A seminar on the construction of human geography and urban-rural planning program was held at the HNU-ASU Joint International Tourism College of Hainan University (HAITC) on Dec 2.

Li Meizhen, vice-dean of HAITC, discusses the college’s human geography and urban-rural planning major on Dec 2. [Photo provided to haitc.hainanu.edu.cn]

The construction of first-class undergraduate programs is not only an important measure taken by the Ministry of Education to comprehensively revitalize undergraduate education, improve the quality of talent cultivation and training at the undergraduate level and realize the intensive development of higher education, but also a core index reflecting the comprehensive competitiveness of the university. 

HAITC has always concentrated on the construction and upgrading of its programs. 

Li Meizhen, vice-dean of the school, invited experts from the School of Tourism at Hainan University to attend the seminar to discuss the integrated development of the human geography and urban-rural planning program, as well as talent training and employment guidance.

Experts from the School of Tourism of Hainan University exchange views on first-class discipline construction on Dec 2. [Photo provided to haitc.hainanu.edu.cn]

Experts said the program should focus on geography-related courses and include special projects, such as explaining the geographical conditions of the South China Sea, conducting field trips to Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park and expounding on the development of Hainan Island. Lectures should combine tourism with local characteristics and teach more practical skills required by the major, such as GIS analysis and CAD drawing.

Following the discussions, Zhang Fang, director of the program, made a concluding speech, saying that the program will integrate multiple resources, encourage its faculty to attend teaching competitions, establish teaching and scientific research teams, and further strengthen faculty construction and grass-roots teaching organizations.