(Correspondents Feng Cunwan and Liu Jili) On December 7, 2019, the first seminar on undergraduate teaching reform and talent cultivation of the diplomacy major was convened at Wuhan University. The conference was hosted by the School of Political Science and Public Administration of Wuhan University and the department of diplomacy and foreign affairs administration of China Foreign Affairs University, organized by the department of international relations of School of Political Science and Public Administration of Wuhan University and co-organized by the Teachers and Teaching Development Center of the same school.

The conference was attended by nearly 30 scholars from China Foreign Affairs University, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing International Studies University, University of International Relations, Nankai University, Wuhan University and Hubei University, who discussed different topics such as the disciplinary talent cultivation and major teaching models of diplomacy, course design and teaching methods of political science and national affairs and diplomacy.

       The topic for the first round of discussion was the talent cultivation model of diplomacy major. Wang Cuiwen, an associate professor from Nankai University, shared the model and experience of Nankai University in its “interdisciplinary collaboration of FAS class”, who argued that the cultivation model of inter-disciplinary collaboration could strengthen the connection between foreign school and related majors, coordinate the majors of humanities and social sciences on the precondition of language communication and provide composite talents for national moves such as “Belt and Road Initiative”. Associate Professor Tian Xiaohui, the assistant dean of the School of International Relations of Beijing Foreign Studies University gave a speech with the title of “Construction of Bilingual and All English Course System of Diplomacy Undergraduates under the Context of Double First Class Initiative”, who emphasized the importance of bilingual course internationalization to diplomacy, suggested the quantitative standard and selection principles of bilingual courses and the construction of the course system and argued that the academic standard may not be lowered due to the objectives of bilingual construction, but should be measured and defined from the perspectives such as theoretical, practical and regional properties of courses. Xing Xinyu, the deputy dean of the School of Political Party Diplomacy of Beijing International Studies University, made a speech with the title of “Exploration and Reflection on the Cultivation of Special Talents of Political Party Diplomacy”, introducing the talent cultivation approach of joint cultivation model co-fulfilled with China Foreign Affairs University and Beijing Foreign Studies University which blends political party diplomacy into teaching. Professor Luo Yingjie of the University of International Relations gave a speech with the title of “Carrying on Tradition and Serving the Country: Achievements and Predicament of Undergraduate Teaching of International Politics in the University of International Relations”, introducing the construction plan and teaching methods of national security undergraduate major of the university in the field of national security studies and emphasizing the importance of stepping up the cultivation effort of national security talents and building high-quality national security studies. Considering the phenomenon that currently different universities of China have rolled out cultivation programs of talents for global governance and international organizations, Professor Yang Yi, deputy dean of the School of International Relations of Beijing Foreign Studies University, argued that the diplomacy major itself has a very strong policy orientation and the research and teaching in the field of global governance is more prominent. However, while the number of related types of majors is growing rapidly, it is more important for us to calmly ponder how to cultivate talents that meet the national strategic needs.

      The topic for the second round of discussion is “Teaching methods of diplomacy major”. Professor Zhang Lili of China Foreign Affairs University introduced the case selection and use experience in the long-term teaching practice of the course “Contemporary Diplomacy of China” and argued that by organically combining course teaching and case analysis and paying more attention to new cases could help enhance the students’ understanding of diplomacy system and logic. However, special attention should be paid to the frequency of case use and depth of analysis. Professor Liu Wei of Wuhan University put forward some considerations on the topic selection in the teaching of “Politics” and argued that the experience of university students today is limited, yet they are sharp in imagination and thinking and prominent in critical reflection. Therefore teachers should shift among different scenarios and contexts in the course of teaching. Professor Jia Lieying of Beijing Language and Culture University introduced and interpreted the teaching model for the research methods of international relations and argued that we should introduce different research methods for the students and screen literature from the perspective of the philosophy of science and strengthen their understanding. Associate Professor Kang Xiao of Beijing Foreign Studies University introduced the interaction model of undergraduate teaching process of diplomacy major and emphasized that attention should be paid to the interaction between teachers and students and interaction among students in terms of information feedback. Teachers should comment on students one by one and give authoritative answers and suggestions. Associate Professor Liang Xiaojun of China Foreign Affairs University introduced the philosophy, approach and methods of practical teaching of the university and believed that it is a common phenomenon that research work is detached from the objects of study in the diplomacy education of China and the departments should organize teaching by going out of classroom and getting into the society. Associate Fan Chao of China Foreign Affairs University introduced the case teaching and basic knowledge learning patterns in the course “Introduction to Diplomacy” and emphasized that scattered knowledge points were inconvenient for students to memorize. Knowledge points of cases should be linked up following certain logic and the course should be combined with actual work in the course of teaching.

