New blood in Solidarity, Help Each Other Succeed––A Successful Symposium for New Faculty Members Held by SOG

In the afternoon of March 3, 2022, a symposium for new faculty members was held by the School of Government (SOG) of Sun Yat-sen University in D113 of the university’s teaching building on the East Campus. This symposium was attended by Prof. Tan Ankui, Dean of SOG, Party Secretary Liu Zeyang, Deputy Party Secretary Tan Yingyao, Prof. Zhu Yapeng, Editor-in-Cheif of Journal of Public Administration, Associate Professor Wang Qiushi, Deputy Director of the Centre of Chinese Public Administration Research of SYSU, Associate Professor Zheng Yueping, Director of the Department of Public Administration, Associate Professor Li Mianguan, Deputy Director of the Centre for MPA Program, and some of the new faculty members of the school, and it was presided over by Prof. Ye Lin, Deputy Dean of SOG.

Dean Tan Ankui firstly introduced the development status of SOG. He pointed out that the introduction of young talents is only the first step of development, and their growth is the key to the future of the school. He encouraged new teachers to put forward their perplexities and requests, and offer advice or suggestions for the school so that everyone could grow together in organizational culture and working atmosphere of “equality, respect, and mutual support”.

Subsequently, teachers discussed teaching, research collaboration, career planning, and other topics. Professors suggested the school provide opportunities for new teachers to observe classroom teaching and receive training in teaching skills, student guidance, and conducting research. To help new teachers fit in with the working environment, they consider it necessary to enhance the school’s services, including systematically introducing the use of information systems, school resources, activities, etc. In addition, they discussed the matching of their research expertise with the curriculum design.

As new teachers are the mainstay of the future MPA teaching and mentoring team, ideas were exchanged on MPA talent cultivation during the symposium. Associate Professor Li Mianguan gave a brief introduction of the current policies of MPA training and the problems faced by dissertation guidance. Then everyone expressed their views on MPA teaching practice, dissertation guidance, academic norms of dissertation, evaluation criteria, and other aspects.

Dean Tan Ankui responded to the questions and requests raised on the spot and assigned tasks that should be completed this semester to promote new teachers’ development. To conclude, he expressed the school’s expectations for new teachers of “Stay firm to political beliefs, focus on the mainstream, build up your personal image, work on both  teaching and research, and respond to service”. As new teachers are the mainstay of the future MPA teaching and mentoring team, ideas were exchanged on MPA talent cultivation during the symposium. Associate Professor Li Mianguan gave a brief introduction of the current policies of MPA training and the problems faced by dissertation guidance. Then everyone expressed their views on MPA teaching practice, dissertation guidance, academic norms of dissertation, evaluation criteria, and other aspects.

This symposium effectively promoted the in-depth communication between new faculty members and experienced teachers, showed the school’s support and care for new teachers, and inspired them to truly engage in the development and construction of SOG. By listening to the opinions and suggestions of new teachers, the school will further improve the training of junior faculty, strengthen their understanding of fostering virtue through education, and create a good atmosphere for teaching and scientific research.