On October 21, 2023, IICE Mr. GU Mingyuan, along with Vice Dean Professor TENG Jun, was invited to attend the Fifth Greater Bay Area Teacher Ethics Forum in Hong Kong. This forum was jointly organized by South China Normal University and the Education University of Hong Kong, with the support of the Ministry of Education's Teacher Ethics and Professionalism Construction Base (South China Normal University). It marked the first time the forum extended beyond Guangdong to Hong Kong, serving as an innovative attempt to promote collaborative development and deep integration of education in the Greater Bay Area. Over 500 educators from Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macao and across the country participated, and nearly 200,000 people watched the event via online livestream.
In the keynote speech titled "Teachers are Among the Noblest Professions Under the Sun", Mr. GU pointed out that the teacher is one of the oldest, greatest and most sacred professions in human history. The "educator spirit" advocated by General Secretary Xi Jinping is the inheritance and promotion of the outstanding traditions of Chinese intellectuals and educators throughout history. It also represents comprehensive requirements for educational ideals, personal qualities, professional cultivation, educational attitudes and capabilities in the new era.
To promote the educator spirit, teachers should engage in "five practices":
1. Willingness: Teachers should genuinely desire to teach, viewing education as a calling rather than just a job for livelihood.
2. Tempering: Becoming a good teacher or principal requires resilience and the ability to withstand challenges.
3. Learning: Continuous learning and updating of knowledge, deep understanding of the essence of education, and mastery of educational principles are essential.
4. Innovation: Teachers should continually reflect on their practices, explore new educational concepts, methods, and approaches.
5. Harvest: Teachers should be able to witness students' growth, experience the joy of personal and professional achievements, and continually refine and improve themselves.
IICE Professor TENG Jun was invited to moderate Sub-Forum Three: "Construction of Long-term Mechanisms for Teacher Ethics Tomorrow and Professional Growth of Teachers", engaging in interactive discussions with five speakers from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
