate in a regional teacher professional development activity organized by NCME. Chaired by Professor Ingunn, the activity, themed Building Thinking Classrooms, was attended by over 20 Norwegian mathematics teachers. Through interactive activities, the training guided teachers to experience, from both teacher and student perspectives, how to implement the concept of thinking classrooms in teaching, thereby deepening their understanding of Variation Theory. At the event, Professor Huang Xingfeng shared specific practices of Chinese variation teaching and exchanged views with Norwegian teachers on the similarities and differences between Chinese and Norwegian teaching philosophies, receiving positive feedback. Principal Hilde expressed hope to visit China in the future to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese educational management and classroom practices.
On the morning of August 29, the delegation visited Ullern Upper Secondary School in Oslo. The school has established close cooperation with multiple Norwegian research institutions and enterprises, integrating career orientation and practical ability training into its curriculum. The delegation attended a mathematics class at the school, where the teacher flexibly incorporated thinking classroom strategies into teaching, fostering active student participation and a strong atmosphere of group collaboration—leaving a deep impression on the delegation. In the afternoon, representatives from the Education Agency in Oslo visited Ullern Upper Secondary School and introduced to the delegation the basic education system, school management mechanisms, and teacher support policies in the Oslo region. In the exchange, Director Zhang Minxuan systematically presented the development history, core functions, international projects, and achievements of UNESCO TEC, showcasing China’s positive explorations in teacher education in areas such as policy guidance, curriculum resources, and capacity building.
On September 1, the delegation visited the Norwegian Centre for Mathematics Education in Trondheim. Centre Director Kjersti welcomed the delegation. Subsequently, Mari, Dean of the Department of Teacher Education at NTNU, introduced the structural framework and development priorities of Norway’s teacher education system. Director Zhang Minxuan then presented the development history, core functions of UNESCO TEC, as well as its key achievements in teacher education policy research and international training programs. Professor Huang Xingfeng then held in-depth discussions with members of the NTNU project team on specific details of the research plan for the established Sino-Norwegian educational research cooperation project.
In the afternoon of the same day, the delegation also visited Stavset School in Trondheim and observed a primary school mathematics class themed on fraction teaching. After the class, delegation members and Norwegian teachers conducted in-depth discussions on teaching design, student responses, and cultural differences.
Throughout the visit, the delegation conducted on-site observations and systematic discussions on key issues such as Norway’s teacher education system, the current status of primary and secondary school mathematics teaching, and pathways for teacher professional development, further deepening their understanding of Norway’s educational system. The delegation established good connections with NCME, the Education Agency in Oslo, and multiple primary and secondary schools, laying a solid foundation for future cooperation in teacher education research, classroom practice exchanges, and the development of Sino-Norwegian educational cooperation mechanisms.
