In order to further promote the construction of first-class majors under the background of new liberal arts in China University of Petroleum (East China) and to innovate talent training paths, School of Foreign Studies successfully held the “First High-end Forum on the Construction of First-class Majors in New Liberal Arts” on November 8th, 2020. Nearly 500 scholars from universities across the country participated online.
Professor Yao Jun, vice president of UPC, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. On behalf of the University, Professor Yao expressed his gratitude to the experts and scholars who attended the meeting. He introduced the general situation and achievements of our University and pointed out the evolution of new liberal arts. He also emphasized to strengthen first-class majors, build first-class disciplines, and cultivate first-class talents. He expected valuable opinions and suggestions from the experts on the construction of new liberal arts, taking this forum as an opportunity to open a new chapter in our University’s new liberal arts construction. Zhang Yongning, secretary of the School Party Committee, presided over the opening ceremony of the forum.
Nine domestic leading foreign language scholars were invited to discuss on-line the forward-looking topics of the construction and training of first-class majors in foreign languages under the background of new liberal arts. Professor Zhou Zhen of Ningxia University discussed the innovative training of foreign language professionals based on the three core issues; Professor Wang Lifei of Beijing Language and Culture University focused on the needs from three aspects, and discussed issues such as the background, direction, focus, etc. under the background of new liberal arts; Professor Cheng Xiaotang of Beijing Normal University discussed the basic conditions for applying for the construction of first-class disciplines, and expounded the core issues; Professor Zhang Baojun of Beijing Language and Culture University talked about “What is new liberal arts” and introduced that the new liberal arts construction innovation should cover innovations; Professor Li Zhengshuan of Hebei Normal University took the course English and American Poetry Appreciation as an example, summarizing six factors that promote the sustainable development of curriculum construction; Professor Wang Xin of Sichuan University took Sichuan University Foreign Language School as an example to explore the first-class professional connotation construction mode, the new relationship between teaching and learning, and the innovative mode of talent training; Professor Shi Jian of Sichuan University started with the National Standard (National Standards of Teaching Quality for Undergraduate Foreign Language and Literature Majors) and the TeachingGuide (Teaching Guide for Undergraduate Foreign Language and Literature Majors), pointing out the determination and positioning of foreign language and literature disciplines; Professor Wang Mingyu of Tianjin Foreign Studies University pointed out that the construction of new liberal arts is a revolution and he elaborated on the three growth modes, three growth mechanisms, and five important characteristics of new liberal arts; Professor Xu Jinfen of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, proposed the necessity and basic connotation of comprehensively promoting curriculum ideological and political construction.
The forum also invited Professor Miao Xingwei of Beijing Normal University, Professor Zhao Xiufeng of China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Professor Wang Zhuo of Shandong Normal University, Professor Lu Weizhong of Qufu Normal University, and Professor Zhai Honghua of Shandong Agricultural University as guest hosts and hostesses.
Professor Mao Haoran, president of the School, delivered a closing speech. President Mao expressed his gratitude to all the experts and brother universities for their long-term support. He pointed out that the current “ High-end Forum on the Construction of First-class Majors in New Liberal Arts” will help to enhance communication and collaboration with brother universities and jointly discuss the mode and path of the construction of first-class majors under the background of the new liberal arts. And at the same time, this forum plays a positive role in promoting our School’s “14th Five-Year Plan” and the construction of first-class undergraduate majors.
This forum has provided useful references for the construction of first-class majors in foreign language in domestic universities. Meanwhile, it established a good platform for exchanges and cooperation, and expanded the academic influence of the newly established School of Foreign Studies in the field of foreign languages.
