In the glorious chapter of the integration of sports competition and education, Zhang Yunxi, a teacher from the Department of Sports Services of the School of Vocational Education, vividly explained Xi'an Eurasia University's educational philosophy of "being international, valuing application and offering new experiences" with practical actions.

From April 25 to 29, 2024, Teacher Zhang Yunxi was honored to be invited as an international technical official (ITO) of the "59th Malaysia Invitational Age Group Swimming Championships & Qualifying: Olympic Games Paris 2024" with her profound professional skills and rich experience in international competitions. With her professionalism and rigorous attitude, she successfully completed the refereeing task of the competition and won high praise from World Aquatics and Asia Aquatics.

This experience not only demonstrated the educational pursuit of the School of Vocational Education in cultivating sports talent who can exert influence on the international arena, but also renewed its international influence. It also showed the international vision and professional ability of teachers from Xi'an Eurasia University.

Refreshing International Vision and Linking Global Sports Network

The "59th Malaysia Invitational Age Group Swimming Championships & Qualifying: Olympic Games Paris 2024" kicked off as a sports feast gathering Asian rising stars and world-class players. This competition is not only a valuable platform for young athletes from all countries to show their talents and win tickets to Olympic Games Paris 2024, but also a window to test the level of physical education and internationalization of various countries.

This competition attracted elite athletes from China's Hong Kong, Japan and other countries/regions, as well as world-renowned swimmers such as Welson Sim Wee Sheng and Diggory Dillingham. The fierce competition between them not only improved the entertainment level of the competition, but also provided key data and practical experience for the selective competition of Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Acting as a referee in such a high-level competition, Zhang Yunxi not only ensured the fairness of the competition, but also brought back first-hand information about international competitions for students of the School of Vocational Education through her own experience. Her close collaboration with other ITOs and in-depth exchanges with Megan Oesting, the world's top swimming coach and the swimming technical director of Malaysia, have built a bridge for the School of Vocational Education to international sports organizations.

Application-Oriented Education: Knowledge Starts with Practice

The School of Vocational Education has been encouraging students to go out of the classroom. It has also been encouraging teachers to bring back first-hand information about international competitions for their students by participating in international competitions and communicating directly with industry elite, so that the students can gain unique learning experience. In addition, Zhang Yunxi has integrated the experience as a referee in the international competition into classroom teaching, which not only enriched the teaching content, but also enabled students to understand the global standards and diverse cultures of sports competitions, providing valuable enlightenment and preparation for their future diversified career paths such as sports management and competition planning. Such a learning mode based on real-world experience is exactly what the School of Vocational Education strives to achieve. In other words, it aims to cultivate versatile talent with both professional knowledge and practical experience through education based on industry needs.

Teacher Zhang Yunxi's experience as a referee in this international competition is not only an honor for her personal career, but also a vivid embodiment of the school's "application-oriented" educational philosophy. She brought the practical experience in the international competition back to the classroom, helping students to have a close look at the international sports competition system through case analysis, rule interpretation and competition simulation. This educational mode of "learning by doing and applying the learned knowledge to practice" has greatly enriched the teaching content of the Department of Sports Services, allowing students to learn and grow in a simulated international environment and laying a solid foundation for them to enter various positions in the sports industry in the future.

Looking forward to the future, with the globalization trend of the sports market, there is an increasing demand for sports talent with an international vision and professional skills. Xi'an Eurasia University will continue to deepen the educational philosophy of "being international, valuing application and offering new experiences", use diversified channels such as international competition cooperation and international exchanges of teachers to continuously expand students' international vision and enhance their global competitiveness, aiming at cultivating leaders who can drive innovation and promote development in the global sports industry.

(Reported by School of Vocational Education)