On May, 19^th, 2017, ZHU Xiaohan, an English teacher from International Education College, ZhengZhou University of Light Industry, reaps the “Special Prize for Sino-Foreign Cooperation” in the final round of National University Teaching Innovation Award, which is held by Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. Her onsite presentation, titled “Teaching by Designing”, wins the applause from panel of judges and audience.  

National University Teaching Innovation Award, supported by Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges, Ministry of Education and organized by XJTLU, is an arena for teaching innovations of universities across our nation. The award recognizes those who are adopting the concept of student-centered learning in order to establish a platform so that those dedicated to innovation in teaching can communicate, share experience and learn from each other. 

Since the release of the award, our university pays much attention and offers generous support. Based on her rich teaching practice and her own theoretical framework on teaching, Ms. ZHU submits her well-thought personal statement and exquisite micro film. After series of first review, panel evaluation, public selection, review, and field trip, 19 entrants from 11 universities make into the final round, including the candidates from South-West Jiaotong University, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, and XJTLU.  

In the final round, Ms. ZHU confidently and professionally introduces her innovation practice and answers the questions from Onsite Committee of Assessment Experts which mainly consists of practitioners, scholars, and senior media personality and student representations in higher education area of international scope. Her performance fully displays the distinguished teaching ability, energetic and aspiring spirit of our teachers, illustrates the accomplishments of discipline construction led by Sino-foreign cooperation, and establishes a whole new image of our university which aspires innovation in its process of internationalization.  

Our university is dedicated to promote internationalization of teaching and education, enhance teaching quality and enlarge the students’ horizon. Foreign teachers from UK and Australia are invited to deliver lectures to students. Through introducing original textbooks, opening Sino-foreign teaching forum, and organizing various activities, bilateral communication between teachers across countries are enhanced, and solid foundation are laid for reforming teaching philosophy, improving the teaching mode, promoting students’ interests in class participation, nourishing their critical thinking ability. During the process, the integration and innovation of Sino-foreign teaching theories and practice are effectively promoted. An international approach is established for reform and development of specialty major, as well as the development key university with its own characteristics.