The 2026 BNBU Teaching Contest concluded successfully on January 16, 2026. Guided by dual principles of “Deliver a Quality Course” and “Promote Teaching Innovation,” this year’s event marked a significant milestone by integrating the “Teaching Contest for Young Teachers” and the “Innovation Teaching Contest” into a unified platform. This dual-track format provided a comprehensive stage for faculty to demonstrate both foundational teaching competencies and pioneering educational reforms. Eleven faculty members from five Faculties/Schools participated, showcasing the professional excellence, innovative spirit, and student-centered commitment of the BNBU’s academic community. Dr. Li Luyang, Concentration Director of the Communication Studies Concentration, won the first prize in the Young Faculty Teaching Skills Group, demonstrating the professional competence, innovative vitality, and educational excellence of our faculty team.

Dual-Track Framework: Strengthening Competence and Driving Reform

The Contest introduced an innovative structure combining the Young Teacher Group, dedicated to core pedagogical competencies, with the Teaching Innovation Group, focused on systemic curriculum reform. This dual-track approach support both individual teaching mastery and broader institutional innovation. All award-winning faculty will be inducted into the newly established BNBU Teaching Competition Talent Pool, where they form a vanguard of pedagogical advancement and receive ongoing professional support to sustain teaching excellence at BNBU.

Education as a Bridge

In the opening address, Professor Yongming ZHOU, Vice President (Academic), highlighted the event’s broader significance: “I am particularly heartened to see a number of international colleagues participating this year. Their presence speaks powerfully BNBU's founding spirit as a Bridge, dedicated to integrating Chinese and global academic traditions to cultivate globally-minded talents.”

Highlights of the Contest

The contest provided a dynamic forum for intellectual exchange and inspiring presentations. The Young Teacher Group’s four participants showcased exemplary instructional design, clear delivery, and effective student interaction. Meanwhile, the seven participants in the Teaching Innovation Group presented systemic explorations in curriculum redesign, technology integration, interdisciplinary approaches, and deeper educational content, all grounded in a student-centered educational philosophy.

International Faculty Contribution

A distinctive highlight was the active participation of four international faculty members, whose presentations integrated Eastern and Western educational philosophies and teaching methods. Their contributions not only disseminated specialized knowledge but also served as bridges for cross-cultural understanding and dialogue, enriching the University’s teaching culture.

Building a Community of Excellence

The successful contest showcased the dynamism of BNBU’s faculty in pedagogical innovation and cross-cultural exchange. It has renewed educators’ motivation to reflect on and innovate in their teaching. The Centre for Teaching and Learning will leverage this momentum to enhance faculty development, cultivate an ecosystem of mutual growth in teaching and learning, and strengthen synergy between teaching and research.