On the afternoon of November 6 , the International Forum of Presidents of Higher Education with the theme of "Better Food, Better Education", organized by Jiangnan University, was held in Mei Ballroom, World Hotel Grand Juna Wuxi. Presidents of 49 domestic and foreign universities from 27 countries, experts and scholars in the field of educational research attended the forum. The forum was chaired by Professor Xu Yan, Vice President of Jiangnan University.
Vice President Xu Yan presided over the forum
The forum invited 9 experts and professors from home and abroad in the field of education to share their experience in running schools and achievements in scientific research, and to discuss cooperation in the field of food education. The attendants were Mr. Zhang Daliang, Vice President of China Society of Higher Education and former Director of Higher Education Department of Ministry of Education; representatives of Bangladesh Agricultural University; Professor Choijil Suren Narangerel, Dean of Institute of Technology, Mogolia; Professor Ji Zhicheng, Vice President of Jiangnan University; Professor Ray Geo,Deputy Vice-Chancellor of University of Otago,New Zealand; Professor Zafar Iqbal, Vice Chancellor of University of Sindh, Faisalabad; Professor Ralph J. Hexter, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, University of California, Davis, United States;Paul Leo McSweeney, Vice Chancellor of University College, Cork, Ireland;Helen Nicholson, Deputy Vice Chancellor of University of Otago, New Zealand. They have made keynote lectures based on the situation worldwide, and their respective national and school conditions. They also shared their own views on the training mode of international innovative personnel, the construction of international education system, the challenges for higher education in the globalization context , and the solutions to these problems.
Mr. Zhang Daliang, on the theme of "studying and implementing the spirit of the National Education Conference and taking root in the development of universities in China," introduced Xi Jinping's thoughts on socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era and the spirit of the National Education Conference. He further interpreted the profound connotation of President Xi Jinping's important exposition on education. He pointed out, "to grasp the concept of developing China's universities—to take root in running universities in China—we must adhere to the following eight principles: upholding the Party's overall leadership over colleges and universities, upholding the guiding position of Marxism, and adhering to the direction of running socialism-oriented universities. We should persist in integrating the cultivation of morality into ideological and moral education, enhance the building of teachers' ethics, serve the needs of the national strategy and economic and social development, strengthen the building of university culture, and persist in reform and opening up. He also stressed that China's education should not only be based on China, but also face the world and the future.
Mr. Zhang Dalidelivered a keynote speech
Professor M.D.Ali Akbar, Vice-Chancellor, Bangladesh Agricultural University made a presentation on "Higher Education Development in Bangladesh and its Collaboration with Global Colleges and Universities". In the report, he pointed out the most important problems to be solved in the field of food science and technology in the next 50 years, and pointed out that the key to solving the problem is to strengthen the interaction between the fields of food science and technology in universities at home and abroad. Meanwhile, it is necessary to establish an international education and scientific research cooperation platform based on the “Belt and Road” University Alliance for Food Science and Education.
Professor M.D.Ali Akbar delivered a keynote speech
Professor ChoijilSuren Narangerel, Dean of Institute of Technology, Mogolia, made a report on the theme of "Private Universities in the Reform of Mongolian Education System". In the report, she voiced the need to level the playing field for competition between public and private schools in a time of rapid growth in the size of colleges and universities. She suggested the implementation of National Education Plan, the control of the proportion of public and private educational institutions, the enhancement of cooperation between the government and the private sector, and establishmentof public-private partnership to improve the quality of education and social benefits.
Professor ChoijilSuren Narangerel delivered a keynote speech
Professor Ji Zhicheng, Vice President of Jiangnan University, made a report titled "Training Mode of International Innovation Personnel ". He introduced the general goal of Jiangnan University to "train high-quality innovative and entrepreneurial personnel with light-industry background, Jiangnan style, family and national affection, and global vision, and to provide first-class undergraduate education with international fame and domestic excellence." He also pointed out that Jiangnan University has set up the goal of "driving pluralistic education with double engine, enhancing mass entrepreneurship and innovation and ensuring whole-process education system", continuously centering on students and strengthening the connotation construction of the university and the development of leading disciplines. Several innovative training models have been established step by step.
Professor Ji Zhicheng delivered a keynote speech
Professor Ray Geor, Vice-Chancellor of Macy's University in New Zealand, gave a presentation titled "Internationalization of Higher Education in Food Science and Technology and the Importance of Global Partnership". Professor Ray Geor addressed the Alliance members about Macy's world-class facilities, its global cooperation strategy, international curriculum and its internationalization research status. He pointed out that faculty, students and alumni are the key forces in the internationalization of the university.
Professor Ray Geor delivered a keynote speech
Professor Zafar Iqbal, Vice-Chancellor of the Faisalabad Agricultural University, Pakistan, made a presentation on the theme "Advancing Global Interactive Food Agriculture Education-on the Leading Role of the Faisalabad Agricultural University in Pakistan". By discussing the leading role of Feisalabad Agricultural University in global food and agriculture education, he proposed that universities in the world share the responsibility and seize the opportunity to meet the challenge to create a new global pattern and system of agricultural education. He suggested three factors for building a top university: an excellent faculty and student team, financial aid from all sources, and a more flexible and integrated system.
Professor Zafar Iqbal delivered a keynote speech
Professor Ralph J. Hexter, Provost and Executive Vice-Chancellor of the University of California, Davis, made a presentation on "Global Education for All ". He pointed out the necessity and urgency of education for all in the world and the need for a global review of education. Professor Ralph J. Hexter believes that the goal of the construction of "world-class universities" is not only to improve the quality of teaching and research in higher education, but more importantly to enhance the competitiveness of the global higher education market. At the same time, six ways to implement global education are put forward.
ProfessorRalph J. Hexterdelivered a keynote speech.
Professor Paul McSweeney, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cork, Ireland, made a presentation on “Embedding Transversal Skills in the Curriculum Planning at the University College Cork, Ireland”. He believed that skills, such as organizational skills that are generally considered unrelated to a particular job, task, academic discipline or field of knowledge, can be used in a variety of situations and work environments, and that these transversal skills are important and necessary.
Professor Paul McSweeneydelivered a keynote speech
Professor Helen Nicholson, Vice-Chancellor of University of Otago in New Zealand, gave a presentation on “Development of International Education at the University of Otago”. He introduced the history of University of Otago and the scale of internationalized education, and emphasized the importance and necessity of internationalized education. At the same time, she introduced the development of international education in the university in terms of its international educational facilities and so on.
Professor Helen Nicholsondelivered a keynote speech
The attendees of the International Forum of Presidents of Higher Education conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions on such issues as the cultivation of international innovative personnel, the development trend of education at present , and the internationalization of colleges and universities. At the same time, the planning for further development is also made in the light of the present situation. The success of the Forum is a positive response to the "Belt and Road" initiative. It helps to strengthen exchanges and academic cooperation among universities, and to promote mutual understanding and common progress among Chinese and foreign universities. It is of great importance to promote the normalization of international exchanges.
International Forum of Presidents of Higher Education
