The 16th Forum on the History of Education across the Strait and in the Hong Kong and Macau Areas, organized by the Centre for Language Education of the Faculty of Education of the University of Macau, co-organized by the Centre for Macau Studies of the University of Macau and Macao Association for Historical Education was successfully held from October 24 to 26, 2025. The forum brought together over ninety experts and scholars from leading universities and research institutions across the Strait and in the Hong Kong and Macau areas. They engaged in in-depth academic exchanges on topics including the historical context of education, institutional reforms, intellectual heritage, and future development.

The opening ceremony took place on the morning of October 25 at the Mr. and Mrs. Lau Chor Tak Lecture Hall in the Anthony Lau Building at the University of Macau. The distinguished guests included Dr. Chi Meng KONG, Director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau. Prof. Wei GE, Vice Rector (Research) and Prof. Lianghuo FAN, Dean and Director of Centre for STEM and AI Education of the Faculty of Education of the University of Macau. First of all, Prof. Ge delivered the welcome speech. He extended a warm welcome to the attending scholars, highlighting the forum as a significant academic event in the field of educational history. He emphasized its role as a high-level platform for scholars to deepen their collective understanding and cooperation regarding the history of regional educational development. Prof. Ge expressed his hope that the forum would inspire new research ideas and continue the academic legacy, collectively advancing the study of Chinese educational history.

Following that, Prof. Fan delivered his remarks. He stressed that studying the history of education is a vital way to understand the present and enlighten the future. He pointed out that Macau, with its unique history of cultural exchange between the East and West over centuries, offers a rich subject for in-depth research into its educational development. He expressed the Faculty of Education’s honor in hosting the forum and hoped it would foster profound dialogue among scholars, exploring the valuable experiences and wisdom from educational history to provide historical insights for contemporary educational reform. Afterwards, the organizer presented souvenirs to Director Kong and the scholars who delivered keynote speeches to express their gratitude.

After the opening ceremony, the keynote session commenced, chaired by Prof. Yang GONG, Programme Coordinator of Bachelor of Education Programme (Chinese) and Subject Convenor of Master Philosophy in Education (Chinese Education). Prof. Gang DING from East China Normal University gave a presentation titled “The Inheritance, Transformation, and Cultural Mission of China’s Aesthetic Education Tradition.” Subsequently, a number of distinguished scholars delivered insightful speeches. These included Prof. Tiehua QU of Northeast Normal University, Prof. Yuwen CHOU of National Taiwan Normal University, Prof. Banghua SUN of Beijing Normal University, Prof. Yaqun ZHANG of Xiamen University, Prof. Haifeng LIU of Zhejiang University, and Mr. Sek Kit CHEANG, Head of the Department of Curriculum Development and Assessment of the Education and Youth Development Bureau. Their presentations covered key topics such as rural education during the Republican era, educational changes amid significant political shifts from the late Qing Dynasty to the Republican period, experiments in education for the common people, the late Qing examination system, and the evolution of Macau’s education policies. The keynote speeches were met with enthusiastic feedback and sparked deep reflection among attendees.

On the afternoon of October 25 and the morning of October 26, the forum proceeded with parallel sessions held at the Faculty of Education of the University of Macau. The four sessions covered a broad spectrum of topics, including the evolution of teacher ethics governance in New China, modern interpretations of classical educational thought, reforms and reflections on the modern education system, and a historical examination of educational exchanges between China and other countries. The sessions, which brought together both emerging and senior scholars, featured presentations on the latest research, from macro-level policy changes to micro-level case studies, and from the exploration of traditional educational wisdom to responses to contemporary educational challenges, all contributing to a vibrant academic atmosphere.

Following the parallel sessions, the closing ceremony was held at the Tin Ka Ping Lecture Hall in the Faculty of Education. Prof. Chun Wai CHENG, the Chair of the forum provided a comprehensive summary of the two-day academic discussions. He highly praised the scholarly level and organization of the forum, noting that the presentations fully demonstrated the depth and vitality of research in the history of education. Finally, Prof. Chen WANG, representing the host of the next forum, delivered a closing address, sincerely inviting all scholars to reconvene in Beijing for the next event in the Autumn 2026.

The three-day forum concluded with warm applause. The total number of participants exceeded 130. Participants widely agreed that the forum was not only an academic feast but also a valuable opportunity to strengthen scholarly friendships and build consensus within the academic community. There was a unanimous sentiment that reflecting on history is essential for paving a better way forward, and the success of this forum is expected to have a profound impact on promoting the continued prosperity and innovative development of research in the history of education across the Strait and in the Hong Kong and Macau areas.

Prof. Wei GE	Prof. Lianghuo FAN
Left: Prof. Wei GE, Director Chi Meng KONG	Group photo
Prof. Yang GONG	Prof. Gang DING
Prof. Tiehua QU	Prof. Yuwen CHOU
Prof. Banghua SUN	Prof. Yaqun ZHANG
Prof. Haifeng LIU	Mr. Sek Kit CHEANG
parallel session
Prof. Chun Wai CHENG	Prof. Chen WANG

Thank you for your kind attention.

Faculty of Education