Press Release: HKU Faculty of Education and Yidan Prize Foundation Co-host Distinguished Lecture
Professor Zhu Yongxin Shares Insights on Transforming Education in China through the New Education Initiative
新聞稿：港大教育學院與一丹獎基金會合辦傑出學者講座
朱永新教授分享新教育實驗改變中國教育的成功之道

HKU Faculty of Education and Yidan Prize Foundation Co-host Distinguished Lecture
Professor Zhu Yongxin Shares Insights on Transforming Education in China through the 
New Education Initiative
 

The Faculty of Education at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Yidan Prize Foundation jointly hosted a distinguished lecture titled “The Road to Educational Success: Experiences from the New Education Initiative” on December 5 (Friday). The event brought together international scholars, educators, local policymakers, students, and community members for a thought-provoking session. The speaker, Professor Zhu Yongxin — one of China’s most influential contemporary educators, the 2022 Yidan Prize for Education Development Laureate, and Founder of the New Education Initiative (NEI) — shared practical insights drawn from his two decades of work advancing educational equity and inclusion, and explained how the NEI has transformed education in China through action.

The event began with welcome remarks by Professor Peng Gong, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Development) of HKU, who expressed gratitude to Professor Zhu for his presence and insightful sharing. Professor Gong emphasised that teachers, as transmitters of knowledge and guides for students, play a crucial role in addressing the educational challenges of the 21st century through their innovative capabilities, humanistic spirit, and global vision. 

Professor Yang Rui, Dean of the Faculty of Education at HKU, recognised Professor Zhu’s remarkable contributions to the field of education, which have gained widespread acclaim both in China and internationally. He highlighted Professor Zhu’s philanthropic gesture of donating the entire fund of the Yidan Prize for Education Development to establish the New Teacher Foundation, which supports teacher professional development. This act of generosity, Professor Yang noted, embodies the public welfare spirit advocated by the NEI. He also extended his gratitude to the Yidan Prize Foundation for its invaluable support of the event.

The New Education Initiative: Principles and Impacts
Professor Zhu Yongxin began his lecture by explaining the origins of the NEI and its guiding principles: “One Mission, Two Visions, Four Spirits, Five Major Concepts”. At the heart of the initiative lies the commitment to prioritising students’ growth. Through ten key actions, such as creating a campus rich in reading culture and encouraging teachers and students to co-write essays, the initiative aligns with the national curriculum’s goal of cultivating well-rounded individuals with unique personalities. It ultimately seeks to achieve the goal of enabling students and teachers to live fulfilling and meaningful educational lives.

One of Professor Zhu’s beliefs is: “Just as an individual’s intellectual growth is shaped by their reading history, a school without reading can never achieve true education.” The NEI, therefore, emphasises the cultivation of a society-wide culture of reading to improve the overall quality of education. Professor Zhu also highlighted the importance of enhancing teachers’ professional competence and passionate dedication, sharing inspiring stories of teachers’ growth within the initiative. Additionally, he shed light on how the NEI has leveraged public welfare efforts, and collaborated with education authorities and schools to create synergies that empower education systems.

Reflecting on two decades of fruitful progress, Professor Zhu shared that, by 2025, the NEI has reached 229 county-level divisions, engaged more than 11,000 schools, and benefited over 10 million teachers and students nationwide — a scale and impact that is truly remarkable in the history of education development in China and abroad. Looking ahead, he discussed six key directions for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into education, underlining the importance of upholding the essence of education: “The essence of education lies in shaping souls and nurturing talent, while the value of AI is to expand the possibilities of education rather than replace its fundamental purpose.” He stressed that while embracing AI and technological advancements, educators must remain guided by core values and prioritise human connection in learning. By inspiring students with both scientific rigour and a sense of humanity, educators can nurture a new generation ready for future challenges. Concluding his lecture, Professor Zhu expressed the hope that the NEI would continue its mission of being a constructive force in Chinese education, safeguarding the certainty of education in an uncertain future.

Dialogue with Educators and Students
The lecture was followed by a lively dialogue session, moderated by Professor Cheng Kai Ming, Emeritus Professor at the HKU Faculty of Education and Emeritus Member of the Advisor Committee of Yidan Prize. Professor Zhu joined the discussion with Professor Yang Lili, Assistant Professor from the HKU Faculty of Education, as well as Ms Ding Jie Jane, a student from the Doctor of Education programme and Miss Kathleen Miranda, a student from the BA&BEd (Language Education) programme. During the session, Professor Zhu explored how the NEI’s people-centred and life-focused philosophy could be spread globally. He also discussed strategies for fostering students’ genuine passion for learning and personal growth, even within standardised examination systems. At the end of the session, Professor Zhu reiterated that while leveraging technology to enhance learning efficiency, cultivating a habit of reading and a passion for pursuing knowledge is of the utmost importance. 

