PPE Program
Philosophy, Politics & Economics
Behind every Ling Duo course lies the same starting point: many Chinese families are trying to navigate two very different education systems at once. On one side is a system built around exams, procedures, and “right answers”; on the other, a system that expects students to question, discuss, and take intellectual risks. Parents want the best of both worlds for their children, but the mismatch can produce cultural confusion, study fatigue, and deep uncertainty about whether all this effort will truly prepare them for university and life abroad.
Ling Duo Education begins from a simple conviction: if students are equipped to move between these systems with clarity and confidence, their dedication and talent can carry them much further. That is why every course we design focuses on the same aim: to help students read more deeply, ask better questions, and turn their own judgment into action, so that “systemic difference” becomes a bridge they can cross.
Core
Value
liberal education
The concept of liberal education emerges from the ancient social distinction between the lives of those who were governed by necessity and the lives of those who were afforded the conditions for reflective freedom. The classical Greek formulation of education “paideia” and its Roman analogue “liber” were both predicated on the wager that freedom from manual labour & subsistence living would make possible the exercise of judgment and participation in civic life.
what We
cultivate?
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Critical Thinking Skill
Critical thinking is the ability to evaluate information, question assumptions, detect bias, and make independent, reasoned judgments. It is a core academic skill and a foundational habit of the mind — vital for navigating complexity, resisting manipulation, and making sound decisions in an uncertain world.
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From memorization to thinking
Many students excel at memorizing and drilling but lack training in judgment. Today, AI’s memory far exceeds ours; rote recall is no longer scarce—the scarce asset is the ability to surface and define problems. Students with critical thinking won’t be replaced by AI; instead, they form a division of labor: students ask good questions and make value judgments, while AI assists with search and computation.
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From blind obedience to autonomy
Many secondary students are used to “compliance-based learning”: teachers ask, students answer. At university—especially overseas—the key becomes: can you frame your own questions, design solutions, and own the conclusion? We do not dismiss earlier training; it did strengthen problem-solving. What we must add is autonomy: moving from “passively completing others’ tasks” to “actively solving one’s own problems.”
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From drifting to directed
In an age of information overload, students without independent judgment are like ships without sails—swept along and adrift. Critical thinking enables independent thought; even in an ocean of data, they can keep a clear sense of direction.
Benefits
Ivan Penkov
Founder & Lecturer
“We recognize that, as parents, you're tasked with preparing your child for an age of uncertainty & volatility. Invest wisely in an education that goes beyond short-term memorization, hyper-specialization, and the imprudent yet prevalent methodology of 'teaching-to-the-test'. ”
