During the celebration of the 110 th anniversary of Anqing Normal University and the Second International Education Conference, more than 10 experts and scholars from US, Japan, Morocco and Taiwan area were invited by President Wang Qingsong, to attend the symposium held by the humanity education group on “how to apply humanity education into practical use” on the evening of October 19 th . Another 20 experts and scholars of ATC joined the discussion. The meeting is hosted by Prof. Dong Genming, Vice Dean of School of Humanity and Society.
At the beginning, Prof. Dong Genming introduced to the experts how the humanity education major of our college developed from a comprehensive liberal arts experiment class into a model major of Anhui Province and the basic development condition of the National Characteristic Major. He also made a brief illustration of the aim of the symposium.At the symposium, Dr. Tim Mack, President ofWorld Future Society, held the belief that it was significant to set humanity education major on base of liberal arts, history and philosophy for developing innovative talents of ATC. The achievements our humanity education major has made were valued by the government and built on the platform of National Characteristic Major and National Teaching Group. Prof. Arthur Harkins of University of Minnesota believed that humanity education was a divergence between middle class and bottom society during early ages in western countries, and it developed fast with modern science and technology after industry revolution. Dr. Zang Li, of Tokai University of Japan, said that education in Japan means teaching and developing people. Japanese society stresses that teachers are leader of education activities and vanguard of education reform. Teachers ought to be knowledgeable and they should be of at least two kinds of abilities to convey knowledge and to inculcate people. Dr. Mohammed Elmeski, a Morocco scholar, pointed out that humanity could develop students' innovating ability. He said that people with a background of comprehensive knowledge structure of liberal arts, history and philosophy tended to have a better view on problems they come across, so cross-subject education was significant.
Dr. Zhong Jing, Dr. Lin Suwei and Dr. Chen Chunnan of Taiwan Area, introduced some experience and methods of Bo-Ya(well-informed and refined) education in Taiwan area. They said that all-round course in Taiwan was comprehensive and even covered some future courses, marriage relationship and film appreciation, etc. Ms. Zhou Xiaoting, researcher of Taiwan Education Research Academy , gave an example of Chinese poem--Huai Nan Ziand pointed out that courses on Chinese traditional culture should be added into humanity education subject. She spoke highly of the setting of course on Anqing local history and culture in humanity education major in our college.
Dr. Song Hongzhuan, President of ICED, said that the first two years of undergraduate education was humanity education in all American universities. The setting of courses in those universities broke the boundaries among subjects, aiming at offering students a wider knowledge source. The teaching pattern of teachers should be like a lighthouse and humanity education the basic part. The quality and leadership what a teacher needs could only be achieved from humanity education.
President Wang Qingsong made the summary speech. He thanked all the attendants for their suggestions offered on our humanity teaching group and construction of humanity education major, especially the experience shared on how to apply humanity education into practical use. He also introduced his experience of visiting US, Japan and Taiwan area and pointed out that the theory of American social-science course, Japanese combining teaching and social practice and Taiwan Bo-Ya education impressed himself a lot. Taiwan Jici University promotes “educating people on both knowledge and soul” and we broaden the meaning into “educating people on their knowledge, soul and behavior. Chinese famous educator in modern times, Tao Xingzhi, promotes practical teaching and combining teaching, testing and practicing together. Practicing decides the way of learning, teaching and testing .So practical teaching is a very important educational link. At last, he said that humanity education had become a common issue which modern international society faces. As local teachers college, it is hard-earned for us to undertake the construction of humanity education teaching major. He hoped that all members of humanity education group can attach importance to the platform of international communication and cooperation and be of internationalized vision, develop the theory of humanity education to concern people, respect people and understand people, make the kindness humanity education gestates into the theory of the social behavior and practical activities of teachers and students. (Translated by Chen Kankan)
