On the afternoon of May 14, 2026, the eighth session of the “Fenghua Scholars Young Scholars Forum” was successfully held in Room 413, Education Building, West Campus, College of Teacher Education, Ningbo University. The event featured Associate Professor Rao Limin from the Faculty of Education, McGill University, Canada, as the keynote speaker, with the theme “Academic Life: Balancing the Many Roles of a Professor.” The session was moderated by Dr. Yu Lichuan, a specially appointed research fellow at our College. Faculty and students gathered together for this academic exchange that combined international perspectives with a humanistic touch.

Associate Professor Rao Limin holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto and serves as a doctoral supervisor. Her research focuses on embodied teaching practices and teacher education, with deep expertise in mathematics and STE(A)M education. In 2023, she received the Faculty of Education’s Distinguished Teaching Award at McGill University. She also wears multiple hats: former secondary school mathematics and science teacher, museum educator, mathematics education editor for the Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, and international figure skating judge. Her rich跨界 (cross‑disciplinary) experiences have given her profound and unique insights into the sustainable development of an academic career and self‑care.

During the lecture, Associate Professor Rao presented her talk in a clear framework, covering four major sections: “My Academic Growth Path,” “The Academic Life at McGill University,” “Reflections on Sustainability and Balance,” and “Questions Still Being Explored.” She began with her own educational and teaching journey, offering a realistic picture of the daily work life of a professor at a Canadian university. She candidly shared the pressures arising from the multiple roles of teaching, research, and service under the “3+3” faculty evaluation system, and described how she adjusted her pace after experiencing burnout—by setting clear work boundaries and cultivating non‑academic hobbies to achieve a work‑life balance. She admitted that in academia, one’s value is often defined by output, but the most difficult challenge is making peace with oneself; only by taking good care of one’s body and mind can one sustain lasting energy for teaching and research.

In the interactive session, Associate Professor Rao patiently answered questions from faculty and students regarding academic planning, cross‑cultural educational experiences, and work‑life balance. She encouraged everyone not to strive for “perfection” but to find a harmonious rhythm among multiple roles in order to achieve long‑term academic vitality. The entire sharing offered both a detailed interpretation of the Canadian university faculty system and sincere personal reflections, bringing fresh inspiration and food for thought to the audience.

In the future, the College of Teacher Education will continue to rely on platforms such as the “Fenghua Scholars Young Scholars Forum” to invite outstanding scholars from home and abroad for diverse academic exchanges, helping faculty and students broaden their international horizons, draw strength for growth, and steadily advance on their educational and academic paths.