Since 2016, IICE Professor GAO Yimin has collaborated with Professor Sarkar Arani Mohammad Reza's team from Nagoya University, Japan, to launch an exchange on lesson study between China and Japan, aiming to advance the professional development of primary and secondary school teachers through cross-national comparison and collaboration in lesson study. On October 11-19, 2024, Professor Arani visited IICE to continue the lesson study exchange.

During his visit, Professor Arani delivered an academic lecture titled “Cross-National Comparison of Lesson Study” and visited several schools in Beijing, including the Fengtai Experimental Primary School of the Beijing Academy of Educational Sciences, Caoqiao Primary School, and Fengtai No. 1 Primary School. He engaged in discussions with principals, academic leaders, and teachers from each school, conducting in-depth exchanges on the achievements, challenges, and future directions of lesson study. Both university and primary school teams reached significant consensus, recognizing the value of lesson study in helping teachers focus on students, enhance teaching skills, improve collaboration, and strengthen school culture. They agreed on the importance of further research in this area to benefit teachers and students broadly.