By Dr Yao Zhao, Shenzhen Polytechnic University

From January to August 2025, I was a visiting academic at the School of Education, University of Glasgow. The experience was both profoundly rewarding and deeply memorable.

First and foremost, I wish to express my sincerest gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Leping Mou. His constant encouragement, positive outlook on work and life, and steadfast support have left an indelible mark on me. Under his guidance, I have grown into a more confident and optimistic version of myself. Thanks to his mentorship, I was granted invaluable opportunities to immerse myself in teaching and research at the University of Glasgow, a world-class institution, which has truly lived up to its reputation as one of the top 100 universities.

I am also deeply indebted to Professor Simon McGrath for his extraordinary generosity. Despite his demanding schedule, he graciously accepted my interview request and addressed every question with remarkable insight. This interview has culminated in a journal article manuscript for a Chinese educational journal, which has now been submitted and is currently under review. His warm encouragement after my presentation at the JVET conference further moved me, leaving me in awe of his wisdom and kindness.

My heartfelt thanks also go to many faculty members who enriched my learning journey. In the spring semester, I had the privilege of attending the course “Vocational Education and Training for Development” led by Professor Simon McGrath, Dr. Geng Wang, and Dr. Joyceline Alla-Mensah—an incredibly enlightening experience that deepened my understanding of Vocational Education and Training. The summer semester brought equally inspiring sessions about “Contemporary Issues in Education” led by Dr. Leping Mou and Dr. Dr Katarzyna Borkowska, whose passion and expertise made every lesson both captivating and thought-provoking.

Beyond coursework, I actively participated in numerous academic activities. Regular meetings with Dr. Leping enabled me to be clear about the short-term and long-term goals for my visit. Regularly attending Dr. Leping’s dissertation group meetings and Dr. Geng Wang’s reading group meetings allowed me to witness the impressive progress of the PhD candidates. Thanks to Dr. Leping’s unwavering support, I was also able to present our research-in-progress at an internal seminar hosted by CRADALL (Centre for Research and Development in Adult and Lifelong Learning) and the GLACIER (Glasgow Comparative International Education Research) network, as well as at two international conferences—one at the University of Derby and the other at the 16th JVET Conference at the University of Oxford. Additionally, I took part in the Glasgow-Beijing Higher Education Symposium which was also very impressive and illuminating. Countless online lectures, in-person talks, and a stimulating writing retreat organized by Professor Stephen McKinney further broadened my horizons. These experiences together sharpened my perspective and propelled my professional growth.

I also want to thank Cara Gaffney who assisted me a lot during my visit, securing my journey at University of Glasgow a smooth and happy one. Though my visit has concluded, our collaborations continue, and I now look to the future with renewed clarity and optimism. I sincerely hope our partnership will yield even greater achievements in the years to come.

Above all, every single day at the University of Glasgow has been a gift—one that has reshaped my approach to teaching and research and instilled in me lasting confidence. Without a doubt, this journey will remain one of the most cherished chapters of my life.

First published: 28 August 2025

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