CQUni funded for research and development collaborations in China
Published on 02 October, 2012
CQUniversity's International Education Research Centre (IERC) has won an Australia-China Council grant awarded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The funds are for academic development and a curriculum renewal project in Guangxi University, China.
IERC Director Assoc Prof Alison Owens and Dr Clive Graham have completed two weeks of course development and professional development at Guangxi University in collaboration with the Sino-Canadian International College Dean, Prof Qin Chengqiang.
"This project aims to develop students' critical thinking skills and expertise to solve problems," Dean Qin says.
"This is of great value to the teaching reform of Chinese tertiary education. Once implemented it will definitely benefit the students, not only for their personal growth per se but also for their professional development in the long run."
This project had dual objectives. The first was to deliver a professional development program to teaching staff at Guangxi University focusing on student-centred, collaborative and problem-based curriculum.
Chinese university curriculum has had a traditional focus on examination-only assessment but the Chinese Ministry of Education is seeking to renew curriculum so that graduates are more innovative, collaborative and work-ready.
These workshops were well-received by Guangxi University English-speaking academic staff. These staff are now able to on-train in Mandarin for other interested colleges at Guangxi University and so this project seeks to provide a long-term resource for Guangxi University.
One participant commented: "These workshops were very welcome. They were interactive and engaging and demonstrated creative approaches to teaching, especially group work. They also provided theoretical models that allowed me to re-think some of my teaching".
The second objective of the ACC Grant project was to develop a multidisciplinary capstone course for final-term, English-proficient students at Guangxi University SCIC.
The course materials are now being finalised and ongoing relationships established as a Community of Practice between Assoc Prof Owens and Guangxi University academic staff, so that the delivery and evaluation of this course can be researched and renewed.
Local employers and government officials are collaborating in providing case studies of emerging issues and problems in the local business context in Nanning, such as growing electronic bike congestion in the city area. These local business leaders will also engage in the evaluation of student case study solutions and oral presentations, developing important links between the academy and local industry.
Director of the Nanning department store Mr Li says: "As employers, we prefer to choose critical thinking, analytical skills, and problem-solving abilities, but these are the very abilities that Chinese graduates lack".
"This course will be a promotion of meaningful connections between the academic major and work and career experience. It provides a very good platform for students to integrate the knowledge, abilities, and values taught or demonstrated by their teachers. We are willing to engage in this program," he says.
Ongoing research collaboration evaluating the impact of the course and revising approaches as required is planned between Assoc Prof Owens and SCIC academic staff.
"This is the start of something that will build over time and we fully intend to further develop our relationships and collaborations with Guangxi University in person and online," Assoc Prof Owens says.
"This collaboration is a powerful example of the benefits of cross-cultural engagement and we have thoroughly enjoyed our engagement with the wonderful teachers at Guangxi University.
"My personal goal for 2013 is to learn more Mandarin and establish second language learning and practice opportunities between our university communities using online free technologies."