28 Aug 2024
On 16th August 2024, the IBSS x NexGen Educator Forum 2024, a preeminent event dedicated to promoting economic education, was successfully held at the International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). This forum, jointly hosted by NexGen Education Hub and IBSS, attracted over 40 education professionals from various international high schools from across the country. This forum aims to inspire educational practice with professional economics education content, empower high school teachers, and introduce innovative and practical teaching methods.
The first session was delivered by Professor Eddy Fang, Deputy Dean of IBSS, on the theme of "Teaching Behavioral Economics and the Limits of Rationality". Professor Eddy Fang elaborated on rationality as a key assumption in the field of economics and connected this with the emerging field of behavioral economics. He believed that mainstream and behavioral economics complement each other and, shared some tips and examples related to teaching behavioral economics to early year students. Professor Fang emphasized the significance of providing students with a comprehensive perspective on how the field of economics employs the concept of rationality and acknowledges both rational and irrational behavior, in order to sustain students' interest and motivation in the realm of economics.
Professor Eddy Fang
During the Q&A and discussion session, participants engaged in extensive discussions on a wide range of questions related to the pedagogy and acquisition of economics knowledge. These encompassed areas such as student-led research initiatives, the leveraging of behavioral economics by artificial intelligence, high school-level economics education, practical application of theoretical concepts in real-life scenarios, and the development of student motivation. These insightful discussions significantly enriched both the teaching and learning aspects of economics education across diverse contexts.
Dr Xinyi Zhou, programme director of BA International Business with a Language at IBSS, discussed Education Transformation and Individual Learning in Business. She emphasized the need for educators to develop talents with critical thinking, innovation, problem-solving skills for complex issues, and information processing capabilities. Educators should understand diverse learning styles and effectively utilize AI as a tool within its limitations. Education should not be one-size-fits-all; instead, educators must balance rapport-building with students while maintaining teaching authority.
Dr Xinyi Zhou
Another session, "Empowering Students to Excel: Support Students to Become Exceptional Global Citizens", was presented by Ms Hailu Hou, Career Counsellor from IBSS's Work Placement, Employability and Career Development (WEC) Team. The team is primarily responsible for assisting students in improving their employability by providing one-on-one counselling, soft skills training, and organizing various activities. She used three small games to enable everyone to have a better understanding of themselves, the types of jobs they are suitable for, and how to plan personal growth. She stressed the importance of transferrable skills in career planning and hoped that teachers and students from all schools would pay attention to it.
Hailu Hou
Jiajia Dong introduced NexGen Education and its projects, like the Economic Olympiad. They partner with organizations for enterprise visits and practical learning. Their focus is on developing students' competencies through authentic scenarios. Jiajia emphasized supporting teachers' growth through an Academic Advisory Board that facilitates sharing and learning among educators. They aim to inspire innovative teaching designs through forums and resource-sharing initiatives.
Jiajia Dong
The event concluded with a closing speech delivered by Professor Eddy Fang, wherein he expressed his hope that all attendees had derived enjoyment from the event and perceived it as a valuable experiential opportunity. The forthcoming series of activities will be centered around the theme of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Despite the widespread recognition of AI's significance and its transformative nature, there currently exists a dearth of specific solutions.
Ji Huang from World Education Service WES commented the event was empowering and informative. The discussions on behavioral economics, teaching methods, and talent cultivation were intriguing. Connecting teachers, schools, and universities enriched high school education experience.
Ji Huang
Shengbo Ning from Suzhou Foreign Language School also impressed by the three speakers, "The event provides an excellent opportunity for us to think about embedding advanced technology and emerging ideas in daily teaching. It also gives us a scientific basis for future guidance on students' career paths.”
28 Aug 2024