Michael Kahn-Ackermann（Stiftung Mercator China Special Representative）

Andreas Schleicher

As a key member of the OECD Senior Management team, Mr. Schleicher supports the Secretary-General's strategy to produce analysis and policy advice that advances economic growth and social progress. He promotes the work of the Directorate for Education and Skills on a global stage and fosters co-operation both within and outside the OECD. In addition to policy and country reviews, the work of the Directorate includes the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the OECD Survey of Adult Skills (PIAAC), the OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS), and the development and analysis of benchmarks on the performance of education systems (INES).

Before joining the OECD, Mr. Schleicher was Director for Analysis at the International Association for Educational Achievement (IEA). He studied Physics in Germany and received a degree in Mathematics and Statistics in Australia. He is the recipient of numerous honours and awards, including the "Theodor Heuss" prize, awarded in the name of the first president of the Federal Republic of Germany for "exemplary democratic engagement". He holds an honorary Professorship at the University of Heidelberg.

Yang Dongping

Professor Yang Dongping is greatly concerned about and takes concrete action on issues such as the reform of education in China, equal access to education and protection of the environment. He is the initiator and president of three active NGOs: Friends of Nature, the 21^st Century Education Research Institute, and Beijing Western Sunshine Rural Development Foundation. Yang was selected by Southern People Weekly as one of the "50 Public Intellectuals Who Influence China" in 2004. His book "Ideal and reality of China's education equity" (《中国教育公平的理想与现实》) won the National Library’s Wenjin Award in 2007. Yang was selected as "Person of the Education Industry of the Year" by Esquire magazine in 2009, and as one of the "60 People of China's Education in the Past 60 Years" by Sohu Education. His books include "City monsoon: The cultural spirit Beijing and Shanghai" (《城市季风——北京和上海的文化精神》), "Difficult sunrise—The 20th century of modern Chinese education" (《艰难的日出——中国现代教育的20世纪》), "Ideal and reality of China's education equity" (《中国教育公平的理想与现实》), "Educational Theory to Public Life" (《走向公共生活的教育理论》). He is also the editor of "The New Citizens' Book" (《新公民读本》), "Blue Book of China's Education" (《中国教育蓝皮书》), "Green Book of China's Environment" (《中国环境绿皮书》), "2020: Strategies and Guidelines for Education Reform in China" (《2020：中国教育改革方略》), among others.

The Mercator Salon is a series of events run by Stiftung Mercator in Beijing. The salons provide a platform for Chinese and Europeans to exchange ideas and opinions on topical issues relevant to culture and society. The first three rounds of Mercator Salons took place from October 2012 to November 2013 on the topics of “Cultural Metropolis – Metropolitan Culture”, “Money and Happiness” and “Intellectuals and the Role of Science in China and Europe”.

In 2014 Stiftung Mercator will cooperate with Lens magazine in organizing a new round of Mercator Salons on the concepts of “Future” and “Home”, which are held in summer and autumn 2014 respectively.

For more information about Mercator Salon, please visit:

www.mercatorsalon.de/en

Stiftung Mercator is one of the largest private foundations in Germany. It pursues clearly defined objectives in its thematic clusters of integration, climate change and arts education and achieves these objectives with a combination of socio-political advocacy and practical work. Stiftung Mercator implements its own projects and supports external projects in its centres for science and humanities, education and international affairs.

Currently, Stiftung Mercator is funding several projects in China: school and youth exchanges, multiplier encounters and fellowship programmes for young managers in the areas of civil society, politics, academia and business. We are working on creating a better and more nuanced understanding of Chinese and European reality in the respective other region through long-term partnership and cooperation.

Please see www.stiftung-mercator.de/en for more information.

Launched in 2005, Lens is a monthly photojournalistic magazine that explores stories of human nature and reflects social realities. The magazine’s contents focuses on individuals, society, arts, and other various cultural events. Dedicated to incorporating stunning photography with groundbreaking reporting and an edgy perspective, Lens provides a comprehensive reading experience and is one of the most valuable magazines in China.