The First NAU Education Internationalization Conference

August 26, 2010

In order to convey the spirit of the National Education Work Meeting, draw conclusions from the experiences of internationalization work in recent years so as to better promote the education internationalization process, the Education Internationalization Conference 2010 of NanjingAuditUniversity was held in the Pukou campus from August 23^rd to 25^th. The entire leading group attended the conference. Other present members include all senior administrative staff, professors, PhD holders, overseas returnees and staff from the subordinate colleges.

On August 24^th, Secretary Xiong Renmin gave a speech on Study the Spirit of National Education Work Meeting Earnestly and Promote NAU Education Internationalization Process Sturdily. He pointed out that both the national and provincial governments attach great importance to the development of education. Therefore, we should make a scientific 12^th five-year plan in accordance with the real situations in the university.

He held that to expand educational opening-up and to promote international cooperation and exchange is a crucial measure in enhancing the teaching quality and development level of high education. Besides, it is also an efficient channel to bring in high-quality teaching resources and upgrading talent cultivation quality. As to the concept of educational internationalization, Secretary Xiong gave his interpretation from three aspects. Firstly, it is a school-running philosophy which is both an ideological horizon and a strategic way of thinking. Secondly, it is a school-running methodology. We should have a clear understanding of how developed countries operate their educational systems and what the common practices are. In that case, we can take their experiences as a reference by combining our national and school conditions. Thirdly, it is a school-running mechanism. We need to set up high standards, truly put all policies into effect, emphasize on absorbing salutary experiences and seek for development in the process.

The second speaker, Vice President Yin Ping talked about Deepen the Reform and Break New Ground for the Education Internationalization Work. He first reviewed the achievements in the past five years. A dozen sino-foreign cooperative programs have been launched during the 11^th five-year period, namely ACCA, CGA, Sino-Australian 3+1 program, IAEP, short visits between students of the mainland and Taiwan, student-exchange programs, 1+2+1 Sino-U.S. talent cultivation program, research and intern program in Singapore, 4+1 bachelor and master program as well as other forms of communications, such as international contests, summer camps and overseas voluntary works etc. These multiple programs have enabled NAU students to go abroad, deepen international understanding, broaden their horizon so as to better present themselves in the world stage.

As to teaching staff optimization, the university has made a lot of efforts in this regard as well. On one hand, the school actively brings in overseas returnees so as to input fresh blood into the teaching, researching and administrating groups. On the other hand, the school gives great impetus to send the teachers abroad for them to learn the advanced school-running philosophy and administration methods. In the meantime, the school also hired many prestigious foreign scholars and personnel to hold the name of honorary professors.

On the next day, President Wang Jiaxin presented his insights on the conference. He pointed out that the promotion of education internationalization is not only a strategy but also tactics which need to be guarded carefully on the operational level; it has to take considerations of every possible aspect while proceeding individual program in an orderly fashion. Education internationalization is embodied not only in visits to foreign countries and teaching method transformation, but also in research cooperation and the change of administrative mindset. Interaction between these two aspects may inspire us to conduct our work in a more innovative way. As a talent cultivation institution, internationalization is an indispensible tool in realizing full-person education . President Wang Jiaxin specifically mentioned that curriculum internationalization is the centerpiece of our work. Therefore, we should set up more courses on international education, hold more lectures reflecting global themes, and launch more research projects that have international academic influences.

Supervisors of various administrative organs and professors from different subordinate colleges also gave speeches on the conference in regard of relevant areas of expertise. The Education Internationalization Conference which lasted three days has made a general plan and set a clear goal for the work in the next five years. Under its guidance, the education internationalization work will surely march up to a new level.