Time: Saturday, October 5 and Sunday, October 6, 2013

Location: Roone Arledge Auditorium and Low Memorial Library of Columbia University in the City of New York

New York—The Fourth Annual Columbia China Prospects Conference was held in Colombia University. Professor Liu Baocun and Dr Teng Jun from the International and Comparative Education Research Institute at Beijing Normal University attended the conference and shared their thought-provoking insights.

Founded in 1996, Columbia University Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CUCSSA) is a leading student organization dedicated to the promotion of dynamic social and cultural exchange between the U.S. and China. The Columbia China Prospects Conference (CCPC), launched in 2010 by CUCSSA, has evolved into one of the most influential student organized conferences on issues about China covering economic, education, news, energy, film and television, health, international relationships, science and technology innovation, city development and other highlighted fields.

The theme of this year’s conference was Explore the Value of China, which sought to inspire constructive discussions on China’s reform and development under the leadership of the new government. The conference received over 800 participants, including students from Columbia University, high-caliber scholars, industry elites, policy makers and opinion leaders.

Aimed at “progressive, balanced and equitable education” as John Dewey said, the forum conference of education invited several distinguished speakers to share their understanding. The speakers included Jeffrey S. Lehman, vice chancellor and CEO of startup joint venture New York University Shanghai, Baocun Liu, director of the International and Comparative Education Research Institute at Beijing Normal University, Ms. Jie Zhang, the first Chinese principal in Stuyvesant High School in the city of New York, Ronglu Zheng, president of Pingan University and former general manager of Taiping Life Insurance, Andrea Pasinetti, founder and CEO of Teach For China, and Dr Jun Teng, associate professor at the International and Comparative Education Research Institute at Beijing Normal University was invited to host the conference. Heated discussions went on among scholars from different nations, fields and institutions, desiring to deepen their knowledge about China’s education equality and future transformation.

Professor Baocun Liu and Dr Jun Teng also paid a visit to several universities and international organizations in the eastern United States, including the Pennsylvania state university, University of Pennsylvania, Teachers College at Columbia University, New York university , state university of New York at Albany, American International Education Society and Asia Society, introducing history, current situation and future trends of international and comparative education in China. Further cooperation projects was also discussed and was cordially welcomed by the agencies.