Guests share perspectives on education at Mawan Lounge

Organized by the Qianhai & Shekou Free Trade Zone Investment, the inaugural session of “Mawan Lounge” was held at the Free Trade Times Center in Qianhai’s Mawan area in the afternoon of May 28. 

Liu Yongjie, assistant president of China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) and chief representative of the CEIBS Shenzhen campus, Kong Weiyi, head of curriculum at Shenzhen Huitong School and He Junli, general manager of Qianhai & Shekou Free Trade Zone Investment, joined media representatives, parents and online viewers in a dialogue on education from the perspectives of home, school and enterprise.

Three invited guests and the host hold a dialogue on education from the perspectives of families, schools and enterprises. Photos courtesy of Qianhai & Shekou Free Trade Zone Investment

Opening the discussion, Liu addressed the premise that family education holds greater weight than formal schooling. Drawing on his dual experience as a parent and a veteran education professional, he said: “While schools teach knowledge, families forge personality, character, and a sense of security — the very foundations of a child’s life.”

“A home should be a place where emotions are settled, a place where they are vented,” Liu said, stressing that mutual respect between parents is the cornerstone of family education. Reflecting on his own parenting, he said that rather than intervening blindly in his child’s conflicts, he acts as a mentor and friend, guiding the child to define his/her own boundaries.

Addressing the second topic — that quality education should be judged by talent cultivation rather than mere exam scores — Kong shared insights from the educational practices at Huitong School. She argued that the current evaluation system must move beyond a fixation on test results. “Exams are only one metric. Creativity, critical thinking, and empathy are the true drivers of future success,” she said.

For the third topic, He explored the deeper logic of Mawan’s “invisible education,” discussing how urban environments shape people through long-term, subtle influence. He said that a city is more than a collection of structures, its environment, order, and social atmosphere mold the growth of its citizens in quiet but lasting ways.

Using the Free Trade Boulevard as an example, He pointed to details such as solar-powered bus stops, barrier-free tactile paving and refined pavement design as expressions of respect and care. He said that developing an international block in Mawan involves more than infrastructure upgrades — it is about creating a civilized culture. “A clean, orderly environment naturally encourages civic behavior and improves urban efficiency. This is the essence of silent education,” he added.

More than 30 viewers joined the livestream to watch the inaugural session of the Mawan Lounge.

The Mawan Lounge is an observation-focused program based in the Mawan area. It serves as a platform for urban developers, practitioners, and residents to engage in candid, egalitarian dialogue, gathering different perspectives to build a warm and vibrant new urban district. The debut session lasted two hours and drew more than 300,000 views online.