On November 10, 2026, Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU) held its first Faculty Activity Day (FAD), bringing faculty members together to exchange teaching and research experiences, explore professional development opportunities, and strengthen connections across disciplines.
The program featured a session titled “Portfolio Development & Faculty Connections,” led by Eric Yang and Aloy Wong. The session emphasized the importance of professional development and collegial engagement, encouraging faculty members to connect with one another and share experiences.
The afternoon program featured parallel sessions organized into three thematic tracks:
Afternoon Workshops
Topic 1: Teaching Practices and AI Applications
Dr. Ali Bahadur from the College of Science, Mathematics, and Technology led a hands-on workshop on integrating AI into teaching, assignment design, and academic integrity. Faculty from across disciplines tested prompts using their own syllabi and assignment sheets, with no prior experience required. Participants explored structured prompting, redesigned assignments to emphasize process and reflection, and discussed responsible AI use. The workshop aimed to help participants develop revised assignments and draft AI-use policies that could be adapted for their courses.
Lana Vikhnevich from the College of Liberal Arts explored the pedagogical benefits of graded readers in language learning. Drawing on research on extensive reading and her classroom experience teaching ESL 0305 at WKU, she shared preliminary findings from 212 recorded student responses about their reading experiences. The interactive workshop allowed participants to engage in a short graded reading activity and discuss practical ways to incorporate accessible reading materials into their teaching.
Topic 2: Assessment and Collaboration
Susan Ahern and Neva Lozada shared insights into Kean University's transition to Watermark Course Evaluations & Surveys. Highlighting the collaborative selection process involving multiple stakeholders, including SADI, OAA, and Academic Affairs, they discussed the key features of the new platform and its integration with Canvas. The presentation also highlighted how the collaborative decision-making process supported the selection of a tool intended to improve the course evaluation experience and support continuous improvement.
Dr. Chris Friend and Melissa Libbey from Kean University led an interactive workshop on effective collaboration. Following a brief introduction to MBTI, they guided participants in exploring their working styles and identifying the interpersonal, or “soft,” skills they bring to group projects. Through brainstorming exercises focused on challenging tasks, participants explored ways to align individual strengths with team needs and work more effectively with colleagues.
Topic 3: Research Strategy and Academic Publishing
Dr. Adebayo Saheed Adewale from the College of Education delivered a session on strategic academic publishing. He addressed publication standards and practical challenges, including identifying research gaps, aligning manuscripts with journal scopes, and navigating peer review. He also highlighted strategies for increasing research discoverability through academic networking and discussed ethical considerations, including predatory journals and the responsible use of AI in academic writing.
Li Bo shared observations on AI policies at leading business journals. The session helped participants understand current restrictions, disclosure requirements, and practical considerations for using AI in journal manuscripts. Researchers also received a checklist of disclosure requirements to review before their next submission.
Evening Workshops
The session “Reimagining Education for the Future: Digital Transformation and AI Integration,” led by Jing Wang, Director of Learning Mall at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education. Drawing on XJTLU’s experience in digital transformation, Wang highlighted the shift from traditional teacher–student interactions to a teacher–student–AI model. The presentation also offered insights into how educators and institutions can adapt to emerging technologies and prepare for the future of teaching and learning.
Yi Zhan introduced opportunities for university-industry collaboration, highlighting how faculty members can engage with enterprises through research partnerships, technical expertise, and social service activities. Using practical examples, the session explored opportunities for professional recognition through industry partnerships, including appointments as municipal-level Vice Presidents of Science and Technology and provincial-level technical experts. It also outlined how WKU supports faculty in recognizing and documenting their social service contributions.
Jiajun Bao delivered a practical overview of research fund management at WKU. The session covered key aspects of research funding, including budget categories, eligible expenditures, funding regulations, and compliance requirements. Through an introduction to the university's research administration policies and procedures, faculty members gained a clearer understanding of budget planning, fund utilization, and financial management throughout the research process.
To view the full schedule, please follow the link:https://ctl.wku.edu.cn/en-us/2026-fad
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Key Updates about CTL
Instructional Skills Workshop
We are pleased to announce the upcoming Instructional Skills Workshop (ISW) — a signature faculty development program designed to strengthen teaching practices through experiential learning.
🗓️ Upcoming Sessions
- Session 26: March 6 & March 7, 2027 -March 20 & March21,2027
Participants will explore core teaching and learning concepts, reflect on current practices, experiment with new instructional strategies, and engage in supportive environments. We look forward to discussing this excellent opportunity to increase student engagement with interested faculty and staff of WKU. Please note that participation is limited to five individuals, and all four days of the workshop are required.
Scan the QR code to register >>
Authors: Yan (Tanya) Tang, Xinyi Wu, Dian Ren
Chief Editor: Yirui (Sandy) Jiang