Author: Yang Shuxin 

Publisher: Xinhua News Agency 

Date: October 12, 2024

On October 9th, the annual summary and exchange meeting for the International Chinese Education column project, organized by the China Foreign Language Exchange and Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Education and the World Chinese Language Teaching Association, took place at the School of Chinese Language and Culture, Jinan University. The meeting aimed to evaluate the progress made in establishing the international Chinese education column and to foster high-quality, innovative development within the international Chinese education sector.

(At the annual summary and exchange meeting)

Zhang Xiaoxin, Vice President of Jinan University, highlighted the institution's significant role in the field of Chinese language education. As the first overseas Chinese university established by the government, Jinan University boasts nearly 120 years of experience in Chinese language education and close to 40 years in international Chinese language teaching. Vice President Zhang emphasized the university's commitment to enhancing language and cultural exchanges with foreign nations. He expressed intentions to continue leveraging the school’s teaching and research resources, promoting a robust environment for the development of the journal Chinese Language Teaching and Research, which aligns with the broader goal of advancing both domestic and international Chinese language education.

Zhong Yinghua, President of the World Chinese Language Teaching Association, underscored the significance of establishing the International Chinese Education column in high-level journals. He viewed this initiative as a strategic response to unfolding opportunities in the education sector, aiming to align with national development goals while addressing the evolving needs of international Chinese language education and its academic standing. Yu Tianqi, Deputy Director of the Sino-Foreign Language Exchange and Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Education, reinforced the notion that future efforts in column construction should prioritize academic guidance, enhance academic exchanges, and focus on nurturing young and middle-aged scholars.

During the seminar, experts engaged in discussions around topics such as the Eight Characteristics of High-Level Journals and the role of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure in facilitating the publication and dissemination of international Chinese education research. Representatives from various journals took the opportunity to share their insights, experiences, achievements, and perspectives on the future of their column construction efforts.

Since its launch in 2021, the Chinese Language Exchange and Cooperation Center, along with the World Chinese Language Teaching Association, has been collaborating with high-level journals to establish the international Chinese education column. This initiative aims to support these journals in prioritizing the publication of research from international Chinese teachers, volunteers, young and middle-aged scholars, and association members. The goal is to create a dedicated platform for academic exchange that fosters growth and development within the international Chinese education community. To date, 30 domestic and international journals have been involved in this column construction endeavor.