To commend outstanding individuals, promote the spirit of educators, and inspire faculty members to remember their mission of moral education and foster a desire for self-improvement, SCMU held the 2024 Teachers’ Day Commendation Conference and Opening Ceremony for New Faculty Training at the Academic Exchange Center on the afternoon of September 9th, on the eve of the 40th National Teachers’ Day.
The event was attended by all on-campus members of the Standing Committee of the University Party Committee, heads of departments, representatives of retired faculty and democratic parties, university-level teaching pioneers and outstanding individuals, faculty members with 30 years of teaching experience and outstanding class advisor representatives, recipients of various honors and awards, new faculty members, and student representatives. The conference was chaired by Liu Yi, Deputy Secretary of the University Party Committee and President of SCMU.
President Liu Yi chairs the meeting. Photo by Ji Ziqing
The conference opened with the majestic national anthem. All attendees jointly studied the spirit of the “Opinion on Promoting the Spirit of Educators and Strengthening the Construction of a High-Quality Professional Teaching Force in the New Era” issued by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. Li Hongyan, Member of the Standing Committee of the University Party Committee and Vice President, announced the commendation decisions for the 2023-2024 academic year. The awards recognized 19 collectives and individuals, including the School (Institute) of Chinese National Community Studies, who received provincial or ministerial-level honors and above. Fourteen individuals, including He Donglan, were commended as the 7th Teaching Pioneers and Outstanding Individuals. Ten young faculty members, including Zhou Xuemei, were recognized as May Fourth Youth Pioneers. Additionally, 115 outstanding class advisors, including Li Yuxia, and 22 faculty members with 30 years of teaching experience, including Xu Heping, were honored.
Members of the Standing Committee of the University Party Committee presented awards to representatives of the winning collectives and individuals and posed for group photos. Faculty members with 30 years of teaching experience presented university badges to newly recruited faculty, while student representatives presented flowers to teachers in gratitude for their dedicated nurturing. Four teachers－Wang Huaigang from the Library, Fan Jun from the Archives, Jia Jia from the School of Music and Dance, and Han Xiaole from the School of Chemistry and Materials Science－along with student representatives, recited the poem “You Sow Hope with Your Youth”, which was met with warm applause.
Poetry recitation. Photo by Ji Ziqing
Three faculty members－Yang Ximin from the School of Computer Science, Gong Li from the School of Marxism, and Li Sen from the School of Mathematics and Statistics－spoke on behalf of faculty with 30 years of teaching experience, the 7th Teaching Pioneers, and new faculty, respectively. They shared their experiences and insights in talent cultivation, teaching, and research, and expressed their joy and determination as new educators. They pledged to uphold the principles of education, strive to be cultivators of talent, and serve as guides for shaping souls and enlightening minds, contributing their wisdom and strength to the university’s development.
Teacher representatives give speeches. Photo by Ji Ziqing
Following this, Professor Wang Ju from the School of Music and Dance led the new faculty in a solemn oath, expressing their commitment to practicing the spirit of educators and always remembering their educational mission and responsibilities. On behalf of all new faculty, Li Sen presented a pledge of integrity in teaching to Bian Jing, Secretary of the University Party Committee.
Bian Jing, Secretary of the University Party Committee, presents awards. Photo by Fang Yuan
On behalf of the university, Party Secretary Bian Jing extended holiday greetings to all faculty and staff. He congratulated the teachers receiving recognition, thanked retired educators who have made outstanding contributions to the university’s development, and warmly welcomed new faculty members. He emphasized that today’s meeting serves to summarize SCMU’s experiences, draw inspiration from exemplary figures, and gather momentum for future endeavors. He also stressed that on this new journey, all faculty members should deeply understand the rich implications and practical requirements of the educator’s spirit. They must remember their fundamental mission of nurturing talent for the Party and the country, and aspire to “cultivate the academic field and strengthen the nation”. This spirit should be integrated into daily teaching and management. He outlined three key points. First, unwavering focus on the main objective: Strengthen ideological guidance and strive to become a frontline base and vanguard in serving this major strategy. Second, consistently promote respect for teachers and education: Spread the educator’s spirit through vivid and concrete stories. Third, resolutely broaden the path to strengthen our faculty: Improve mechanisms supporting teacher growth, establish a scientific, comprehensive, and diverse teacher evaluation system, and develop an organized, planned system for teacher recruitment, training, and management. Gradually build a robust talent mechanism where “everyone’s talents are fully utilized, put to good use, achieve results, and are duly rewarded”,
Liu Yi, Deputy Secretary of the University Party Committee and President, summarized the conference. He pointed out that the university’s development progress is inseparable from such an excellent group of teachers. He hoped that the commended teachers would play an exemplary and leading role, and that all faculty and staff would take the advanced as role models, dedicating themselves to innovation and pursuing excellence, imprinting their struggles on the journey of national rejuvenation, and contributing SCMU’s strength to cultivating new talents for the era. He required all faculty and staff to focus on their duties, invigorate their spirits, constantly improve, innovate for effectiveness, vigorously promote the spirit of educators, bravely shoulder the mission of moral education, and jointly write a new chapter in the high-quality development and transformation of SCMU.
University leaders visit and extend greetings to teachers. Photos by Hou Rui and Wen Tian
On Teachers’ Day, September 10th, university leaders also led teams to visit and extend greetings to retired teachers and representatives of in-service teachers, expressing their highest respect to all teachers who have been and are diligently working on the front lines of teaching and research, and conveying holiday greetings.
