On the campus of UIC, a variety of cultural and academic exchange activities have been held one after another. Recently, in the lecture hall of "Situation and Policy", students followed the principal to find their roots in Chinese culture; Participate in the Chinese Cultural and Creative Competition and tell Chinese stories innovatively. At the International Symposium, Chinese and foreign scholars shared their development trends and experiences in liberal arts education. A number of foreign universities have visited, and UIC's overseas circle of friends has been expanding...... Let's experience the multicultural atmosphere of liberal arts education.
On 8 May 2024, the 98th lecture of the "Situation and Policy" lecture of Beijing Normal Hong Kong Baptist University was held in the University Hall. Professor Chen Zhi, President and Vice-Chancellor of Beijing Normal University, delivered a lecture entitled "Searching for the Roots of Chinese Culture: The Book of Songs and the Ritual and Music Culture of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties", leading students to appreciate the long history of Chinese culture.
President Chen Zhi took the Treatise on Confucius Poetry as the starting point to lead to the discussion of Confucius and his lineage, and then to the research and controversy in the academic circles on the difference between Confucianism and Confucianism and the relationship between the three dynasties of the Xia and Shang dynasties. He pointed out that although there is still no conclusion on whether the Zhou people in the ethnic group were Xia people, due to political needs, the Zhou people regarded themselves as Xia, inherited the cultural traditions of Xia, and selectively absorbed the Yin Shang culture, thus forming the basis of the Western Zhou ritual music system.
President Chen Zhi also discussed the formation and changes of the Western Zhou Yale system. Combining oracle bone inscriptions, Jin inscriptions, and documentary materials, he argues that "Ya" music is indiscriminate to "Xia" music, and discusses how the Western Zhou Dynasty absorbed and changed the "Wan Wu" and "Yong Yue" music and dance forms used in Shang Dynasty sacrifices. He pointed out that the "Yong Song" music and dance later evolved into the "Three Verses" in the Book of Songs. In addition, President Chen Zhi also pointed out that after King Ping moved eastward, as the geographical concepts of "Ya" and "Xia" expanded from the area of Guanzhong Zhou Wangji to the Central Plains, Yale also influenced with the music of Zhuxia in the Central Plains to form a new Yale system.
During the Q&A session, President Chen Zhi recommended some books on the history and culture of early ancient China for further study and research by teachers and students.
On May 8, scholars from Waseda University, Yale-NUS College, Hong Kong Baptist University, Duke Kunshan University, and Beijing Normal University held a symposium on liberal arts education from a global perspective, sharing their experiences and insights into the practice of liberal arts education in China and abroad, and discussing its development trends.
Chinese and foreign scholars discuss liberal arts education
The scholars discussed the continuity of liberal arts education in different countries in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, including the exchanges between the Chinese writer and philosopher Hu Shih and the American philosopher of education John Dewey in the early twentieth century. the influence of the German liberal arts philosophy on the Chinese educator Cai Yuanpei in the nineteenth century; Contemporary proposals for liberal arts education in China and the United States to be "globally rooted", and the debate between so-called "elite education" and the mission of liberal arts education.
Scholars believe that through a more diversified and innovative curriculum, the needs of students' all-round development can be better met, and the practice and development of liberal arts education can be further promoted.
The final of the 15th China Cultural and Creative Competition was also held on May 8. The six historical stage plays created by the students of Beijing Normal Hong Kong Baptist University are colorful, showing the outstanding talents and profound cultural heritage of the students.
Among them, "Metta" tells the tragic scene of monks spontaneously organizing themselves before and after the Nanjing Massacre in 1937, taking risks to shelter refugees and guiding them to evacuate safely. "The Road I Chose" tells the touching story of how young women bravely broke free from the shackles of tradition and firmly devoted themselves to the revolutionary cause in the context of the "May Fourth Movement" through rich dramatic conflicts and profound character building. Another work, "In the Prime: New Youth in the May Fourth Movement", vividly reproduces the magnificent historical scene of young people raising their arms and shouting and struggling to speak out for the sake of fighting for national power abroad and punishing national thieves internally, and profoundly demonstrates the patriotic and progressive ideas in the May Fourth spirit.
President Chen Zhi (first from left) presented the award to the champion team and creator of "Metta Guang" "Luyu Society".
Ms. Qiong Xia, President of Zhuhai Drama Artists Association, Deputy Director of Zhuhai Cultural Center, National First-Class Actress and Plum Blossom Award Winner, was invited to serve as a judge of the competition and interact with the students.
Group photo of the event
Recently, representatives from the University of New South Wales (Australia), the University of Glasgow (UK), and the Business School of the University of Nuevo Lisbon (Nova SBE) in Portugal visited Beijing Normal University (UIC) to learn more about the university's education and explore cooperation opportunities.
Representatives of foreign universities made speeches
Dr Felix Tan, Associate Dean (International Affairs) of the Business School of the University of New South Wales (UNSW), expressed his high appreciation for the rapid development and talent development achievements of the University in recent years, and mentioned that more than 50 graduates of the University of New South Wales will go to the University of New South Wales for further studies in 2023.
Prof. Chow Yam-keung, Provost and Provost of Beijing Normal University, said that he would strongly support the academic and research collaboration between the two universities, and that the business schools of the two universities could better understand the needs and potential of both universities and stimulate more possibilities for collaboration.
Professor Chow Yin-keung (middle) and other representatives of Beijing Normal University and HKBC took a group photo with the delegation from the University of New South Wales
Professor Konstantinos Kontis, Dean of the School of Global Affairs (China/East Asia) at the University of Glasgow, had a detailed understanding of the University's educational situation, characteristic concepts, research achievements and summer programs, and discussed the possibility of future exchanges and cooperation between the two sides.
Nova SBE is one of the top business schools in Europe, and the delegation visited the campus and held discussions to lay the foundation for future cooperation.