Ting Sun, a faculty member at Shanghai Jiao Tong University Global College (SJTUGC, abbreviated as GC hereafter), has been named one of the five recipients of the 14th Shanghai Jiao Tong University Excellence in Teaching Award in 2026, according to a recent announcement by the SJTU Teaching Development Center. The honor recognizes her outstanding contributions to teaching innovation and talent cultivation.
Established in 2012, the SJTU Excellence in Teaching Award is presented annually to recognize faculty members who demonstrate exceptional dedication to teaching and achieve outstanding student learning outcomes. The selection process includes candidate nomination, teaching effectiveness evaluation, comprehensive review of application materials, and a final presentation before an expert panel.
Holding master’s and doctoral degrees from overseas universities and bringing prior R&D experience in the semiconductor manufacturing industry, Sun combines strong academic expertise with extensive industrial experience. Since joining GC eight years ago, she has remained committed to undergraduate education, teaching more than 300 class hours and approximately 400 students each year. In addition to serving as the Dean’s Assistant and Director of the GC Teaching Development Center, she teaches several core undergraduate courses, including General Chemistry, Introduction to Engineering, and Scientific Writing and Communication. Drawing on her international academic background and industry experience, she integrates global perspectives into the classroom while adhering to a student-centered teaching philosophy that supports every student’s growth.
To address the challenges first-year students face in General Chemistry—including the transition from high school to university study, varying levels of chemistry preparation, and adapting to English-medium instruction—Sun led her teaching team in developing an innovative instructional model that combines AI-enabled learning with human-centered guidance. Leveraging the Chaoxing online learning platform, the team developed a course knowledge graph, an AI teaching assistant, an intelligent question bank, and a collaborative student–teacher–AI discussion platform, providing personalized support throughout the entire learning process, from pre-class preparation and classroom learning to after-class tutoring and assessment. The new teaching model effectively accommodates students’ diverse learning needs while fostering greater engagement and active learning. Following two rounds of refinement, the course reform significantly enhanced both student learning experiences and learning outcomes. The course was selected as one of SJTU’s first Digital and Intelligent Course Development Projects and has since been widely shared within and beyond the University, serving as a model for innovative teaching practices.
Reflecting on the award, Sun described the recognition as “not an endpoint, but a new beginning.” Looking ahead, she plans to continue advancing AI-enabled teaching, further develop high-quality teaching materials, consolidate educational achievements, and actively contribute to teaching research and faculty development initiatives, helping foster an even more innovative and effective educational ecosystem.
