Beijing's China National Convention Center on October 31 transformed into a hub of international dialogue as the 25th China Annual Conference & Expo for International Education (CACIE) opened its doors. Themed Education for All, the Unknown and the Future, this year's event, which concluded on November 2, welcomed over 5,000 participants, including education experts, policymakers, educators and innovators from more than 60 countries. Together, they went on to explore the evolving role of education in a world marked by rapid change. 

Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng in his opening address via video link stressed the central role of educational openness in China's modernization journey. He emphasized the country's commitment to expanding international youth exchange, fostering deeper cross-cultural understanding and nurturing a global perspective among teachers and students alike.

Organized by the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), the expo has been held annually since 2000 and is China's largest platform for educational cooperation and exchange. This year's CACIE was much more than a gathering. It was a call for collaboration, a vision of inclusive, future-oriented education.

Just say YES 

In November 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced an initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China over the next five years for exchange and study during an address in San Francisco, the United States.

This initiative, dubbed the Young Envoys Scholarship (YES) program, sets out to foster mutual understanding by providing young Americans with immersive experiences in Chinese culture and society.

According to Liu Limin, President of the CEAIE, which hosts the YES program, by mid-October, some 12,000 U.S. teenagers had already participated in exchange programs in China under the initiative.

"The program has shown us new hope for the youth of both countries to strengthen ties and move forward hand in hand, demonstrating the need for and potential of educational cooperation between both sides," said Liu in his opening remarks at the Fifth China-U.S. Provincial/State University Presidents' Forum during the CACIE.

The YES program is the latest undertaking in a long history of collaborative educational efforts between China and the U.S. One of the most successful examples of this partnership is the Sino-American Cooperation on Higher Education and Professional Development (CHEPD) program, which has promoted practical cooperation between Chinese and U.S. universities for nearly two decades.

Launched in 2004, the CHEPD is jointly managed by the CEAIE, the China Center for International Educational Exchange and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). The program's main objective is to provide students with access to world-class education through dual-enrollment programs. This allows them to earn degrees and graduation certificates from both Chinese and U.S. institutions.

As of October 2022, 175 universities from both nations had participated in the CHEPD program. By that time, over 6,300 undergraduate and graduate students had studied at U.S. universities through this initiative.

Heidi Anderson's attendance at the forum was part of her first visit to China. As President of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a public research university in the U.S. state of Maryland, Anderson emphasized the transformative potential of international collaboration in her speech.

She underlined the value of student exchanges, particularly for universities in rural areas of both the U.S. and China, and called for greater support and investment from both sides.

While recognizing that technology can facilitate communication, Anderson stated, "There's nothing like face-to-face cooperation, nothing better than that and the cooperation that it brings."

Educational exchange has long been a cornerstone of Sino-American relations, with cooperation serving as a foundational element for building stronger ties. China sent its first group of scholars to the U.S. in December 1978, marking the beginning of decades of academic exchange.

However, recent U.S. policies that restrict Chinese students, especially in the fields of science and engineering, under national security pretenses, have hindered this progress. These actions have discouraged American students from studying in China and have worked against the mutual interests of both countries.

"Before communication and collaboration, come trust and understanding. And we look forward welcoming Chinese students to study in the U.S. at our campuses, and doing our part to encourage more American students to study in China," President of the AASCU Charles Welch said at the forum. "Together, there is nothing we cannot accomplish."

Empowering medical education 

In the digital age, the integration of digital technology has not only transformed the way knowledge is shared but also created new pathways for skill development and scientific research. Medical education, in particular, is experiencing considerable change. The future of medical education and advancements in global health were prominent topics of discussion at this year's CACIE.

"The essence of education lies in nurturing creativity. Digital technology allows us to go beyond traditional teaching models, nurturing an interactive and flexible learning environment that sparks students' curiosity and creative thinking," remarked Tian Jinzhou, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, during his opening address at the CACIE's Medical Digital Education and Leadership Talent Training Forum held on November 1.

Tian highlighted that digital technology can enhance clinical skills and psychological resilience in learners through immersive virtual reality simulations, better preparing them for future challenges. Digital medical education is also breaking down geographical and cultural barriers, promoting interdisciplinary dialogue, and offering students exposure to medical practices from different cultural contexts. This approach not only broadens academic perspectives but also deepens multicultural understanding and inclusivity.

The forum was hosted by Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM), a leading institution in Chinese medicine education. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is considered an important part of China's cultural heritage. BUCM actively embraces innovation, consistently exploring and implementing new models for talent development in the digital age.

As Wang Yaoqi, Secretary of the Communist Party of China Committee of BUCM, stated in her address, the university cultivates multifaceted talents who are well-versed in both TCM and modern medical technology. This includes fostering innovative professionals with strong clinical skills and research abilities, as well as supporting leading experts who understand China's context while maintaining a global outlook.

In July, the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the National Data Bureau released a policy paper on advancing TCM's digital transformation. One primary objective is to promote the digital development of TCM education. According to the paper, the government aims to build high-quality digital resources, including online open courses, digital archives and audiovisual recordings of master classes by renowned figures in the medical world.

It also accentuates the construction of virtual simulation platforms for TCM training, development of digital clinical bases, and the creation of smart teaching environments. Additionally, the initiative seeks to lift the digital literacy and application skills of TCM professionals, expanding their knowledge base to meet the demands of the digital age.

BUCM has been at the forefront of exploring innovative models for talent development. One such initiative began in 2004, when BUCM and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore launched a dual-degree program in TCM and biology. This program, the first of its kind in the country, combines TCM with biomedical sciences, marking the start of Singapore's formal higher education in TCM. Today, there are approximately 3,400 TCM practitioners in Singapore, with nearly one eighth of them holding dual degrees awarded through this collaborative training program between BUCM and NTU.

In addition to its work in Singapore, BUCM has established cooperative relationships and overseas TCM centers with 118 renowned universities and research institutions across 30 countries and regions.

"In the future, BUCM will create an industry-education integration innovation platform, a future learning center and an international remote education platform. Through innovative digital education models, we intend to advance both TCM's education and healthcare systems, promoting the sharing of high-quality global educational resources," Vice President of BUCM Wang Ting concluded in his forum address.

Copyedited by Elsbeth van Paridon 

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