Exploring Chinese Education in Beijing

In June 2016, a delegation of nine school principals from different parts of Finland visited Beijing, exploring Chinese education and experiencing Chinese culture. This delegation was organized by the Confucius Institute and led by Kauko Laitinen, former Director of the Institute. During their one-week stay in Beijing, the delegation visited the Confucius Institute Headquarters, two high schools and two universities.

At the Confucius Institute Headquarters, the principals visited the Chinese Culture Exhibition Hall. They excitedly experienced Chinese calligraphy and tried on the Chinese traditional costumes, for the first time in their life. After learning about the development of the Chinese teaching materials and network resources, the principals showed great interest in Finnish-Chinese textbooks and expressed their hope of offering Chinese courses in Finnish high schools.

Pic. 001 At Hanban /Confucius Institute Headquarters

Pic. 002 Experiencing Chinese costumes at Chinese Culture Exhibition Hall

The principals were well received at both Renmin University of China (RUC) and Beijing Normal University (BNU). They got opportunities to talk with university leaders and students and teachers, learning about higher education in China. They also toured around the campuses, visited libraries and teaching buildings.

Pic. 003 Visiting RUC library

Pic. 004 Meeting local principals and teachers at BNU

During their visits to the High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China,

and Shijingshan District Middle School Affiliated to Beijing Institute of Education, the principals exchanged with the local principals and teachers their views on the educational systems, the curriculums and students' learning styles in the two countries. At the same time, the two sides also explored the possibilities for further cooperation and exchanges in the future. Since their visits coincided with Chinese traditional festival Dragon Boat Festival, the principals also joined the students in making Chinese traditional food Zongzi.

Pic. 005 Visiting the High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China

Pic. 006 Visiting Shijingshan Middle School

Pic. 007 Making Zongzi together with students at Shijingshan Middle School

The principals' delegation consisted of nine experienced professionals and for most of them, it was the first time to visit China. They all said that the programme was excellent and they were all very satisfied with the visit.

Pic 008 Principals on top of the Great Wall

Words of Ms. Tuula Okkonen, Vice Principal at Laivakangas Middle School in Oulu (Northern Finland)

“Our visit to Beijing was great. I was impressed to see the modern capital of China (this was my first visit to your country). The program was perfect from top cultural and historical sites to school and university visits. Meeting Chinese principals and teachers was interesting - and we found out that the work is essentially same in China and in Finland.

We were lucky to have the great scholar Kauko Laitinen with us, and also our guide was very professional. I might have added to program some time for actual planning the China-related courses/studies and co-operation for Finnish schools.

Once again, thanks for the Confucius Institute for this opportunity. And Chinese visitors are welcome to the Laivakangas school in Oulu!”

Words of Ms. Eija Paukkuri, principal of Emäkoski School, Nokia (Southern

Finland) “Thank you again for a wonderful week in Beijing! I could not be more

satisfied with the visit! It was so well organized. What pleased me the most was visiting the Renmin University, Confusious Institute, Normal University and the schools where we could see how the Chinese schools work. I was impressed with the school connected with the Renmin university, their Digital learning laboratory and classroom with driving simulators. Also the laboratory where students could make their own movies and animations was impressive. I felt respect with the teachers who still teach the students about their own culture. Everything we saw was well chosen. Food and the sights were wonderful, too.

If you want to work with me and my school on the future, you are more than welcome to pay a visit at Emäkoski school in Nokia.”