“Learning through Action, Thriving in Research: Successful Completion of the Shanghai Private Primary and Secondary School Young and Middle-Aged Outstanding Teacher Team Development Programme by Shanghai United International School Qingpu Campus “

On 22 November, Shanghai United International School Qingpu Campus successfully completed the final assessment of the Shanghai Private Primary and Secondary School Young and Middle-Aged Outstanding Teacher Team Development Programme.

The assessment panel consisted of a range of experts, including the Vice-President of the Shanghai Teachers’ Association, Yu Lingping, the Secretary of the Party Committee of the Songjiang Education Institute in Shanghai, Chen Gan, and the former Director of the Teaching and Research Department at the Qingpu District Teachers’ Training Institute, Zhu Lianyun. The entire assessment activity was chaired by Shi Lijuan, the Project Leader from the Shanghai Teachers’ Education Institute. Jiao Hongxin, Deputy-Director of the Qingpu District Education Bureau in Shanghai, Jin Haiqing, Director of the Basic Education Science and Education Office of the Qingpu District Education Bureau, and SUIS team advisor and Director of the Shanghai Cross-Cultural Basic Education Research Center, Zhan Shengli, were also invited to participate in the assessment.

At the beginning of the assessment, the Principal of SUIS Qingpu, Huang Yin, representing the project team, expressed gratitude to the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, the Shanghai Teachers’ Education Institute, the Education Bureau, and the District Teachers’ Training Institute for the successful implementation of the project.

In the formal presentation of the research process, Principal Huang Ying provided a detailed overview of the fruitful results achieved in the project titled “Design and Practice Research on Teacher Professional Development Based on Project-Based Learning.” The project team formulated and implemented a “1+3+N” training mechanism, effectively promoting the comprehensive improvement of teachers’ and students’ competencies. The project developed a practical, replicable, and scalable interdisciplinary thematic learning framework, gradually advancing activity projects and subject projects with the project team as the core, ultimately achieving the comprehensive promotion of interdisciplinary projects. The introduction of this new learning model not only broke the traditional challenges faced by experienced and novice teachers in professional development but also provided solid support for the rapid growth of young pioneer teachers. The series of achievements obtained during the project’s implementation drove a significant improvement in students’ academic levels and core competencies.

Next, Principal Huang Ying shared the fruitful results of the two-year growth journey based on project-based learning. Team members also reported on their personal growth and gains in designing and implementing project-based courses and activities. Li Mingwei, the Director of the school’s Teacher Development Center, shared his growth experience from three aspects: professional achievement, learning and training, and challenges and responses. Liu Guixiang, SUIS Qingpu’s Assistant Principal, shared her insights into Chinese project-based teaching, including integrating new and old ideas, absorbing diverse strengths, and diligently studying, while Song Jing, Executive Deputy-Head of SUIS Qingpu’s Primary School, shared the evaluation of students’ English comprehensive abilities using project-based learning, and led the “Qing He English Teaching Workshop” teachers in thematic teaching research, initially forming the first version of the school’s distinctive reading curriculum. Gao Yuansheng, Assistant-Head of the Primary School, shared about her transformation from having weak research awareness as an international school teacher with no professional title to one who emphasizes educational research and leads primary school teachers in actively conducting educational research. Yu Chenli, also an Assistant Head of the Primary School, shared about her transition from a public school to a bilingual school, earning various honours at the city and district levels, joining the Qingpu District Star Homeroom Teacher Studio, and establishing the Qinghe Homeroom Teacher Studio at the school, leading more teachers forward together. Luo Rujia, a Chinese teacher in the primary school, shared about her training after returning from studying abroad and, within a short two years, obtained the title of Qingpu District Teaching Newcomer, and participated in a city-level demonstration. Yu Chen, a psychological teacher in the primary school, shared about the school’s psychological provision. The three full-time psychological teachers in the psychological group jointly designed and implemented psychological project activities, constructed a comfortable family living circle, enhanced teacher happiness, improved mentor’s awareness of psychological care, expanded the student support system, and created a rich psychological atmosphere on campus, radiating personal and team growth to the entire school, students, and parents.

SUIS team advisor, Zhan Shengli, Director of the Shanghai Cross-Cultural Basic Education Research Center, also shared professional support during the team project implementation.

The expert reviewers highly praised the project achievements. Chen Gan, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Songjiang Education Institute in Shanghai, commended our teacher team, describing them as vibrant, dynamic, internally driven, and a truly impressive team. She also appreciated and acknowledged the team spirit demonstrated from the whole school, with all members actively participating. Yu Lingping, Vice-President of the Shanghai Teachers’ Association, expressed admiration for our teachers, believing they possess a sense of responsibility, a good team spirit, and commendable research results that are not only practical and replicable but also promotable. She praised our ability to systematically organize procedural materials, finely process the teacher’s professional manual, and compile classroom teaching examples into books, becoming the course and exemplary model for school-based training, fully maximizing the maximum value of the project results. Zhu Lianyun, former director of the Teaching and Research Department at the Qingpu District Teachers’ Training Institute, expressed being “very moved” and highly praised the entire project’s growth process. He believed that under Principal Huang’s efficient leadership, the school successfully reinvigorated itself through an outstanding project. He emphasized that only through continuous innovation and educational reform, through metamorphic training, can one adapt to the constant changes in the educational ecosystem. At the same time, Mr. Zhu expressed several expectations for our teachers: He hopes we can cherish our ideals, cultivate noble moral sentiments, solidly engage in academic learning, have a compassionate heart, and integrate all of this into our teaching. She looks forward to us continuing to create more remarkable achievements.

Finally, Jiao Hongxin, Deputy-Director of the Qingpu District Education Bureau introduced the support measures for the team project construction of private schools, including providing high-quality exchange and learning platforms, diverse resource choices, teacher professional development platforms, and paths. This will provide strong support for Shanghai United International School Qingpu Campus to build a high-quality teacher team, and it is believed that the school’s development will soar to new heights in the future.

Through the Shanghai Private Primary and Secondary School Young and Middle-Aged Outstanding Teacher Team Development Programme, SUIS Qingpu’s team fully demonstrated the charm and strength of teacher professional growth. The team successfully implemented interdisciplinary development, using problem-driven course design and gradually expanded multi-disciplinary teaching experiments. Under the impetus of the project, the school has undergone a significant transformation, innovating teachers’ teaching philosophies and methods, and resulting in more profound and effective teaching outcomes.

More importantly, students’ core competencies saw a significant improvement, and their interest and ability to learn were enhanced, reflected in various aspects of comprehensive quality. The change in teaching methods promoted students’ active learning and the development of critical thinking skills, laying a solid foundation to meet the demands of the 21st century.

Through the Shanghai Private Primary and Secondary School Young and Middle-Aged Outstanding Teacher Team Development Programme, Shanghai United International School Qingpu Campus’ team fully showcased the charm and strength of teacher professional growth. The team successfully implemented interdisciplinary development, using problem-driven course design and gradually expanding multi-disciplinary teaching experiments. Under the impetus of the project, the school experienced a substantial transformation, revolutionizing the instructional philosophies and methodologies of educators, and resulting in successful teaching outcomes. What’s even more crucial is the significant improvement in students’ core competencies. The research achievements and published journal papers by the project team have not only received high praise from review experts but also provided valuable reference experiences and development models for colleagues. Looking ahead, SUIS Qingpu will persist in making project-based learning its core focus, driving innovative educational practices, and making even greater contributions to cultivating future talents with a global perspective and innovative spirit.