In April 2018, a delegation from the Faculty of Education, ECNU, led by Professor Yuan Zhenguo, visited the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto (U of T) and signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), for the purpose of promoting internationalization and the construction of top-class disciplines in education. The following experts were also in attendance: Deputy Director and Professor Li Zhengtao, Yang Jiuquan, editor of the East China Normal University Journal, Ke Zheng, director of Scientific Research Division, and Yang Fuyi, director of International Affairs Division.
On April 18, the signing ceremony was held by the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Professor Glen Jones, dean of the institute; Professor Doug McDougall, deputy dean; Helen Huang, chief administrative officer; and Xia Xiaoyong, coordinator for the International Student Project, were present. The two sides decided to cooperate in the following fields: the joint publication of cooperative scientific research papers and other educational materials; the construction of courses; student exchange programs; the exchange of scientific research personnel and teachers; and the cooperation in organizing lectures, seminars, and international conferences.
Later, they arranged four round-table conferences on the discussion of in-depth research and cooperation in various fields. Firstly, three professors, Abigail Bakan, from the Department of Social Justice Education, Clair Brett, from the Department of Curriculum, Teaching & Learning, and Earl Woodruff, from the Department of Applied Psychology & Human, discussed with each other on the cooperation in their disciplines, and finally reached a consensus on joint training projects in the field of educational psychology in the future. Besides this, they discussed other possible fields where cooperation can occur.
In the afternoon, they discussed issues on teacher education with Professor Earl Woodruff, Professor Jim Hewitt, Professor Marlene Scardamalia, and Professor Charles Pascal. Professor Yuan Zhenguo gave an introduction to the development of research on Chinese teacher education. The two sides shared ideas with each other, which helped to better facilitate understanding and further cooperation in other fields.
