Challenges and Optimization Pathways in Teaching Assistant Management for English-Medium Courses in Sino-Foreign Cooperative Education: A Case Study of the Big Data Management and Application (Cooperative Education) Program

Abstract

English-medium courses are the main mode of cultivation for overseas Chinese students in Sino-foreign cooperative education at Chinese universities. Teaching assistants (TAs) are in charge of organising the work of foreign instructors, Chinese students and teaching administration; therefore, the management of the TA team directly affects the quality of course teaching. At present, there are some general problems in the management of TAs for English-medium courses in Sino-foreign cooperative education at Chinese universities, such as strict application requirements, difficulties in recruitment, a mismatch between the intensity of work and salary, and unclear division of responsibilities. As a typical case, we have taken five English-medium courses in the Big Data Management and Application (Cooperative Education) Program at Harbin Institute of Technology in the fall of 2025, and this paper addresses the following issues: the lack of confirmed French instructors, high demands on TA qualifications, and insufficient incentives. We have strengthened the application procedures, developed a reasonable recruitment plan, clarified the job descriptions and updated them periodically, increased the incentives for high-performing employees, and have now hired TAs for all five courses to ensure continuous teaching. Based on the review of the practical measures, results and problems in this paper, we put forward some long-term improvements and provide a replicable reference for TA management in similar courses at other universities to enhance the quality of talent cultivation in Sino-foreign cooperative education.