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The First International Conference on Education Transformation and Human Development Held by IICE Successfully
Publish Date:2022-08-28



On August 28, 2022, the first International Conference on Education Transformation and Human Development was opened, hosted by Institute of International and Comparative Education, Beijing Normal University (IICE, BNU), and co organized by China Comparative Education Society and Teacher Education Center under the auspices of UNESCO. Mr. Gu Mingyuan, member of the National Education Advisory Committee, honorary president of China Education Association, senior professor of Beijing Normal University, and Professor Zhou Zuoyu, vice president of Beijing Normal University, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. With the theme of "A New Social Contract for education: From Ideal to Action", the conference was conducted in the form of online conference + Chinese and English simultaneous interpreting. More than 240 experts, scholars, teachers and students from 7 countries including China, the United States, Australia and Japan, as well as international organizations such as UNESCO, UNICEF and the world bank attended this conference. The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Liu Baocun, Dean of IICE, BNU.

 

 

Professor Fernando M. Reimers of Harvard University, Professor Edward Vickers of Kyushu University in Japan, President of Asian Society of Comparative Education, and Professor Liu Baocun of Beijing Normal University delivered keynote speeches successively. With the title of "Social Mobilization to Transform the Culture of Education", Professor Reimers introduced the writing background and process of “Reimagining Our Futures Together: A New Social Contract for Education”, and expounded the connection and difference with “Learning to Be: The World of Education Today and Tomorrow” and “Learning: The Treasure Within”. Professor Reimers pointed out that social dialogue and social mobilization are the driving force for promoting education reform. Only by actively promoting the reform in five fields, such as teaching methods, curriculum, school organization, teacher occupation and learning ecology, can the blueprint and vision of future education be realized.

 

 

Professor Vickers reviewed the main contents of the report "Reimagining Our Futures Together: A New Social Contract for Education" with the title of "The Two Sides of a 'Social Contract' for Education - The Danger of Treating Education as a Panacea for Our Social Problem". Professor Vickers pointed out that education reform is lagging behind, and it is difficult to respond to the urgent problems facing society in a timely manner, nor can it solve all social problems alone. To promote the transformation of society into a more just, equitable and sustainable future, we need not only to give play to the extensive regulatory role of education, but also to strengthen the coordination and cooperation of all sectors of society from a broad perspective beyond education.

 

 

Professor Liu Baocun interpreted the principles, vision and path of the social contract for education with the theme of "Vision of the social contract for education and the trend of China's education reform". Professor Liu pointed out that the social contract for education is highly consistent with the direction of China's education reform. China's participation in the construction of the social contract for education is to emphasize the connection among people, the ecological connection between people and nature, and the innovative connection between people and technology in terms of educational objectives; Second, we should strengthen the courses related to environment, humanities and digitalization; Third, we should vigorously support the professional development of teachers; Fourth, we should use digital technology to promote education equity; Fifth, to create an open, diverse and inclusive school space; The sixth is to innovate the way and mode of scientific research; Seventh, it is necessary to encourage social behavior subjects and off campus fields to participate in the process of educational development; Eighth, we should continue to build a lifelong and high-quality education system that benefits the whole people; Ninth, actively participate in global educational governance and contribute China's experience and voice.

 

 

Professor Zhang Minxuan, former president of Shanghai Normal University, Mr. Wang libing, director of the Education Innovation and Skills Development Department of UNESCO Bangkok Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, Mr. Zhang Yanhong, education project officer of the Myanmar Office of the United Nations Children's Fund, and Ms. Xiao Liping, senior education expert of The World Bank Office, Beijing (WBOB), launched a roundtable discussion around "A New Social Contract for Education: Challenges and Responses". The seminar was chaired by Professor Gao Yimin, vice president of IICE, BNU.

 

 

The International Conference on Education Transformation and Human Development has built a high-end academic platform for Chinese and foreign experts and scholars to share their opinions, exchange experiences and discuss countermeasures on how to understand the connotation of "a new social contract for education" and how to promote all sectors of society to transform this concept into their daily actions. There were 10 parallel meetings under the conference. The participants conducted extensive and in-depth discussions on such topics as "Education and Sustainable Development", "Curriculum Transformation and Learning Mode Reform", "Teacher Professional Development", "International Understanding Education", "Digital Learning", "Preschool Education Reform", "Vocational Education Reform", "Higher Education Reform", "Education Exchange and Cooperation" and "Education Financing".

 

The International Conference on Education Transformation and Human Development is a response and support to the UNESCO education initiative, and also an important academic initiative to promote China's education to deepen international dialogue and fully participate in global educational governance. The conference is held once a year, which will be a powerful supplement to the brand activity "World Comparative Education Forum" of the IICE, BNU, and become another important platform for Chinese comparative education scholars to enter the world.