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The 2025 World Chinese Language Conference convened in Beijing last week, gathering approximately 2,000 educators, scholars, and cultural experts from worldwide. Under the conference theme, “Innovation Leads, AI Empowers: Learning Chinese Without Borders,” the event spotlighted pioneering approaches to language education.

Professor Yi Zhang, Co-Director of »ÆÉ«²Ö¿â CI, and Mrs. Justine Jackson, Chief Practitioner of Leicester Mandarin Teaching Hub, attended as invited delegates.

»ÆÉ«²Ö¿â CI’s project, “Smart Mandarin Teaching through Digital Empowerment–A Sustainable Approach in Cross-cultural Primary Education in Leicester” was recognized among the world’s leading digital application cases. Co-Director Zhang accepted the award on 16 November, marking a milestone for digital Mandarin education in Leicester.

Co-Director Yi Zhang receives Outstanding Digital Practice Award at the 2025 World Chinese Language Conference

Mrs. Justine Jackson was one of six global representatives invited to deliver a presentation on the sustainable Mandarin teaching model, detailing its core components: a curriculum aligned with Youth Chinese Test (YCT), a dedicated digital platform, and VR cultural immersion. She also highlighted the model’s efficacy, noting an 89% pass rate in the first YCT pilot in her school. She emphasized the model’s scalability and its role in building pupils’ language skills, cultural competence, and digital fluency.

Mrs. Justine Jackson, Chief Practitioner of Leicester Mandarin Teaching Hub, presents the award-winning teaching model to global delegates

The work of these dedicated educational practitioners has been commended on the world stage, and we look forward to seeing how they continue to evolve the Mandarin Teaching Hub.

“This international recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team and the success of our collaborative, digitally-forward approach in Leicester," said Co-Director Yi Zhang. "It provides a powerful impetus to further refine and scale this model.”