On October 26, during an interview, Ye Junyan, a Taiwanese professor at Hubei University of Economics, shared his sentiments on becoming an educator for the first time. With over 40 years of experience in Taiwan’s animation design industry, he emphasized, “The cultural roots across the strait are fundamentally aligned, and the essence of traditional Chinese culture serves as the foundation for our creative work.”
The interview took place during the 2024 Cross-Strait (Hubei) Youth Teacher Exchange Conference, jointly hosted by the Taiwan Affairs Office of Hubei Province, the Hubei Provincial Department of Education, and Hubei University of Economics in Wuhan. The event, part of the 18th Hubei-Wuhan Taiwan Week, featured young educators from both sides sharing their achievements and insights through keynote speeches and interviews, under the theme of “Integration and Innovation: Cultivating Talents and Shaping Values.”
Since joining the Animation Department of Hubei University of Economics in 2023, Ye remarked, “As a first-time teacher, there are many areas I need to learn and adapt to.” He noted that his colleagues on the mainland have been incredibly supportive, assisting him with lesson preparation and course material creation.
Taiwanese teacher Pan Shulan, whose work involves education and tourism, has spent nine years exploring various regions of Hubei. She has shared the beauty and culinary delights of Hubei with her friends and family in Taiwan. “Only by engaging in deep exchanges can we gain a comprehensive and objective understanding,” she stated.
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in student and faculty exchanges between universities on both sides of the strait. Teacher Pan expressed that this experience highlights the strong emotional ties and deep mutual understanding that exist between the two sides. She hopes that young people from both regions can leverage their respective strengths in areas like scientific research, student development, and community service, fostering resource sharing, collaborative innovation, and mutual benefits.
Professor Li Peng from Xiamen University’s Taiwan Research Institute suggested that there are many areas where deeper exchanges can occur between universities, such as sharing educational resources, aligning educational philosophies, building educational platforms, and exchanging teaching methods. He emphasized the importance of encouraging young students across the strait to jointly promote traditional Chinese culture, enhancing the global influence of Chinese civilization through collaboration.
Chen Yung Ying, president of the Taiwanese Student Association and vice president of the All-China Federation of Taiwanese Compatriots, remarked, “Over the years, I have witnessed the evolution of economic, cultural, and academic exchanges between the two sides, transitioning from superficial to profound, and from monotonous to diverse.” He encouraged greater participation from Taiwanese educators in mainland China, noting the natural affinity that mainland students feel towards their Taiwanese teachers.
Hubei province is known to have one of the highest numbers of Taiwanese teachers in China, with over 130 educators currently active in 17 universities, including Wuhan University, Hubei University, and Hubei University of Economics.
