In today’s complex global political and economic landscape, international exchanges in higher education are crucial for its internationalization, cultural connection, knowledge sharing, and technological innovation. However, with the increasing complexityof the international environment, Sino-foreign cooperative education faces more severe safety challenges. Ensuring smooth educational activities and protectingthe mental health of teachers and studentshas become a must for universities in international cooperation. This reflects respect for education’s essence and deeply practices the “people - oriented” education philosophy.
To respond to the national strategy of strengthening safety management in Sino-foreign cooperative education and implement the Party’s educational policies, Zhejiang Polytechnic University of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering’s School of International Education held a safety educationseminar for all teachers on December 11, 2024. The aim was to comprehensively enhance safety management in international cooperation and promote mental health for teachers and students.
The meeting had two parts:
The first part was the School of International Education leaders conveying the spirit of Zhejiang’s overseas (Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) safety meeting. Guided by the 20th CPC Central Committee’s Third Plenary Session policies, it implementedwork deployments, therequirementsofthe Provincial Party CommitteeandProvincial Government,andProvincial Department of Education’smeeting spirit. Through in-depth analysis of current international safety challenges, sharing advanced management experiences, and exploring safety mechanisms for the new era, it aimed to boost the school’s safety management in international cooperation and ensure stable project development.
The second part was a lecture byYuanita, a teacher from Australia’s Box Hill Institute, titled “Supporting Educators and Adult Learners’ Mental Health.” It covered three main topics: the basics of mental health; how educators can support students’ mental health based on their own well-being; and practical resources and strategies.Yuanitaexplained why teacher health is important for teaching quality and student support from emotional, physical, and social aspects, and how to improve well-being through mindfulness, self-compassion, and healthy boundaries. She also shared simple resources and tools to help teachers address mental health needs, including professional services, classroom strategies, and building a supportive campus. After the lecture, teachers were invited to scan a QR code to access an interactive mini-program to input their learning summaries, psychological gains, and teaching suggestions using their handheld terminals.
The seminar concluded successfully, offering new ideas for maintaining safety and stability in foreign-related education and campus harmony. It also advanced teaching quality through mental health attention and explored new teaching strategies. Looking ahead, the School of International Education will continue to strive to create a high-quality educational environment for cultivating talents with international competitiveness.
