Academic News

To thoroughly implement national education laws and regulations, effectively enhance the legal awareness and professional ethics of faculty members, further standardize education and teaching practices, and ensure that educational activities are conducted lawfully, Surrey International Institute successfully held a special legal training session on March 26. The training, themed "Understanding the Boundaries: Legal Guidelines for Teaching in China," was led by Associate Professor Bai Xue, a senior expert from the University's School of Law, and presided over by Associate Dean Shi Fangfang. Faculty members from both China and abroad participated in the session.

During the training, Associate Professor Bai delivered a systematic, comprehensive, and well-focused professional lecture, drawing upon her profound legal expertise and extensive practical experience. The content closely addressed the core legal needs of teaching, academic research, and related work in China. Starting with the fundamental legal and regulatory framework in China's education sector, she systematically outlined key policies concerning visas and work permits for foreign teachers working in China, as well as potential legal issues and coping strategies they may encounter in the course of their duties. She placed particular emphasis on the statutory scope of work and boundaries of responsibility for teachers, and provided an in-depth interpretation of the importance and specific requirements for the cultivation of teaching ethics and professional conduct in accordance with regulations from the Ministry of Education and the university. Furthermore, she clearly identified the bottom lines and "untouchable red lines" that must be upheld in teaching, research, social media, and daily conduct. By introducing typical real-life cases from work and daily life, she vividly analyzed the serious consequences of violating relevant laws and regulations, serving as a warning for all teachers to know awe, harbor caution, and uphold boundaries. The entire lecture was rich in content, accessible yet profound, combining both theoretical depth and highly practical guidance.

The participating teachers listened attentively, thought actively, and engaged in exchanges with Associate Professor Bai on practical issues encountered in their work and daily lives. During the Q&A session, several teachers further discussed specific legal questions and concerns related to daily teaching, teacher-student interactions, and personal life. She was patient and meticulous, providing professional and clear answers to every question and offering practical guidance and suggestions. The atmosphere of on-site interaction was lively and engaging.

This special training is one of the institute's important initiatives to strengthen faculty development, particularly in enhancing the management and services for foreign teachers. Through the training, teachers have gained a more systematic and profound understanding of the legal norms and codes of conduct they should abide by in their educational work, effectively improving their awareness and capabilities of teaching in accordance with the law and in a standardized manner. Going forward, the institute will continue to pay close attention to faculty development needs, build more learning and exchange platforms, continuously promote the comprehensive improvement of faculty quality, and contribute to the high-quality development of the institute's education and teaching work.