On June 26, the Pre-departure Meeting for the 2025 Summer Overseas Practice Program was successfully held at the Shicheng Lecture Hall of the UNESCO Teacher Education Centre (UNESCO TEC). The meeting was chaired by Professor Hu Guoyong, Director of the International Teacher Education Centre. Attendees included heads of relevant departments and schools of Shanghai Normal University (SHNU), principals of partner schools, as well as teachers and students participating in the overseas trips.
The overseas practice program is divided into three teams: the Tanzania Team (led by Shen Yihua and Wang Hao; hereafter referred to as the Tanzania Team), the Thailand Team (led by Zhu Xiaohu and Zhang Jilong), and the Indonesia Team (led by Zhang Huafeng, Ding Ruoxi, and Zhu Xiaohu; hereafter referred to as the Indonesia Team). Dr. Shen Yihua elaborated on the specific work content of the Tanzania Teacher Professional Development Program, emphasizing that the program, inherited from the China-UK Mathematics Teacher Exchange Program, aims to promote interactions and exchanges between the educational communities of China and Tanzania. Dr. Zhu Xiaohu introduced the detailed arrangements for the Thailand research team, highlighting that the program will effectively enhance students’ international understanding. Dr. Ding Ruoxi presented the composition and research schedule of the Indonesia research team, and expressed gratitude to the Academic Affairs Office, the College of Education, and UNESCO TEC. Student representatives from the three teams—Wan Junkai (Tanzania Team), Zeng Xiaoyun (Thailand Team), Shen Huayu and Fei Jiayi (Indonesia Team)—shared their gains from pre-departure training and their plans for the practice.
Wu Yuedong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the College of Education (acting as the principal), read out the approval for establishing the temporary Party branch of the Tanzania Practice Team, appointing Comrade Wang Hao as Secretary of the temporary Party branch. He emphasized that the Party branch must keep in mind its responsibilities and missions, and team members, under the guidance of leading teachers, should actively tell the stories of China's education and share Shanghai's educational experiences.
Huang Haitao, Dean of the College of Education, noted that the overseas study program is of great significance: it not only practices the promotion of high-level opening-up in education but also has become an important feature of SHNU’s cultivation of education talents. Each team should prioritize their research topics and produce a series of outcomes upon completion of the research, laying a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the program.
Bi Ran, Deputy Secretary of the Youth League Committee, put forward three requirements for the three teams: to build a safety net by strictly abiding by local customs and laws; to forge a collaborative body by maintaining an inclusive attitude to adapt to and integrate into local cultural needs; and to cultivate a transformation chain by bringing back valuable experiences from practice to drive the generation of academic achievements.
Xiao Shengxiong, Director of the International Exchange Division, set out eight requirements for all members of the overseas practice teams regarding safety, confidentiality, foreign affairs discipline, external publicity, etiquette, pre-departure preparation, entry-exit procedures, and post-return summary. He sent a message to all teams: Ensure safety, gain insights, and promote growth.
Shi Diwen, Deputy Director of the International Division of Fudan University Affiliated High School, expressed gratitude for the trust and arrangements of UNESCO TEC. She stated that teachers selected from the International Division of Fudan University Affiliated High School will learn from and make progress together with local educators in Tanzania through interactions. Shi Diwen believed that the teachers and students going to Tanzania will fully showcase the strengths of China's education and make positive contributions to international education.
Professor Zhang Minxuan, Director of UNESCO TEC, delivered a concluding speech. He extended sincere thanks to all participants, emphasizing that the smooth implementation of this activity would not have been possible without the support of various departments and colleges of SHNU, partner schools, and the hard work of leading teachers. Zhang Minxuan encouraged everyone to cherish the opportunity, tell China's stories through understanding the world, and thereby promote the growth and development of every teacher and student. He also required teachers and students of each team to gain an in-depth understanding of and learn from other countries' cultures through learning by doing, and in particular, to conduct exchanges with a stance of equality, respect, and mutual learning.
Prior to the pre-departure meeting, UNESCO TEC developed, organized, and conducted a three-day First International STEM Education Volunteers Pre-departure Training and Students’ Summer Overseas Social Practice/Research Workshop. A total of 34 teachers and students from the three teams participated, focusing on three themes—value shaping, academic training, and experience sharing—to prepare for the overseas activities.
