Peking University, Nov. 4, 2010: Editor’s Notes: The beginning of November 2010 will mark the start of the 7th Beijing Forum, wholly organized by Peking University, Beijing Municipal Commission of Education and the Korea Foundation of Advanced Studies. The forum, with its theme set as “The Harmony of Civilizations and Prosperity for All – Commitments and Responsibilities for a Better World”, will draw scholars from around the world to participate in discussions concerning global crisis affecting mankind, with the common aim of promoting cultural harmonization and development. To enhance readers’ understanding of the forum’s theme and its significance prior to the commencement of the actual event, PKU News Center has specially crafted a series of panel interviews which will be published accordingly with effect from today.
In line with the international trends in the reform and development of education, the Education Panel this year set “Education Reform and Research in the Era of Transition: Responsibility and Future” as its central theme. Prof. Yan Fengqiao, Prof. Zhang Ran, and Prof. Zhao Kang, all from PKU Graduate School of Education, gave an account of the preparations underway for Beijing Forum.
This year the Graduate School of Education lays more emphasis on the interdisciplinary discussion on education and makes full use of Beijing Forum to promote the academic communication between China and other countries, strengthen the relation between theory and policy, and enhance its self construction and development. Graduate School of Education consists of three academic fields: primary theory of pedagogy, educational economics, and educational technology. The theme was based on the broadly representative opinions of teachers from these three fields. The Educational Panel has not only invited well-known scholars such as Prof. Ulrich Teichler, former Chairman of Consortium of Higher Education Researchers, Prof. Mark Bray, the former Director of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) International Institute for Educational Planning, Prof. Biddy (Carolyn A.) Martin, the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin—Madison, but also the energetic and newly-rising scholars such as Dr. Zha Qiang from York University of Canada. There have been 32 guests who have promised to attend the panel up to now, coming from eight countries like China, Britain, America, South Korea, Canada, and so on.
This year is the 30th anniversary of PKU restoring Pedagogy and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Graduate School of Education. Prof. Zhao Kang said that how to link the theme of Educational Panel to the theme of “Responsibilities and Future” of the forum, and how to combine Beijing Forum with the academic anniversary celebrations together was a critical question when they tried to set the theme of the panel.
On July 29, 2010, China’s National Project (2010-2020) on Long-term Education Reform and Development, which put education in an outstanding position, and emphasized the importance of stimulating the vitality of education by means of the reform of education system, was officially issued. Meanwhile, education reform is an international trend as other countries are adjusting their educational practice. The panel with a theme of education reform and development will provide a platform for representatives from all over the world to exchange ideas on how to adapt education to the new conditions in the era of transition and share the experience and fruits of education reform.
Based on the essays presented by representatives, the panel was divided into four parts: higher education, globalization and education, educational technology and further education, and education reform.
Students are highly enthusiastic about participating in the forum. Prof. Yan said that Beijing Forum provided a great opportunity for students to get to know more international scholars and academic ideas. In addition, we will arrange more time for speech and free discussion on the panel. At the same time, Peking University Education Review will publish the good papers in order to share the academic ideas in a larger scale.
Translated by: Cao Yixing
Edited by: Jacques
Source: PKU News (Chinese)
