“Four-in-one”: A Chinese practice of pedagogical model innovation for graduate courses—A case study of the “environmental economics and management” course at N University

Abstract

Deepening the reform of graduate training modes can further improve the quality of cultivating both academically innovative and practice-oriented innovative talents. Taking courses in environmental economics and management as a case study, this study investigates the systematic optimization of graduate teaching modes and their implementation effectiveness. In light of the interdisciplinary nature of such courses, we systematically explored the value-guidance elements embedded in these courses and integrated them into the course content. We then propose a “four-in-one” teaching model that integrates heuristic interactive teaching, case-based teaching, constructivist teaching, and research-oriented teaching. In order to comprehensively assess the effectiveness of the teaching model, a multidimensional evaluation system is established, encompassing value orientation, teaching content, teaching methods, and teaching outcomes. The results indicate that this model can effectively enhance students’ classroom participation, strengthen their ability to analyze complex environmental-economic issues and apply knowledge in practice, and also achieve significant outcomes in promoting value guidance. This study provides new insights and an operable framework for innovating graduate teaching models, offering both theoretical value and practical implications for improving the quality of graduate education.

Document Type: Original article

Cited as:

Li, Y. Y., & Gui, H. (2026). “Four-in-one”: A Chinese practice of pedagogical model innovation for graduate courses—A case study of the “environmental economics and management” course at N University. Education and Lifelong Development Research, 3(1): 33-44. https://doi.org/10.46690/elder.2026.01.04

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