金秋東西環(huán)球?qū)υ?劍橋課程在西外土壤中的生長!2017年9月1日,
上海外國語大學(xué)西外外國語學(xué)校的開學(xué)典禮別具一格,意義非凡。今年開學(xué)典禮邀請到了劍橋考試委員會全球總裁Michael O'Sullivan、劍橋國際考試中心東亞區(qū)總裁趙靜博士、劍橋國際考試中心華東地區(qū)主管黃婉虹以及劍橋國際考試中心華東地區(qū)主管時鐘匯等一行人出席典禮儀式。
開學(xué)典禮上,自編微戲劇【當(dāng)孔子遇見柏拉圖】隆重上演,來自英國的劍橋考試委員會全球總裁Michael O'Sullivan飾演孔子,西外總校長林敏博士飾演柏拉圖,就在那一刻,跨越2000多年,中西文化開始交融,古典與現(xiàn)代交匯貫通,中國的傳統(tǒng)教育思想與西方的哲學(xué)理念開展對話。
孔子和柏拉圖兩位先哲一見如故,交談了兩千年。他們探討了教育的新路徑,聯(lián)手合作,重新穿越回到西外的校園,開啟中西融合國際化教育的新課堂。沙利文先生與林敏博士“穿越”回歸本真“自我”,為西外的劍橋課程與考試中心正式揭牌。中西融合的國際化教育是立校之本,西外劍橋課程中心的成立具有重要意義。
開學(xué)典禮結(jié)束后,沙利文先生和其它同席嘉賓參觀了西外美麗的校園,并與西外總校長林敏博士以及其它西外領(lǐng)導(dǎo)進行了深度溝通與交流。沙利文先生認為教育重要的是創(chuàng)造有“自驅(qū)力”的學(xué)習(xí)者,即學(xué)生應(yīng)該獨立思考和學(xué)習(xí)。他指出,如果教師不能培養(yǎng)出此類的學(xué)生,那么教師教書育人的使命就沒有完成。他還談到,錯誤地將傳統(tǒng)教育視為當(dāng)今許多學(xué)校制度問題是很危險的。奧沙利文先生指出,許多人認為的“傳統(tǒng)”教育(即機械學(xué)習(xí),死記硬背、和過分強調(diào)分?jǐn)?shù))實際上是現(xiàn)代教育的產(chǎn)物。從工業(yè)革命開始,無論社會階層如何,人人都應(yīng)該接受教育的觀點得以發(fā)展。這有許多積極的影響。但將教育普及化,也導(dǎo)致了其工業(yè)化。沙利文先生認為,克服這一困難,是包括中國,歐洲,美國在內(nèi)的當(dāng)今世界上所有地區(qū)和國家都面臨的一個重要挑戰(zhàn)。
西外領(lǐng)導(dǎo)們和劍橋國際考試委員會領(lǐng)導(dǎo)們也討論了今后雙方將面臨的機遇與挑戰(zhàn)。對于劍橋考試中心而言,如何讓其教育文化理念和基于研究的全球化課程更好地適應(yīng)中國大陸教育的具體需求成為他們現(xiàn)今工作的主要問題。沙利文先生指出,劍橋項目雖具有變通性,但其有全球統(tǒng)一的標(biāo)準(zhǔn),這是不可改變的。對西外而言,之所以有今天的成績,正因為它和其它學(xué)校不一樣。西外敢于實踐,追求創(chuàng)新,擁有自主研發(fā)的中西融合課程,而不是照搬其他學(xué)校的教學(xué)模式。西外成為劍橋課程和考試中心意味著將采用一種外來的教學(xué)系統(tǒng)和評價標(biāo)準(zhǔn),這就需要教授IGCSE課程的老師在思想和實踐上都作出相應(yīng)的改變和調(diào)整。另一方面,這些教師將成為真正的全球教育界的一員,并將獲得來自世界各地前所未有的豐富資源和專業(yè)知識。
西外和劍橋課程與考試中心之間新型伙伴關(guān)系的建立成為了一個獨特的歷史時刻-中國接受國際教育同時,也發(fā)揚自己的民族文化遺產(chǎn)和傳統(tǒng)。雖然想要引領(lǐng)新時代并不容易,但西外和劍橋課程與考試中心的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)們對以后的發(fā)展都很樂觀也充滿了信心。沙利文先生指出,劍橋項目特別適合在西外這樣擁有中西融合的特色及獨特的校園文化的學(xué)校發(fā)展下去。西外總校長林敏博士也表達了愿景:西外不只是成為另一所劍橋?qū)W校,也要為成為劍橋?qū)I(yè)發(fā)展中心而努力。有了這個前瞻性的思想,西外未來充滿希望!
