From April 23 to 25, the Third Forum on High-Quality Development of Characteristic Schools was successfully held at Qingdao Binhai University. The forum was guided by the Professional Committee of Information Technology Education in Primary and Secondary Schools of the Chinese Society of Education and jointly organized by the Special School Construction Research Professional Committee of the Shandong Education Society, the Shandong Educational Technology Center, and the Qingdao Municipal Education Bureau. It was hosted by the Qingdao West Coast New Area Education and Sports Bureau and Qingdao Binhai University. Themed "Smart Education with Distinctive Features to Empower High-Quality Development of Education", the forum brought together education experts, scholars, and school representatives from across the province to explore practical approaches to building characteristic schools in the context of digital transformation, injecting new momentum into the high-quality development of education in the province.

The forum's opening ceremony was attended by Cong Peijun, Director of the Digital Education Division of the Shandong Provincial Department of Education; Che Zongzhe, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Shandong Institute of Educational Science and Supervisor of the Shandong Education Society; Zhou Changdu, Deputy Director of the Shandong Educational Technology Center and Deputy Secretary-General of the Professional Committee of Primary and Secondary Schools of the Chinese Educational Technology Association; Li Xiaoyuan, Chief Inspector of the Qingdao Municipal Education Bureau; Sun Meiqing, Committee Member of the Education Working Committee of the Qingdao West Coast New Area Committee and Chief Inspector of the District Government Education Supervision Office; Che Bin, Secretary of the Party Committee of Qingdao Binhai University; Han Xiaomeng, Executive Vice President of Qingdao Binhai University; and other distinguished guests. Over 900 representatives from member units of the professional committee, educational administration departments, and educational research institutions from across the province also participated.

During the opening ceremony, representatives from the Qingdao Municipal Education Bureau, Shandong Educational Technology Center, Shandong Institute of Educational Science, and Shandong Provincial Department of Education delivered speeches, emphasizing the core role of digitalization in educational reform and highly appreciating the forum. Han Xiaomeng, Executive Vice President of Qingdao Binhai University, delivered a welcome speech, stating that this forum is an important practice in implementing the strategic goal of "promoting educational digitalization and building a strong education system" as outlined in the 20th National Congress of the CPC. She expressed hope that the in-depth exchanges during the forum would spark more insightful ideas and generate replicable, transferable practices, contributing to the vigorous development of education.

During the forum, renowned experts such as Professor Gu Xiaoqing from East China Normal University, Professor Dong Yan from Beijing Normal University, and Professor Chen Mingxuan from Jiangnan University delivered keynote speeches, discussing topics like "Deepening Digital Transformation of Schools through Smart Education", "Challenges for Teachers in the AI Era", and "Reconstructing Teaching Paradigms in the Digital Age".
Additionally, outstanding school representatives from across the province shared practical experiences in building digitalized characteristic schools, covering various fields such as preschool education, basic education, and vocational education.
Li Jing, a teacher from the Department of Education at Qingdao Binhai University, presented a report titled "Exploring and Practicing the 'Dual Ability' Talent Training Model for Preschool Education" at the Preschool Education Sub-Forum.

To ensure the smooth running of the forum, Qingdao Binhai University established a dedicated working group, developing comprehensive plans for conference reception, technical support, and logistical services. The main venue was set up in the Grand Auditorium of the Xiaozhushan Campus, while sub-venues were located in modern lecture halls and conference rooms throughout the campus, meeting the needs of different meeting sizes. The International Academic Exchange Center (Zhushan Hotel) of the university provided accommodation and services for the guests, earning widespread acclaim for its well-equipped facilities and thoughtful services. During the forum, a field observation activity was arranged. Participants visited the Qingdao West Coast New Area Bilingual Primary School, the Affiliated Kindergarten of Qingdao Binhai University, and the Special Education Center of Qingdao Binhai University, experiencing the innovative achievements of digital education firsthand.

The participating guests expressed that the forum was rich in content, well-organized, and provided a valuable platform for educational exchange across the province. They believe it will play a significant role in promoting digital transformation in education and building characteristic schools. Qingdao Binhai University plans to take this forum as an opportunity to continue deepening educational reform, advancing digital transformation, and promoting high-quality characteristic development of the university.

(Written by Yi Xuelian, Photo by Li Wei)