This lecture provided a valuable platform for exchange, enabling participants to draw inspiration from the successful experiences of the NEI. At the same time, it showcased the deep integration of educational theory and practice, contributing to the advancement of future educational innovation.

About Professor Zhu Yongxin
Professor Zhu Yongxin is currently the President of Chinese Society for Taoxingzhi Studies, and a Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the New Education Institute, Soochow University. Professor Zhu has led numerous research projects commissioned by UNESCO as well as projects funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China and the National Social Science Fund of China, receiving multiple awards for his contributions. He has published over 600 education papers in China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and other countries. His collected works, including the 20-volume Works by Zhu Yongxin on Education, along with other publications, have been translated into 28 languages including English, French, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Mongolian, and Arabic. Professor Zhu has also served as the chief editor of more than 30 book series, such as The Contemporary Japanese Education Series, New Century Education Library, and New Education Library. He is recognised as the first contemporary Chinese educator whose educational theories have been published internationally.
 
Professor Zhu founded the New Education Initiative (NEI) in 2000. By 2025, NEI has attracted over 11,000 schools and more than 10 million teachers and student across China, profoundly transforming education in China through action. In 2020, Professor Zhu received the inaugural IBBY-iRead Outstanding Reading Promoter Award from the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). In 2022, he was awarded the Yidan Prize for Education Development for his pioneering NEI programmes and generously donated the entire prize fund to establish the New Teacher Foundation at Soochow University, supporting teachers’ professional development through building a supportive community, fostering leadership skills and helping teachers find fulfilment within their careers.

About HKU Faculty of Education
The Faculty of Education at HKU was established in 1984, with a rich history of fostering teacher development dating back to 1917. Committed to serving the community and promoting educational development, the Faculty drives pioneering, high-impact research through its members and prepares graduates to excel in a globalised, knowledge-based world. The Faculty aspires to lead the study and practice of education, to influence public policy and improve community life through education, and to nurture graduates who are passionately committed to their professions.

About the Yidan Prize Foundation
The Yidan Prize Foundation is a global philanthropic foundation, with a mission of creating a better world through education. Through its prize and network of innovators, the Yidan Prize Foundation supports ideas and practices in education — specifically, ones with the power to positively change lives and society. The Yidan Prize is the world’s highest education accolade that recognises individuals or teams who have contributed significantly to the theory and practice of education. It consists of two prizes, working in harmony: the Yidan Prize for Education Research and the Yidan Prize for Education Development. They’re designed for impact: laureates of each prize receive an unrestricted project fund of HK$15 million over three years, helping them scale up their work, as well as a gold medal and a cash prize of HK$15 million. The project fund and cash prize are shared equally for teams.
 

For media enquiries, please contact Ms Kelly Shum, Executive Officer (Communications), Faculty of Education, HKU (Tel: 3917 8239 / Email: [javascript protected email address]).

December 11, 2025
 

港大教育學院與一丹獎基金會合辦傑出學者講座 
朱永新教授分享新教育實驗改變中國教育的成功之道
 

香港大學（港大）教育學院與一丹獎基金會於12月5日（星期五）合辦「新教育實驗做對了什麼？」傑出學者講座，匯聚國際學者、教育工作者、本地政策制定者、學生以及社區人士參與。是次講座由中國當代最具影響力的教育家之一、2022年一丹教育發展獎的得獎者、新教育實驗發起人 — 朱永新教授主講，他於講座中分享其二十多年來推動教育公平與普惠的實踐智慧，深入闡釋新教育實驗如何以行動改變中國教育。

港大副校長（學術發展）宮鵬教授於歡迎辭中感謝朱教授親臨分享。宮教授認為教師作為知識的傳遞者及引路人，他們的創新能力、人文關懷精神及全球視野，對應對21世紀教育挑戰甚為重要。港大教育學院院長楊銳教授則在致辭中表示，朱教授在教育領域的卓越貢獻獲得國內外的廣泛認可﹔而他透過捐贈「一丹教育發展獎」全部獎金而成立「新教師基金」，身體力行推動教師專業發展，此一善舉正是新教育實驗所倡導的「公益情懷」的生動體現。楊教授在致辭中亦特別感謝一丹獎基金會對本次活動的鼎力支持。

新教育實驗: 理念與影響
朱永新教授以其發起新教育實驗之緣起作開始，與參加者分享新教育的「一個使命、兩個願景、四個精神、五大理念」。他深入闡釋新教育實驗如何堅守把學生的成長放在中心，通過「營造書香校園、師生共寫隨筆」等十個具體行動，落實國家課程中「培養全面而有個性的人」的核心目標，實現「讓師生過一種幸福完整的教育生活」的教育理想。

