The outstanding entries in the eighth Beijing showcase and exchange of “My (Our) Story of Educating Students,” an event for teachers across all levels of schooling, were recently announced. The event, themed “Cultivating the Talent for the Party and the Nation: Setting Goals for an Education Powerhouse and Working Together to Nurture a New Generation,” was held under the guidance of the Ministry of Education and the Chinese Society of Education. It was organized by the Education Working Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, and hosted by the Beijing Association for Research on Moral Education in Schools. The story submitted by Professor Jin Xun of Peking University’s School of Foreign Languages stood out among more than 500 entries from across the city and won the Grand Prize.

Since joining the faculty in 1989, Professor Jin has been teaching Peking University for 37 years. Alongside teaching core courses for undergraduates, master’s and doctoral students, he has produced substantial research in Buddhist philosophy, the history of East Asian civilizations and new religious movements worldwide. He has published several scholarly monographs and more than 100 research papers, and has received major academic honors, including the Ministry of Education’s Outstanding Achievement Award for Scientific Research in Higher Education and South Korea’s Buer Award, the country’s highest honor for Buddhist studies. He also served as chair of the Department of Japanese for 12 years, balancing teaching and research with administrative duties. In his view, educators should be like farmers, respecting individual differences and patiently allowing each life to grow at its own pace. The most profound education often takes place in ordinary moments of encounter, companionship and support.

Professor Jin Xun’s approach to education is evident in the small ways he cares for his students. He keeps his office door open so students can drop in without an appointment, speak freely, and meet him as equals. While visiting Japan, he thinks about students studying abroad and the difficulties they face far from home. When one doctoral student develops a rare and serious illness, he continues to offer support over several years.

The article’s most memorable detail is the simple request, “I want to eat some meat.” Moments like this show how responsibility and empathy shape Professor Jin’s work as an educator. His example suggests that education extends beyond the classroom. It also means noticing each student’s circumstances and emotions and supporting their growth through continued care and companionship. That support may be quiet and easy to miss, but it can shape a student’s life.

Winning the Grand Prize at the Eighth Beijing Showcase of Teachers’ Stories of Educating Students across all levels of schooling is both an acknowledgment of his longstanding dedication to fostering students’ intellectual and personal growth and a reflection of the School of Foreign Languages’ commitment to integrating teaching with holistic student development. The School has consistently placed professional ethics and integrity at the forefront of faculty development, actively promoting the spirit of outstanding educators and ensuring that values-based guidance goes hand in hand with academic and professional education. Through initiatives such as values-oriented curriculum development, exchanges of educational and mentoring experience, and programs for enhancing teaching competence, the School encourages its faculty not only to be knowledgeable teachers who impart expertise and answer questions, but also to serve as mentors who nurture character and inspire personal growth. Through both their words and their example, faculty members fulfill the fundamental mission of educating students to contribute to the country and society. Looking ahead, the School will continue to highlight exemplary educators within its community and share the stories of their dedication to teaching, mentoring, and student development.

Translated by Song Yucen