A University of Saint Joseph (USJ) delegation recently concluded a working visit to the Elim* Training Centre for Children with Autism in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, according to a recent statement on the private catholic university’s website.
The exchange, held from July 21 to 24, aimed to “enhance participants’ understanding of early intervention and inclusive education practices for children with autism in the Chinese mainland, while also providing future teachers and in-service educators who are passionate about special education with a concrete and in-depth cross-cultural learning experience.”
The statement noted that the delegation was made up of a 10-member team, led by Assistant Professor Mo Chen and comprised graduate and undergraduate students specialising in special needs education. During their first day at Elim’s Chengyang campus, participants observed classroom techniques and served as teaching assistants, witnessing the school’s approach that emphasises parental involvement in early intervention programmes, according to the statement.
“We don’t expect our children to outperform others – we simply hope every activity will enrich their lives,” the centre’s founder, Fang Jing, told the delegation, as quoted in the statement.
The following days included visits to Elim’s specialised facilities. While touring a training centre in Qingdao’s Laoshan District, which serves adolescents with developmental disabilities, its director, Zhao Liang, said that its “Sunshine Class” model integrates medical and educational support. The delegation also visited a training centre in the city’s West Coast New Area. That centre’s director, Huang Jinli, demonstrated their customised learning programmes for younger children.
The statement highlighted that all three campuses employ ability-based grouping rather than traditional age-based classes. While noting the visit’s success in fostering mutual understanding, the university indicated interest in continued dialogue without specifying concrete collaboration plans.
The exchange provided USJ education students with firsthand exposure to the Chinese mainland’s evolving approaches to autism education, according to the statement.
*Elim is a place mentioned in the Bible (Exodus 15:27, Numbers 33:9) as an oasis where the Israelites camped during their Exodus. – DeepSeek
This undated handout photo downloaded from the University of Saint Joseph’s (USJ) website last night shows Assistant Professor Mo Chen (1st row, standing, 3rd from left) and other delegation members of the private Catholic university’s School of Education posing in front of Elim’s Chengyang campus.
