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Vice Minister of Education, China Wu Yan: Blended Learning Must Become the New Norm in Higher Education

Wu Yan: Learning technology represents a new educational productivity and a new competency for educators. Teachers must adopt new technologies in their instruction, and students must utilize new technologies in their learning. The new integration of technology with teaching and learning will spark a revolution in education. Blended learning must become the new normal for higher education teaching and learning.

Wu Yan, of Sibe ethnicity, was born in Shenyang, China. He has a postgraduate education and holds the degree of Doctor of Education. He is currently the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education.

“The distinguished educators all possess ‘Five Arts’:

1. Tao (moral principles & educational philosophy)
2. Sage (academic excellence)
3. Technique (pedagogical skills)
4. Art (pedagogical artistry)
5. Humanity (mentorship & interpersonal skills).”

They must have broad-mindedness, vision, and lofty ideals; profound disciplinary knowledge; masterful expertise; exceptional educational aptitude; and adept methodology. Teaching is not merely technique — it requires artistry; it must be engaging, meaningful, and conducted with heart and soul.

China has now embarked on a new journey to comprehensively build a modern socialist country and achieve its Second Centenary Goal. High-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology is crucial. We must place greater emphasis on cultivating talent domestically and accelerate the establishment of a competitive edge in human resources.

Vice Minister Wu Yan stated that we must fully commit to strengthening the “New Infrastructure” for higher education teaching and learning. This involves prioritizing five key initiatives: programs, courses, textbooks, learning technology/methods, and faculty. Excellence in these “Five Priorities” will underpin high-quality higher education.

1. Prioritizing Programs

“Programs are the fundamental units of talent cultivation in higher education. The most critical point of educational reform lies in strengthening programs. Programs directly determine the quality of talent cultivation, the level of higher education’s service to socioeconomic development, and its capacity to become a leading force driving national innovation and development.”

2. Focusing on Courses

“Courses are the core element of talent cultivation. Without high-quality courses, all efforts may come to naught. Though courses operate at the micro level, they address the most fundamental issues. Whether in universities, regional institutions, or newly established colleges, courses remain a common weakness and critical challenge. They also represent the ‘last mile’ in implementing the student-centered development philosophy.”

Wu Yan emphasized that course development must focus on content systems, being high-standards, innovative, challenging, and practical.

3. Strengthening Teaching Resources

“Just as a script is the foundation of a play, textbooks are the primary ‘script’ for talent cultivation. Educational reform must materialize in teaching materials. The development of these materials must be implemented rigorously and steadfastly. We must ensure distinguished educators and outstanding teachers approach the development of these materials with the same seriousness as academic monographs. Excellence in teaching materials development provides students with fundamental references, essential learning tools, and primary resources.”

4. Advancing Technology

“We must prioritize teaching methodologies and learning technologies. Technological proficiency is the key breakthrough point for the learning revolution; the most challenging aspect of teaching reform lies in technology. Our educators must now continually revolutionize and transcend themselves, transforming the traditional ‘blackboard, chalk, and notebook’ into new technological equivalents for teaching.”

In Wu Yan’s view, learning technology is a new educational productive force and a new competency for teachers. Teachers must use new technologies to teach, and students must use new technologies to learn. The new integration of technology with teaching will ignite a learning revolution. Blended learning must become the new normal for higher education teaching and learning.

5. Empowering Faculty

Wu Yan stated that faculty are pivotal to talent cultivation. The most profound challenge in educational reform lies with teachers. Teachers should be the mainstay of our reform efforts and, in a sense, the “hard nut to crack.” By enhancing teacher education, enabling our faculty to become the main force implementing new educational technologies, teaching methods, and content, the quality of higher education will be powerfully safeguarded and elevated.

Wu Yan believes that distinguished educators would master the “Five Arts”. They must possess breadth of vision, strategic perspective, and lofty ideals; profound disciplinary knowledge and masterful expertise; exceptional educational aptitude; and adept methodology and technique. Teaching is not merely technique — it requires artistry; it must be engaging, meaningful, and conducted with heart and soul.