In today’s talking points: StudyNSW video tell international students’ stories; Shanghai Disney will launch training program in Chinese universities; Mark’s Bank to reduce stress in Chinese School; China’s History Textbook to Modify Date of War with Japan
StudyNSW video tell international students’ stories
International Students’ Stories, jointly featured by StudyNSW and ABC, have already explored four stories made to the social cohesion and positive community wellbeing of metropolitan and regional areas throughout New South Wales. Indonesian student Ika provides early childhood storytelling sessions. An Iraqi student organizes swimming and driving lessons for other Iraqi women. Former NSW International Student of the Year winner hosts food tours to promote multiculturalism. They are hoping to produce a version of the series in other states and territories to engage with talents and communities.
Read more at The Pie News.
Shanghai Disney will launch training program in Chinese universities
The Shanghai Disney Resort Talent Training Program aims to attract and develop passionate young people to work there after graduation. They are committed to partner with educational institutions and local authorities to elevate tourism education through talent cultivation and internship opportunities in 2017. The first group of universities and colleges include Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai Sanda University, Shanghai Jianqiao University, Zhengzhou Tourism College, Tourism College of Zhejiang and Rizhao Polytechnic. Yutao, president of Shanghai Polytechnic University, said that the collaboration helps enhance vocational education and benefit entire local tourism industry. The resort has provided over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs locally and nationally and the trend will continue as it grows and expands.
Read more at Xinhuanet.
‘Mark’s bank’ to reduce stress in Chinese high school
The Nanjing Number One Secondary School introduced an innovative program where students can “borrow’ marks to top up low scores to pass their tests. The purpose of the program is to reduce stress from taking exams, says the school. The school introduced the program in November last year for 49 students in an elite program aimed at preparing them for entry into US colleges. They incur a debt when they “borrow’ marks, which they are required to repay it with makes scored in subsequent tests. “Interest” is charged to encourage students to improve their grades faster. “Credit scores” are also given based on their behaviour records, school attendance and fulfilment of classroom cleaning duties. Students can also be “blacklisted” from borrowing if they fail to repay their loans on time.
Read more at BBC
China’s History Textbooks to Modify Date of War with Japan
China’s Education Minister has ordered publishers to modify all history textbooks used at schools regarding the date that the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression began. The war, known in the West as the Second Sino-Japanese War, had been recognized as being eight years long, from July 7, 1937 to Sept. 9, 1945. The starting date will be modified to Sept. 18, 1931, making it 14 years of Japanese Aggression. The ministry has instructed local education authorities to make the changes in the textbooks before the start of new semester in February, after the Chinese New Year holiday. “It is necessary to stress the 14-year history of Chinese resistance against Japanese aggression after the ‘918 Incident’ in order to fully reflect the crimes Japan had committed during its invasion of China,’ says the ministry. The 918 Incident is the attack of a Chinese garrison in Shenyang, present-day Liaoning province, by the Japanese Imperial Army troops after an explosion on Sept. 18, 1931.
Read more at Caixin