簡介:
首席執(zhí)行官 沙利文先生
2013年4月,沙利文先生被任命為劍橋國際考試委員會首席執(zhí)行官。他曾擔(dān)任劍橋英聯(lián)邦信托獎學(xué)金和劍橋海外學(xué)生信托獎學(xué)金的負責(zé)人。他還曾擔(dān)任中國歐盟商會的秘書長。
在此之前,沙利文先生的大部分職業(yè)生涯在英國文化教育協(xié)會渡過,分別擔(dān)任英國大使館文化教育處中國區(qū)主任、企業(yè)規(guī)劃部部長以及東亞和太平洋地區(qū)政策部主任。
沙利文先生擁有牛津大學(xué)布雷齊諾斯學(xué)院法語和德語學(xué)士學(xué)位、劍橋大學(xué)沃爾森學(xué)院語言學(xué)碩士學(xué)位,并且能說流利的漢語。2008年,他因?qū)τ幕逃齾f(xié)會的突出貢獻而獲得圣米切爾及圣喬治三等勛章。他還是劍橋大學(xué)沃爾森學(xué)院的院士。
On Friday, September 1st, 2017, Michael O’Sullivan, the CEO of Cambridge International Examinations, visited Xiwai International School and attended Xiwai’s opening ceremony. Also visiting were Dr. Jing Zhao, Cambridge Regional Director for East Asia; Yvonne Huang, Senior Manager for East China; and Kelvin Shi, Manager for East China. The Cambridge delegation was here to mark Xiwai’s entry into the global community of Cambridge schools. After a ceremony that showcased Xiwai’s unique bilingual and cross-cultural characteristics, Mr. O’Sullivan and his fellow guests spent the rest of the morning touring Xiwai and engaging in lively discussions with Dr. Lin Min and other Xiwai leaders.
Mr. O’Sullivan shared his view that the most important measure of education is whether it can create self-motivated learners – that is, students who think and learn independently. He argued that if teachers cannot do this, then they have failed in their mission. He also spoke about the dangers of falsely identifying “traditional” education as the problem with many of today’s school systems. What many consider “traditional” education (i.e., rote learning, memorization, and too much emphasis on scores), Mr. O’Sullivan noted, is actually a product of modern education. Beginning with the Industrial Revolution, the idea developed that education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of social class. This had many positive effects. But by opening up education to such large numbers of people, it has also made schooling more “industrial” in the way it is applied. Overcoming this, Mr. O’Sullivan claimed, is a key challenge faced by education systems everywhere, whether in China, Europe, North America, or any other part of the world.
The Xiwai and Cambridge teams also discussed the exciting opportunities – and the challenges – ahead for both organizations. For Cambridge, the main question will be how to adapt its educational culture and its rigorous, research-based global curriculum to the specific needs and context of mainland China. Cambridge programs are flexible, Mr. O’Sullivan noted, but ultimately they are all based on the same global set of standards, which cannot be compromised. Xiwai, for its part, has thrived because of its willingness to experiment; it has a strong culture of innovation, and unlike most schools of its kind, it has largely developed its own curriculum rather than importing outside models. For Xiwai, joining the Cambridge community means adopting an external structure and set of standards, and this will require some shifts in thinking and practice for those who are teaching IGCSE courses. On the other hand, those teachers will now be part of a truly global education community, and will have access to an unprecedented wealth of resources and expertise from around the world.
The new partnership between Xiwai and Cambridge comes at a unique moment in history – a time when China is embracing international education, while also reaffirming the importance of its own national culture, heritage, and traditions. Though skillfully navigating this new era will not be easy, both the Xiwai and Cambridge teams are full of optimism and confidence about the path ahead. Indeed, Mr. O’Sullivan stated that, precisely because of its unique school culture, Xiwai is ideally suited to developing the next generation of Cambridge programs in China. Dr. Lin, for his part, spoke about his goal of making Xiwai not just another Cambridge school, but a Cambridge Professional Development center as well. With this forward-looking spirit, the future looks promising!
Brief Introduction:
Michael O'Sullivan, Chief Executive
Michael O'Sullivan was appointed Chief Executive of Cambridge International Examinations in April 2013. He was previously Director of the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and Cambridge Overseas Trust, and prior to that role he was Secretary General of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China.
Michael spent most of his earlier career with the British Council. His roles included Director, British Council, China; Head of Corporate Planning; and East Asia and Pacific Policy Director.
Michael has a BA in French and German from Brasenose College, Oxford, an MPhil in Linguistics from Wolfson College, Cambridge, and is a fluent Mandarin speaker. In 2008, he was created a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for his services to the British Council. He is a fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge.
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