On the afternoon of May 14, 2024, the International Education Research Center and the Master‑teacher Studio for International Students’ National‑Condition Education of Zhejiang University of Science and Technology invited Professor Gong Xiaobin from Jiangnan University to deliver a special lecture entitled Teaching Reform Based on Education‑reform Projects: Reflections, Practice and Prospects. Xia Junsuo, Secretary of the Directly‑Affiliated Party Branch of the School of International Education, presided over the lecture. Faculty members from the School of International Education and some secondary schools attended the event.
At the start of the lecture, taking education‑reform projects of Jiangnan University as an example, Professor Gong put forward the core concept and foothold of teaching reform: meeting diverse needs and pursuing selective optimal development. He stressed that teaching reform cannot be accomplished overnight. Instead, it is a process of careful deliberation, continuous practice and sustained innovation.
During the lecture, Professor Gong Xiaobin drew on his rich practical experience in education to share two typical cases of teaching reform practice, namely the reform of college foreign language teaching and the reform of English major teaching. He stated that every student possesses unique interests and strengths. Education should respect individual differences among students, provide diversified educational resources and opportunities, and allow students to engage in selective learning based on their personal interests and needs, so as to achieve their all-round and optimal development. Furthermore, he emphasized that teaching practice serves as a vital component of teaching reform. Only through practice can the outcomes of teaching reform be effectively tested, refined and optimized to align with real teaching scenarios and student development needs.
In the final part of the lecture, Professor Gong put forward in-depth reflections on the reform of classroom teaching methods. He proposed that the reform should adopt a student-centered philosophy that focuses on students’ diverse needs and holistic development. The breakthrough of the reform lies in the innovation of teaching methods and instructional tools. Classroom teaching reform should keep pace with social development and prioritize the cultivation of students’ innovative thinking and practical capabilities to meet the talent training standards of the new era. In terms of the reform of teacher team organization, it is essential to strengthen internal collaboration and academic exchanges among teachers, so as to collectively improve teachers’ teaching proficiency and professional literacy and build a high-quality and professional teaching team.
Lasting more than two hours, the lecture was well-received with a warm and enthusiastic atmosphere and constant applause. Delivered in a simple yet profound manner, Professor Gong’s sharing featured rich content and strong practicality. It provided valuable practical experience and enlightening ideas for the reform of public Chinese teaching and professional teaching for international students at our university, and clarified the direction and goals of future teaching reform. Our university will draw on the valuable experience from this lecture, further explore and innovate teaching methods and approaches, improve the quality of education for international students, and make greater contributions to cultivating more talents with global vision and innovative capabilities.
