From June 27 to 29, 2014, the 2nd National MPA Faculty Seminar on Social Research Methods 2014 was held at a conference hall of China Institute of Industrial Relations. The seminar was sponsored by National Steering Committee on Graduate Education of Public Administration, organized by China Institute of Industrial Relations and attended by nearly 70 teacher representatives from over 50 MPA training institutions across the country.
On the morning of June 28, the seminar opening ceremony was held at a conference hall of China Institute of Industrial Relations. The ceremony was hosted by Lang Yi’na, director of the Training Office, China Institute of Industrial Relations, and attended by professor Liu Yufang, vice president of China Institute of Industrial Relations, professor Zheng Xiaoqi and Professor Suntao, both members of the National Steering Committee on MPA Education, professor Li Lianjiang from Chinese University of Hong Kong, professor Geng Shu from SUFE and teachers from MPA training institutions.
At the ceremony, professor Liu Yufang, vice president of China Institute of Industrial Relations, made a welcome speech on behalf of the organizer-China Institute of Industrial Relations and expressed warm congratulations to the holding of the seminar. He said that organizing the seminar reflected the National Steering Committee on MPA Education’s trust and encouragement for China Institute of Industrial Relations and that the purpose of holding the seminar was to strengthen the construction of the national MPA faculty team, increase the teaching and research capability of MPA teachers and improve the teaching quality of MPA training institutions. He also introduced to participating the history of China Institute of Industrial Relations and the MPA education of SUFE. As an MPA training institution, China Institute of Industrial Relations will do their part to establish a broad platform for MPA education.
Zheng Xiaoqi, a member of the National Steering Committee on MPA Education, first of all, expressed gratitude to China Institute of Industrial Relations for carefully organizing the seminar, then introduced the current status of the national MPA education and MPA core courses to the participating teachers and explained that the purpose of the training was to improve the overall level of all institutions, focus on the core courses and have a discussion and training about them.
At the end of the ceremony, Professor Liu Yufang and Professor Zheng Xiaoqi issued letters of employment to teaching experts.
After the ceremony, Professor Sun Tao, a member of the National Steering Committee on MPA Education, gave an explanation about the design ideas and content of the teaching guidelines of Social Research Methods.
Afterwards, Professor Geng Shu from the School of Public Economics and Administration, SUFE delivered a lecture entitled “Sharing the Syllabus Design and Teaching Methods of Social Research Methods”.
On the afternoon, Professor Li Lianjiang from Chinese University of Hong Kong gave a speech entitled “Social Science Research from User's Perspective” to participating teachers.
In the evening, the participating teachers were divided into 4 groups and had a group discussion about the syllabus of Social Research Methods in a designated classroom under the organization of a pre-selected group leader.
On the morning of June 29, professor Ye Pengfei from China Institute of Industrial Relations, gave a lecture entitled Case Analysis and Discussion (Partial Quantitative) About Sampling Methods.
Afterwards, Professor Geng Shu from SUFE presented a lecture entitled “How to Design a Social Science Research”.
On the afternoon, Professor Lan Zhiyong, vice president of the School of Public Administration, Renmin University of China, gave a lecture entitled Use of Research Methods in the Construction and Development of Public Management Disciplines to participating teachers.
Afterwards, each group leader summarized their discussion about the syllabus of Social Research Methods the night before, made a report and proposed valuable suggestions.
After each group leader made a report, Professor Zheng Xiaoqi, a member of the National Steering Committee on MPA Education, made concluding remarks. He thanked China Institute of Industrial Relations for its careful arrangement, the lecturing teachers for their patient explanation and all present teachers for their active participation.
At last, professor Zheng Xiaoqi and Sun Tao, both members of the National Steering Committee on MPA Education, issued a Certificate of Completion to all participating teachers.
With that, the 2nd National MPA Faculty Seminar on Social Research Methods 2014, sponsored by National Steering Committee on Graduate Education of Public Administration and organized by China Institute of Industrial Relations, came to an end.