Please join us for a special international symposium entitled Tao Xingzhi & His Lasting Legacy: From Columbia to China & Beyond. A renowned Chinese educator and reformer in the Republic of China mainland era, Tao Xingzhi (1891-1946) studied at the University of Illinois and then at Teachers College, Columbia University before returning to China in 1917 where he brought liberal iand highly influential deas to education. In 1926 Tao founded Nanjing Xiaozhuang University, formally known as the Xiaozhuang School, or Rural Teacher School which several leading faculty of Teachers College, Columbia University visited — among them, John Dewey, American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer; Paul Monroe, Founder of the Teachers College International Institute of Education and scholar of international and compatative education; and William Heard Kilpatrick, colleague and successor of John Dewey known for developing the “Project Method” in early childhood education.

Nanjing Xiaozhuang University (NJXZU) (the meaning of Xiaozhuang in Chinese is “morning village”), founded in 1927 by renowned Chinese educator and alumnus of Teachers College, Columbia University Tao Xingzhi, is a public university co-established by Jiangsu Province and Nanjing City, the provincial capital of Jiangsu and former national capital of China during the Republic era. Known as the birthplace of rural normal education in China, NJXZU has a strong focus on teacher education. The university comprises 15 schools, offering 47 undergraduate majors across 9 disciplines, including education, literature, history, economics, law, science, engineering, management, and art. With over 18,000 full-time undergraduate students, nearly 1,500 faculty members, and a history of cultivating more than 180,000 K12 teachers and specialists, NJXZU has been consistently ranked first among China’s applied teacher-training colleges and universities for three consecutive years.

NJXZU places great emphasis on international collaboration, having established partnerships with more than 60 institutions worldwide. The university has trained nearly 5,000 international students from over 80 countries and regions, earning recognition as an outstanding institution for international student education in Jiangsu Province. NJXZU is a member of various alliances, including the Jiangsu-Hong Kong-Macao University Alliance, Jiangsu-Canada University Alliance, Jiangsu-ROK Universities Consortium, Jiangsu-ASEAN High-level Education Alliance, and the Jiangsu Confucian Institute (International Chinese Education) Work Alliance. The university has been designated as a Base for Chinese Language Education by the State Council’s Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and the Jiangsu Province Overseas Chinese Affairs Office.

Speakers from Nanjing Xiaozhuang University (NJXZU) inlcude:

Dr. Cehua Zhang (Opening Remarks), is Chancellor of Nanjing Xiaozhuang University and Professor of Law; President of the Education Development Foundation of Nanjing Xiaozhuang University; Former vice president of Nanjing Arts Institute and Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Dr. Cehua Zhang’s research interests include Educational Management, Teacher Education, and Legal Culture.

Dr. Jizhou Zhang is Dean of Teacher Education at Nanjing Xiaozhuang University; Awardee of “Famous Professor of Jiangsu Province” and “National Outstanding Tutor of Teacher Education of Master Degree”. Dr. Jizhou Zhang’s research interests include Rural Education, Curriculum and Pedagogy, Tao Xingzhi Educational Thought and he will be presenting on Tao Xingzhi and the Modernization of Education in China.

Mr. Wenqiu He is the Director of Jiangsu Tao Xingzhi Memorial Hall; Director of China Tao Xingzhi Research Association; Lecturer of National College of Education Administration; and Special Advisor of Nanjing University Xingzhi College. Mr. He will be presenting on The Mission of Tao Xingzhi Memorial Museum; Inheritance and Sharing.

Dr. Hong Zhou is the Director of the International Affairs Office, Dean of the School of International Education,
Leader of Outstanding Innovation Team of Philosophy and Social Sciences of Jiangsu Province, and Nanjing City
Visiting Scholar at the University of Delaware (2017-2018). Dr. Hong Zhou’s research interests inlcude: Education Policy for Disadvantaged Children.

Joining the panel are:

Dr. Changwei Chen, Professor of School of Communication and Journalism and Director of National Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Practice Alliance. Dr. Chen’s research interests include: Pattern Recognition, Intelligent Information Processing.

Dr. Bihui Wang, Vice Dean of School of Foreign Language and Recipient of various research grants and teaching achievement awards. Dr. Wang’s research interests include: Study of Chinese Literature in Foreign Translation.

Dr. Henan Cheng, Deputy Director of the Center on Chinese Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, will moderate the session, including the question and answer period.

Dr. David Hansen, John L & Sue Ann Weinberg Professor in Historical & Philosophical Foundations of Education, and Director of the Philosophy and Education Program, at Teachers College, Columbia University is a discussant.

This event is organized by the Center on Chinese Education at Teachers College, Columbia University and co-hosted by the Gottesman Libaries.

RSVP HERE.

Where: 306 Russell / Online

For more information about Tao Zingzhi, be sure to read the recent news article about the recent documentary.

Poster Image: Tao Xingzhi Accompanied Paul Monroe, 1921, from the Paul Monroe Collection, Courtesy of Teachers College, Columbia University.

Flier, Courtesy of the Center on Chinese Education, Teachers College, Columbia University.