On the morning of April 10, the 2026 Annual Conference of the Institute of Global Teacher Development was held at Beijing Normal University (BNU). Huang Xiaohua, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Teacher Education of the Ministry of Education, Wang Wei, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Teacher Development Foundation, Wang Ming, Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee and Vice President of BNU, as well as responsible persons from 22 branches of the Institute of Global Teacher Development and iFLYTEK attended the meeting. More than 70 participants shared experiences, made strategic plans, discussed major initiatives for global teacher development, and jointly outlined a blueprint for international teacher exchange and cooperation.

The official from the Department of Teacher Education pointed out that the Institute of Global Teacher Development is an important measure to implement the strategic deployment of building a leading country in education and improve the strategy and tactics of opening up education to the outside world. It is a concrete practice of integrating resources to promote international teacher exchange and development, and contributing to the China's teacher education plan. It is necessary to improve systems to strengthen the support for the standardized operation of the institute; refine mechanisms to enhance the integration capacity of collaborative efforts among all parties; focus on key areas to deepen the cohesion of teacher exchange and cooperation; cultivate brands to build the influence of distinctive exchange programs; and strengthen platforms to demonstrate the leading role of the China teacher education plan.

Wang Wei, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Teacher Development Foundation

Wang Wei pointed out that 2026 is a crucial year for the Institute of Global Teacher Development, and the foundation will focus on advancing four key areas: institutional development, overseas training, equipment donations, and financial transparency. Relying on the collaborative mechanism of "government guidance, corporate support, and public welfare platforms," the foundation will implement the spirit of relevant documents from the Ministry of Education, enhance international exchanges, and help China's teacher education experience reach the world.

Wang Ming, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of Beijing Normal University

Wang Ming presented the membership list and announced the establishment of the Institute of Global Teacher Development’s Management Committee. As a high-level decision-making and coordination body, the committee brings together top-tier domestic universities and authoritative professional institutions. Guided by principles of strategic leadership, multi-stakeholder governance, scientific standardization, and service effectiveness, the committee will diligently fulfill core responsibilities including reviewing development plans, guiding major initiatives, monitoring operational performance, coordinating resource support, and deepening international exchanges and cooperation.

Panel discussion

Group presentation

Representatives from the China Teacher Development Foundation, 22 branches, and iFLYTEK held group discussions on relevant topics, sharing insightful perspectives. Luo Bin, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese Society of Education; Chen Xiaofang, Deputy Party Secretary of South China Normal University; and Zhong Yijun, former Vice President of Zhejiang Normal University, respectively introduced the progress of their respective branches and proposed suggestions for future work on behalf of their sub-venues.

Branches shared typical experiences

Yu Yang, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Education Association for International Exchange, Su Dapeng, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Beijing Foreign Studies University, Wu Zhihui, Member of the Party Standing Committee and Vice President of Northeast Normal University, Jiang Mingjun, Member of the Party Standing Committee and Vice President of Shanghai Normal University, and Yan Zhiming, Member of the Party Committee and Vice President of Jiangsu Agriculture and Forestry Vocational and Technical College, shared typical experiences as representatives of their respective institutes. Meanwhile, the meeting reviewed and approved the annual work priorities and related management system documents.

In his concluding remarks, Wang Ming outlined key priorities for 2026. First, the governance system must deliver tangible results by establishing a multi-tiered collaborative mechanism. Second, breakthroughs in brand cultivation should be pursued through selecting exemplary brand projects. Third, think tank research requires deeper engagement by leveraging universities' comprehensive strengths to compile regional and country-specific teacher development reports and issue dynamic bulletins. Fourth, digital empowerment demands innovation through integrated platform resources to create public goods for teacher education. Fifth, collaborative support mechanisms should be strengthened by mobilizing investments from public welfare initiatives, international organizations, local governments, and enterprises.

The year 2026 marks a pivotal moment for the Institute of Global Teacher Development to set sail. This conference signifies a new starting point for the global teacher development initiative. In the future, the the Institute of Global Teacher Development will adhere to the mission of 'leading global teacher development and promoting open educational collaboration,' aiming to foster teachers' professional growth and enhance educational quality.