On the afternoon of 16 July 2026, the third session of the ‘Learn-In: Education Matters’ English-language academic seminar series, hosted by the Graduate School of Education (GSE) at Beijing Foreign Studies University, was successfully convened in Conference Room 953 of the International Building. The session featured Associate Professor Hichem Messaoudi, Dean of the Higher Institute of Languages at the University of Carthage, Tunisia, as the distinguished guest speaker. Delivering a talk entitled ‘Global Education from the Perspective of Tunisia and North Africa: Philosophical Bases and Challenges’, Professor Messaoudi offered attendees a richly insightful presentation that combined philosophical depth with a broad international outlook. The seminar was moderated by Associate Professor Jáfia Naftali Câmara of the Graduate School of Education.
In his lecture, Professor Messaoudi examined the nature and purpose of education against the backdrop of globalisation from a philosophical standpoint. Drawing on the thought of Confucius, Plato, Aristotle and other philosophers from both Eastern and Western traditions, he argued that the essence of education lies in the ‘shaping and transformation of the soul’ rather than the mere transmission of knowledge, and that it should be morally oriented towards the cultivation of virtuous citizens. Addressing the relationship between globalisation and local cultural identity, he stressed that language is not merely a tool of communication, and that safeguarding linguistic and cultural identity is particularly important in the context of globalisation.
With reference to the realities of education in Tunisia, Professor Messaoudi acknowledged the country’s strengths, including its relatively high enrolment rates in compulsory education and the extensive distribution of higher education resources. At the same time, he identified practical challenges such as the crisis of Arabic identity amid the dominance of French, ageing infrastructure, and elevated school dropout rates. He proposed enhanced international exchange and deepened Sino-Tunisian cooperation as potential responses to these difficulties. He also noted the growing enthusiasm among Tunisian students for learning Chinese, underscored the critical importance of the humanities in safeguarding human intelligence in the age of artificial intelligence, and described China as an ‘Eastern brother’ and a source of practical wisdom, expressing hope for the flourishing development of educational collaboration between China and Tunisia.
During the discussion and exchange session, Professor Wu Minyan and Professor You Mei from the School of Arabic Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University, along with Professor Li Zuowen, Professor Yuan Dayong, Associate Professor Wang Mingyang and Associate Professor Zhu Jun from the Graduate School of Education, took the floor in turn to engage in an in-depth dialogue with the guest speaker, drawing on their respective research areas. Faculty and students present raised questions on topics including humanities education in the age of artificial intelligence, multilingual classrooms and intercultural competence, all of which Professor Messaoudi addressed in detail, generating a lively and productive academic atmosphere.
At the conclusion of the event, Professor Wang Dinghua, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Vice President of the Chinese Society of Education, and Professor at the Graduate School of Education, delivered a summary commentary. He spoke highly of the academic value and international perspective of the presentation, observing that civilisations are enriched by their diversity and that global education should advance through mutual learning and exchange. He encouraged faculty and students to maintain a global outlook and a sense of responsibility, and to contribute to the promotion of world peace and human well-being.
This seminar represents another vibrant instance of the Graduate School of Education's ongoing ‘Learn-In: Education Matters’ seminar series. Looking ahead, the School will continue to build high-level platforms for academic exchange, broaden international academic horizons, and foster a stimulating environment for educational research, advancing together with faculty and students in shared growth and development.
Author: Jáfia Naftali Câmara
Photographer: Han Yang
Reviewer: Yuan Dayong, Zhu Jun