      The topic for the third round of discussion is “Course construction and teaching design of political science majors”. Professor Wang Wei of China Foreign Affairs University analyzed the teaching philosophy of undergraduate “academic theories” from the perspective of professional lecturing of the course “Comparative Politics” and argued that theory course and country-specific politics should be combined on the basis of the principles of politics and students should be guided to understand and get adapted to the theories and connect with other theories on the basis of the theories of modernization and political transformation and study theoretical analysis under a topic. Dr. Chen Bo of Beijing Foreign Studies University argued that the research methods of political science should pay attention to both theories and experience, emphasize the overall embodiment of ontology, epistemology and methodology and avoid the simplification of methodology. Dr. Zhao Yuan of Beijing Foreign Studies University introduced the multi-stage teaching model of setting multiple situations, observing the phenomena through reading classical materials and rationally analyzing phenomena in the teaching process of the course “Management Science”. Professor Tang Xiao of China Foreign Affairs University introduced the understanding and knowledge on the teaching of the undergraduate course “Principles of Politics” and argued that the teaching objectives of diplomacy are to master policies and get familiar with business. Diplomacy requires a global vision and chain thinking. We should choose suitable diplomacy teaching materials, identify key points and difficult points in the teaching and emphasize the construction of Chinese theories and pay attention to the universality of Western politics theories. Professor Chu Jianguo of Wuhan University introduced the application mode of innovative theories in the teaching of “Comparative Politics” and argued that the current analytical theory framework is relatively weak and basic teaching is stuck in a difficult situation. We should establish a Marxist discourse system from the perspective of organisms of political society and pay attention to the comprehensive value system, power system and rule system. Dr. Chen Boqi of Wuhan University introduced the teaching philosophy and methods of the course “Theories and Practices of Public Diplomacy” and argued that we should understand public diplomacy through highly interesting audio-visual materials, highlight the focus in defining and narrating public diplomacy and pay attention to transformation and practice.

      The topic for the fourth round of discussion was course construction and teaching design of diplomacy major of international politics. Associate Professor Feng Cunwan of Wuhan University introduced the course design philosophy and case selection methods of the course “Introduction to International Security” and emphasized that we should establish an overall structure of the course based on the major’s characteristics and the commanding height of national security. We should enrich the contents and systems of the course to meet the students’ demands and based on personal safety. Associate Professor Zhu Dandan of China Foreign Affairs University introduced the course system and teaching methods of “Analysis of Foreign Policies” and argued that we should imitate and analyze cases and make teachers and students think deeply together guided by the idea of teaching and learning promoting each other and under the precondition that the teachers and students are under professional knowledge and guide to a certain extent and pay attention to the mixed teaching model online and offline. Professor Luan Jianping of Wuhan University introduced the teaching philosophy and innovation methods of the course “International Political Economy” and argued that we should respect the history and tradition of the course and organically combine history and methods, classify the issues of research and build a comprehensive research discipline through explaining phenomena such as the power of major countries and international governance. Associate Professor Xing Ruilei of Wuhan University and Dr. Bi Zhenzhen of China Foreign Affairs University were concerned by the course design of “Introduction to Global Governance”. Xing argued that due to the cognitive characteristics of the students in the course practice, we should guarantee that the course system and knowledge structure could help the students understand globalization. Therefore, the students will no more be confined to understanding global governance with one method. Bi argued that we should pay attention to the theory orientation and topic orientation. For example, oriented around reflections and experience, the environmental governance is introduced using Japan as an example, covering the global scheme for the humankind’s community of shared future. Associate Research Fellow Lin Xianlan of Hubei University introduced the course design and practical experience of “Introduction to International Politics” and introduced such aspects as selection of teaching materials and teaching topics and contents, case analysis and reading time allocation of classical literature. Dr. Tu Xiliang of Beijing Foreign Studies University introduced the connotation and definition of the cultivation objectives of diplomacy major talents based on the course design and teaching practice of “Diplomatic and Foreign Affairs Translation” and argued that in the selection of teaching contents and materials, we should pay attention to classical books and literature, applied translation of diplomacy documents (such as translation of treaties and agreements) and government reports (such as white papers on diplomacy of China).

        Associate Professor Liang Xiaojun of China Foreign Affairs University and Associate Professor Feng Cunwan of the Department of International Relations of Wuhan University delivered a summary speech for the conference on behalf of the hosting party, who said that the success of the conference had benefited from the long-term exchange and mutual support of comprehensive universities and diplomacy and foreign studies universities in China. The inter-disciplinary deep cooperation among the universities has facilitated the cultivation of national diplomatic and foreign affairs talents and diplomacy disciplines. The attending scholars unanimously agreed on the efforts and research philosophy of the hosting party and advocated that different universities in China should maintain regular teaching exchanges among the faculty of diplomacy disciplines, strengthen and enrich the cooperation platforms and make active contributions to the cultivation of diplomatic talents of China. The conference was concluded in heated applauds.

       Diplomacy belongs to the category of international politics, which is a relatively young discipline. Unlike international politics, diplomacy major puts more emphasis on the research of national practice of foreign contact, which is strongly applied and practical. So in the major teaching and talent cultivation, we should carry on a solid theoretical literacy of Marxism and strong patriotism. The cultivated objects are expected to develop a systematic and comprehensive knowledge of international affairs and Chinese diplomacy and socializing and negotiating skills and build high comprehensive qualities in each aspect such as politics, business, behavior, self-discipline and verbal communication.

       The diplomacy major of the Department of International Relations is one of the five undergraduate majors of the School of Political Science and Public Administration of Wuhan University. The school has always insisted on “developing through teaching”, paid high attention to undergraduate teaching, been strict with the construction of learning style. It has always promoted the undergraduate teaching reform and innovation of talent cultivation models and implemented the “double tutor system (academic tutor plus career tutor) throughout the cultivation of undergraduates. It’s learned after the conference that the Department of International Relations and the universities attending the conference have discussed a cooperation plan for undergraduate teaching, exchanged views on such activities as “Spring Camp of Undergraduates” and “Academic Seminar of Undergraduates” and planned to carry out extensive communication and cooperation with an aim to further enhance the cultivation level and quality of undergraduates of related majors of international politics and diplomacy.