Kentucky Education Delegation Visited The High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University

On the afternoon of April 7, the High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University warmly welcomed an education delegation from the U.S. state of Kentucky. The exchange was organized at the invitation of the China Education Association for International Exchange. Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including the current state of education in China, innovations in STEAM education, cross-cultural curricula, and education for children with special needs.

The event began with an address by Mr. Jin Lei, Executive Director of the Department of Basic Education Cooperation at the China Education Association for International Exchange. Mr. Jin provided an overview of China’s education system, its achievements, and the country’s latest education policies. He noted, “China has the largest education system in the world, with an extensive network of schools, teachers, and students across all levels. At the same time, the country has launched policies on STEM education, digital education, and educational openness, aimed at improving quality, promoting digital transformation, and strengthening international exchange.” He expressed hope that this visit would help build a stronger platform for sharing educational experiences and resources between China and the United States.

Principal Wang Liping of the High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University then delivered a keynote speech titled “STEAM Education and International Cooperation.” Through vivid case studies, she presented the school’s achievements in areas such as artificial intelligence courses and interdisciplinary project-based learning. Principal Wang emphasized that “true education lies in cultivating students’ ability to solve real-world problems.”

The Kentucky delegation consisted of 15 educators from diverse backgrounds, covering a range of fields such as educational administration, language instruction, arts education, and agricultural studies. Each member briefly introduced themselves and expressed their excitement about visiting China. During the open discussion, participants from both sides exchanged ideas on college enrollment, home-school collaboration, differentiated instruction, and special education.

Ms. Liboshu Li, Head of the Teaching and Research Group at the school’s International Student Department, shared her approach to differentiated instruction for students with varying levels of Chinese proficiency. Principal Xueli Guo of Beijing No. 1 Experimental Primary School discussed how inclusive education is implemented in Chinese primary schools. Ms. Meng Li, also from the International Student Department, shared her experience helping parents of children with special needs achieve better home-school cooperation. The discussions were conducted in a warm and collegial atmosphere, yielding valuable insights for all participants.

After the meeting, the delegation visited featured classrooms such as the "Sanwei Study" and "Xingtan." Ms. Yanhong Zhang, a Chinese language teacher from the Kentucky Association of Chinese Teachers, remarked, "This visit has given us a more intuitive understanding of the innovative practices and cultural heritage in China’s basic education. We look forward to more exchanges and collaborations in the future."

This exchange deepened mutual understanding among peers in basic education between China and the United States through thematic discussions and in-depth experience sharing. Moving forward, our school will continue to strengthen the foundation of international exchange platforms, working hand-in-hand with global educators to contribute wisdom toward building a more inclusive and open educational ecosystem.