在講座中，朱教授向參加者分享他的理念：「一個人的精神發育史就是他的閱讀史，一所沒有閱讀的學校永遠不可能有真正的教育。」因此，新教育實驗致力營造全民閱讀的社會風尚，從而推動教育品質的全面提升。他亦強調提升教師專業素養與職業熱情的重要性，在講座中引述多個新教育實驗中教師的自我成長經歷，為參加者帶來了深刻的啟迪。另外，朱教授亦論述了新教育實驗如何透過公益力量及與教育行政部門、學校等合作，達至協同賦能。

朱教授亦與參加者分享新教育實驗廿載耕耘的成果 — 截至2025年，全國累計已有229個縣級區域、超過11,000所學校參與，惠及師生逾1,000萬人。此一規模與影響力，在中外教育發展史上實屬難得。展望未來，在人工智能的迅速發展下，朱教授論述新教育將以六大方向深化人工智能（AI）與教育的融合。他強調：「教育的本質是鑄魂育人，AI的價值在於拓展教育的可能性，而非替代教育的本質。」因此，教育工作者在積極推動AI及科技應用的同時，需以價值引領為舵，以生命影響生命，培育兼具科學精神與人文情懷，並能夠應對未來挑戰的新一代。在講座結尾，朱教授期望新教育實驗能繼續秉持「做中國教育的建設者」，在不確定的未來中，守住教育的確定性。

師生互動交流
講座隨後的對談環節，由港大教育學院榮休教授及一丹獎顧問委員會榮休成員程介明教授主持。朱教授與港大教育學院的師生，包括助理教授楊力藶教授、教育博士課程學生丁洁女士，以及文學士及教育學士（語文教育）課程學生Kathleen Miranda小姐展開交流。就師生所提出的問題，朱教授論述了如何把新教育實驗中以人為本、重視生命教育的理念，推廣到全世界。他亦分析了如何在標準化的考試制度下，讓學生能真正熱愛學習並有個性地成長。最後，朱教授再次強調在以科技提升學習效率的同時，培養認真閱讀的習慣及熱切追求學問的態度，才是至關重要。

本次講座為教育界提供了一個寶貴的交流契機，讓一眾參加者得以借鏡新教育實驗的成功經驗；同時亦展現了教育理論與實踐的深度融合，為推動未來教育創新之路作出貢獻。

有關朱永新教授
朱永新教授現任中國陶行知研究會會長，蘇州大學新教育研究院教授、博士生導師。朱教授多次主持聯合國教科文組織委託的研究項目和國家自然科學、社會科學等基金項目並多次獲獎；在國內和美國、英國、日本等發表教育論文600餘篇；著有《朱永新教育作品》（20卷）等，著作被譯為英、法、日、韓、俄、蒙、阿拉伯語等28種文字。主編有《當代日本教育叢書》、《新世紀教育文庫》、《新教育文庫》等30餘種圖書，是中國當代教育家的個人教育理論著作輸往海外第一人。
 
朱教授於 2000 年發起了新教育實驗，截至2025年，全國有11,000餘所實驗學校、1,000餘萬名教師和學生參與實驗之中，以行動悄然改變着中國教育。朱教授於2020年獲得國際兒童讀物聯盟首屆「IBBY-iRead 愛閱人物獎」。於2022年憑藉其所發起的新教育實驗獲得「一丹教育發展獎」，並捐贈全部獎金在蘇州大學創辦了新教師基金，透過明師班、教改班等項目繼續支持教師專業發展。

有關香港大學教育學院
港大教育學院於1984年成立，其師資培訓的歷史可追溯至1917年。教育學院秉持服務社會的宗旨，積極推動教育發展。教育學院成員致力於開展具創新性及影響力的研究，而畢業生則具備在全球化及知識型社會中應對挑戰、不斷進步的能力。教育學院期望在教學研究及實踐的道路上保持世界領導地位，藉著教育影響公共政策及改善民生，以及培育對教育事業充滿熱誠的畢業生。

有關一丹獎基金會
一丹獎基金會是一家國際慈善基金會，其願景為「以教育提升人類福祉」，透過一丹獎及其教育家網絡，支持教育理念發展及實踐，尤其是能夠正面影響生命及社會的項目。一丹獎是全球最大的教育獎項，並歡迎多樣化的提名。它由兩個相輔相成的獎項組成，包括「一丹教育研究獎」和「一丹教育發展獎」，授予對教育研究和發展作出卓越貢獻的個人或不超過三位的團隊代表。一丹獎授予每位得獎者一枚純金獎牌，得獎者或團隊亦會獲頒 3,000 萬港元獎金，其中一半為支持教育研究或項目發展的資金，旨在幫助得獎者進一步擴大其工作的規模，讓世界各地更多人受惠。
 

傳媒查詢，請聯絡香港大學教育學院行政主任（傳訊）沈宇彥女士（電話：3917 8239 / 電郵︰[javascript protected email address]）。

2025年12月11日