School of General Education Staff Retreat - Academic Year 2022-23

The School of General Education (SGE) Staff Retreat started with an all staff meeting held in the morning of 26 May 2023. Prof. Stella Cho, Associate Vice President (Student Development) and Acting Dean of SGE, delivered the opening remarks, in which she pointed out that SGE was devoted to providing, developing and coordinating a broad general education curriculum for cultivating students’ knowledge, skills and citizen participation capabilities. She further encouraged SGE staff to continuously improve their teaching abilities and fulfill their commitment to nurture students with a global outlook and a strong love for the nation China.


Prof. Stella Cho delivering the opening remarks


During the meeting, 121 teaching staff from four SGE centers - the English Language Center, the Chinese Language and Culture Center, the Whole Person Education Center, and the General Education Coordination Center - were divided into 8 groups to discuss various topics, including making courses more engaging for students, course design and offering, courses with big class sizes, co- and extra-curricular activities, and other. SGE Associate Deans Prof. Haipeng Guo and Prof. Hongyu Wu, and Centre Heads Prof. Lei Shi and Dr. Milen Jissov also participated in the discussion, facilitating the groups and encouraging members to share their ideas and experiences.


Staff engaged in the group discussion


In the latter part of the meeting, representatives from all groups delivered short presentations to share the outcome of their discussion, and Prof. Stella Cho responded to the questions raised by the groups.


Group representatives sharing their ideas


In addition, the award ceremony for the 2023 UIC Teaching Skills Competition for Young Teachers of Ideological and Political Theory Courses was held during the meeting. The awards were presented by Pro. Stella Cho and Prof. Hogyu Wu, who encouraged the young teachers to continuously hold a strong passion for teaching and improve their teaching capabilities.


Third Prize Winners: Mr. Eric Yang, Ms. Vicky Yan and Ms. Angela Liu, with Prof. Hongyu WU


Second Prize Winners: Ms. Michelle Wang and Ms. Hazel Guo, with Prof. Stella Cho


First Prize Winner: Ms. Jenny Zhang, with Prof. Stella Cho


The retreat continued at the Zhuhai Yuwenquan Hot Spring Resort, where a dinner party was held in the evening of 26 May 2023, to celebrate the achievements and success of SGE. Participating staff had a happy time, and the laughter and cheers ran through the whole party.


Prof. Stella Cho opening the dinner party


Staff winning gifts in the lucky draw, with Dr. Milen Jissov


SGE group photo at the Yuwenquan resort


The retreat was a wonderful opportunity for staff from different SGE centers to get to know each other and build up the SGE team as a whole, as well as a happy memory for all staff.