ime: May 08, 2017
Source: The News Center
Releaser:JNU News Center
Author: Nie Peiwen

"I have not told anyone about this bad habit of always eating instant noodles as my dinner. But my counselor, Prof. He Xiaoyong, noticed and convinced me to stop. He cared about my health and every one of us very much." That is what a student from the International School would like to say about the International School's counselor, who is nominated for the National Excellent College Counselors of the Year in 2017.

In 2006, after graduating from Jinan University, He stayed on and has now been a counselor for 11 years. His students have come from more than 70 countries and areas including Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and abroad; 39% are from the mainland, 35% from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, and 26% from overseas. For his patience and hard work, He has earned the title of the leading teacher and counselor of international students.

(With his students in Color Run and Orientation Camp)

Starting counseling work when the International School had just been established, He and his colleagues faced many challenges, among them managing international students. To improve international students' attendance rate, He drew up the International School Leave Request System and the International Students Visa Processing System, which worked effectively. 

In addition, He innovated the Scholarship Assessment Method and Oral Examination for Guangdong Government Scholarship, which largely improved students' learning initiative. In 2016, about 200 international students, up from 50 in 2013, met Guangdong Government Scholarship standards.

 
He has served as counselor to eight international classes, four of which were recognized as Advanced Classes of Jinan University.

He and his team members have now decided to compile a guidebook titled International Students' Education Management, based on their experience managing urgent situations. He remains calm and confident in handling emergencies, saying, "We, counselors of the International School, can handle almost all emergencies properly now."  

(He Xiaoyong communicating with students on South Campus)

"Personality of Education," a course He teaches in English, is the most popular course among non-mainland students. As a teacher who majored in Chinese, how does he teach this kind of course? "The secret is learning continuously," He said. "I am very grateful to the International School for encouraging me in self-learning."

He has twice attended training abroad and passed an evaluation of his teaching in English. He also has participated in a project, initiated by the Ministry of Education, titled "On-the-Job Study of University Counselors for Doctorates (the Second Batch)." He then studied ideological and political education at Beijing Normal University to improve his professional qualities.

He also teaches a course in "Situation and Policy," which more than 4,000 students have taken at JNU over the years. He likes to cite social focuses in arranging course content, and to use forums, team projects and other innovative instructional modes to arouse students' interest.

(He as the team leader on the Xixia Culture Tour with other members)

He opened a WeChat account, He Xiaoyong, in November 2015 to solve students' difficulties in study and life; it now has thousands of followers, and articles he has published on it have received 10,000 hits a month. He said he wants his account to guide students in forming individual behaviors, thoughts and ideology.