On Nov. 12th and 19th, the 2015 International Scholars and Teachers TED-style Talks were held on the North and South Campus respectively, with over 400 teachers and students in attendance.

In these talks, five SCUT foreign teachers drew from their career backgrounds and personal experiences to share their perspectives about career choice, mental health, environmental protection, the education system, etc. For instance, Daniel Miller gave an account of his experience transitioning from being an American Silicon Valley engineer to becoming a China-based English teacher, and shared his wish that students are able to find their true interests and strive for their ideals. Craig Anderson showed the audience how modern US families differ from those of the 1950s, providing a deeper understanding of modern American values as well as the transformation of American society.

The SCUT TED-style talks, which originated in2009, were this year co-hosted by the International Office and Communist Youth League Committee. The Talks, which are held once or twice a year, are an important cultural activity of SCUT International Office’s International Scholars Club. The Talks borrow ideas from the American TED Talks and invites foreign teachers to share “ideas worth spreading”, with the aim of facilitating cultural exchange and building an increasingly internationalized SCUT.

Additional Notes: TED Talks

TED, abbreviated from Technology, Entertainment and Design, is a private non-profit organization in America and is renowned for its TED conference, which revolves around “ideas worth spreading”. TED was founded in 1984 by Richard Wurman. Every March, the TED meeting invites outstanding figures in fields as science, design, literature, and music to share their ideas about technology, society, and people.

Edited by Cynthia, proofread by Paul Winning

International Scholars Office

South China University of Technology