Conference Scene
On April 23, a workshop on mathematics course development for the Politics, Economics and Sociology for Global Leaders in Smart Society (PES) Program was held at the Main Building. The meeting was chaired by Dean Tang Ke. Attendees included Vice Dean Jin Jun, Student Group Leader Sun Zhen, Professor Bai Fengshan from the Department of Mathematical Sciences, Professor Zhu Guiping (Director of the Teaching Center of Mathematics), Associate Professors Tang Hongyan and Guo Xiaoling from Teaching Center of Mathematics, as well as representatives from the Undergraduate Academic Affairs Office, the School of Social Sciences, and Zijing College. Discussions focused on course positioning, curriculum design, textbook selection, and teaching implementation.
Jin Jun introduced the program’s background, educational framework, course offerings, and current admissions status. He noted that the PES program represents a key component of Tsinghua’s strategy to enhance undergraduate international education in the humanities and social sciences. The program aims to cultivate future leaders in digital society who possess solid theoretical grounding, effective methodological training, a Chinese perspective, and a global outlook, with strong emphasis on interdisciplinary learning and college-based education.
Discussion and Exchange
Bai Fengshan and his teaching team, after carefully considering students’ mathematical backgrounds and the actual needs of their majors, developed a well-balanced course framework. This framework is tailored to the program’s requirements and supports the university’s goal of cultivating internationally oriented talent. The course design strikes a balance between practical utility and intellectual enrichment, emphasizing students’ ability to understand models, think logically, and apply knowledge in real-world contexts. It also incorporates cultural and philosophical elements, including the history of mathematics and mathematical thinking, to enhance the educational value of the course. In terms of teaching arrangements, the team plans to adopt internationally recognized textbooks, offer instruction entirely in English, and provide preparatory courses to help students build a solid foundation and ensure a smooth transition. A core faculty team will coordinate classroom instruction and recitation sessions, providing comprehensive academic support throughout the learning process.
This course development effort represents an important experiment in teaching mathematics for the social sciences. The mathematics faculty team has committed to refining the curriculum and ensuring teaching quality, while the Undergraduate Academic Affairs Office and the college will provide full organizational and teaching assistant support to facilitate successful implementation.
The workshop laid a solid foundation for the launch of the mathematics course for the PES program and marks a significant step forward in Zhishan College’s efforts to advance international and interdisciplinary talent development.
