To effectively and substantively advance the internationalization efforts of the College, initiate a positive start for collaboration between the Faculty of Education of McGill University and the College of Teacher Education of Ningbo University, and jointly explore high-quality development in teacher education and international talent cultivation, Professor Rao Limin (phonetic) from the Faculty of Education, McGill University, Canada, visited the College of Teacher Education, Ningbo University, on May 7, 2026, from 14:30 to 16:30, for a special symposium. The meeting was held in Conference Room 413, West Education Building, College of Teacher Education, Ningbo University, and was chaired by Yu Lichuan, Deputy Leader of the Internationalization Leadership Group of the College of Teacher Education. Relevant leaders, including Zhou Xunying, Director of the International Office of Ningbo University, Zhang Lin, Party Secretary of the College, and Gong Xiaohong, Deputy Party Secretary, attended the meeting.

At the symposium, Deputy Leader Yu Lichuan first extended a warm welcome to Professor Rao Limin and introduced the attendees one by one. He emphasized that McGill University, as a world-renowned institution, has a profound accumulation in the field of education, and that this visit provides a valuable opportunity for both sides to deepen mutual understanding and expand cooperation.

Professor Zhang Lin, Party Secretary of the College, pointed out that McGill University enjoys a high international reputation as a prestigious institution with a long history and abundant academic achievements. The College of Teacher Education at Ningbo University has developed rapidly in recent years, with a young and highly dynamic faculty. He expressed the hope that through this exchange, both sides could establish closer cooperative ties in educational research, personnel exchanges, and other areas, and continuously expand the scope of collaboration.

Professor Rao Limin introduced the research priorities and developmental characteristics of McGill’s Faculty of Education, covering areas such as teaching practice, teacher education, and teacher psychological support. Professor Rao also shared her research experience in professional development for primary and secondary school teachers, interdisciplinary teaching, and mathematics education in Canada, and expressed strong interest in China’s teacher training system.

Associate Professor Liu Xin, Director of the International Office of the College of Teacher Education, provided a detailed overview of the College’s development, educational features, and the construction history of its Primary Education program. The College has formed a coordinated structure comprising departments of Primary Education, Early Childhood Education, and Psychology, and has maintained close partnerships with local primary and secondary schools while undertaking multiple national-level research projects. The College places great emphasis on internationalization and hopes to explore collaborative opportunities with McGill University in areas such as teacher training, joint curriculum development, and student exchanges.

During the in-depth exchange session, both sides engaged in lively discussions on topics including teacher professional development, cross-cultural differences in mathematics education, and the balance between generalist and subject-specialist training for primary school teachers. Professor Rao shared that primary school teachers in Canada generally teach multiple subjects, noting that this approach helps build stable teacher-student relationships and fosters interdisciplinary integration, but also poses challenges such as low confidence in teaching mathematics. Dr. Yuan Kaijie, Chair of the Primary Education Department, introduced the College’s teacher training model, which offers specialized tracks in Chinese, mathematics, science, and other subjects. The two sides compared and analyzed the impacts of these different pathways on teacher preparation and student development.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties reached a preliminary consensus on establishing a long-term cooperation mechanism. They agreed to take this exchange as a starting point to further strengthen communication and enhance collaboration in future faculty visits and academic research.

In her concluding remarks, Director Zhou Xunying of the International Office of Ningbo University stated that the university will continue to strongly support the deepening of substantive cooperation between the two colleges. This visit not only provided valuable insights into McGill’s experience in teacher education but also offered important inspiration for the College of Teacher Education in future program optimization, internationalization, and curriculum revision. Both sides look forward to achieving in-depth cooperation in multiple fields and promoting mutual learning in teacher education between the two institutions.

It is also noted that Professor Rao Limin will stay at the College of Teacher Education for a two-week intensive exchange and study from May 7 to May 19, 2026, aiming to lay a solid foundation for further expanding and deepening collaboration between the two colleges and universities.