Introducing Problem-Based Learning (PBL) for Creativity and Innovation in Chinese Universities: Emerging Research and Opportunities

Chinese universities are striving to integrate new educational elements such as student-centered learning, group learning, active learning, and learning by doing into current traditional curriculum systems for creativity development among young generations. However, the concept of creativity by its very nature is a complex term of many perspectives. It is necessary to clarify what creativity is, how creativity can be fostered in learning environments, and what universities should do in order to foster creative young talents. Introducing Problem-Based Learning (PBL) for Creativity and Innovation in Chinese Universities: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a critical scholarly resource that provides a multidimensional understanding on both challenges and opportunities of fostering creativity and PBL in Chinese universities and particularly discusses this implementation in a Chinese cultural context. Though related to a Chinese cultural context, the book can inspire other universities in other cultures, particularly in Asian areas, to learn why PBL is a potential strategy for creativity development and to rethink how to facilitate the innovation capability of universities in the future. Featuring a wide range of topics such as course design, educational technology, and curriculum development, this book is ideal for education professionals, academicians, teaching professors, researchers, administrators, and students.

Chunfang Zhou, Ph.D., Associate Professor in Department of Planning, Aalborg University (AAU), Denmark. Chunfang has an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural educational background; she finished bachelor degree (Industry Automation and Information Engineering) and master degree (Philosophy of Science and Technology) in China; since 2008, Chunfang has worked in Denmark started by a Ph.D. project on Engineering Creativity in Problem and Project-Based Learning (PBL) at UNESCO Center of PBL at AAU. Chunfang locates her research in area of Science, Technology and Society (STS), with a particular focus on creativity and its relations to innovation process, with interests in diverse domains including digitalization, human-centered design, sustainability, group collaboration, knowledge management, Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and STEM education. Recently, she has done cross-cultural contributions to creativity research, especially by her Individual Independent Research Project Fostering Creativity in Higher Education: A Comparative Study on Pedagogical Strategies of Learning by Projects between Denmark and China, funded by Danish Research Council (2013-2016). Currently she is coordinating Designing, Participation and Facilitation of Problem and Project-Based Learning (PBL) between Northeastern University (NEU), China and AAU, Denmark; she is leading Creativity in Technology Design: Developing a Sino-Danish Research Network for Future Digital Societies, funded by Danish Research Council (2019-2020). Chunfang has authored or co-authored over 80 peer-review publications. Chunfang is member of research group Techno-Anthropology and Participation, member of Danish Center for Health Informatics, member of Chinese Creativity Research Network, and board member of Danish Development Research Network (DDRN).