My first Magazine | Page 38

爱德华多 · 摩纳哥博士, 人文与社会科学学部政治与国际关系专业助理教授 。 摄影: 王晓鹏 Dr Edoardo Monaco, Assistant Professor of the Government and International Relations Programme, DHSS. Photograph: Wang Xiaopeng
Edoardo Monaco: Novel Marco Polo
Just like Marco Polo, Dr Edoardo Monaco was born in
They constantly surprise me for their intellectual
Venice, Italy and has an avid interest in development in
curiosity, their investigative nature, their boundless
Asia.
aspirations, even their wit and humour.
He studied law at the University of Bologna before
I believe the key lies in trying to reduce the
receiving attorney training. In late 2005 he went to
complexity of international affairs to“ manageable”
France to pursue an MSc in International Management.
concepts that students may govern and utilise promptly.
“ Soon after graduation I worked on a couple of
Plus, I try to highlight real-world, day-to-day
consulting projects in China,” Dr Monaco recalls,“ and
implications of global events, so that students may
then again in India and South Korea for Italian and EU
easily relate to them.
chambers of commerce, respectively.”
To realise his aspirations and explore what is behind China ' s magical achievements, Dr Monaco began to teach at UIC in 2009 and squeezed in a doctoral programme at Yunnan University. When studying at this university in southwestern China, he researched holistic development governance in Bhutan.
He has not ceased to keep abreast of academic trends and often visits Harvard University for complementary training and research.
This academic year he is directing the Government and International Relations Programme, Division of Humanities and Social Sciences.
“ I am lucky enough to really enjoy what I do,” Dr Monaco smiled.“ The lines between work, research, hobbies and leisure are, in my case, rather blurred!”
What was the most difficult part during the
What have you learned about yourself through the teaching experience? EM: I see teaching as a responsibility to share, inspire and enable: share knowledge and experience coming from formal education, constant research and direct observation; inspire so as to allow students to identify their true interests and tap into their full potential; enable them to ultimately rely on their own capabilities and chase their aspirations.
My ultimate goal is, in fact, that students may“ remember” me, after graduation, but not“ need” me any longer, as by then they should be fully ready to face any challenge using the very tools acquired at UIC.
What do you think of UIC ' s effort to improve its teaching and learning quality?
award evaluation? How did you react to it?
Edoardo Monaco:
The evaluation process has clearly been thorough and rigorous, involving virtually every aspect of being an academic at UIC. I must say I simply kept true to myself all along, sharing, when asked, the fundamental aspects that underpin my work ethics and beliefs as an educator.
EM:
UIC ' s mission is unique, noble and truly groundbreaking. It has opened a new dimension into academic education in China, and concretely changed the lives of thousands of students so far. Throughout the course of their studies, you can almost see horizons expanding and barriers falling in their eyes.
I believe further growth for UIC is just an inevitable, natural evolution, because the fundamentals are strong
How do you get students to ask questions in class?
and the dedication of all involved- from top
EM:
Students are the real stars of the GIR programme.
management to office staff- immense.
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