Reported by: Chen Rui/ Liu Xunyi
Photographed by: Chen Rui/ Liu Xunyi
Translated by: Tian Tian
Edited by: Daniel Penistone
On April 7th and 8th, the Workshop on Building Top-class Universities, 2016 World-class University Presidents’ Forum, and 2016 Summit for Presidents of World Class Universities were held successively at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Xi’an Jiaotong University. President Zhou Yu attended the meetings and gave a speech.
On April 7th, the Workshop on Building Top-class Universities and 2016 World-class University Presidents’ Forum were held at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Du Zhanyuan, the Vice Minister of Education, and leaders of related departments, related municipal officials, and presidents and representatives from the first 9 Chinese universities of “985 Project” (C9), three universities in Hong Kong (H3), The Russell Group, League of European Research Universities (LERU) and Australian Group of Eight (Go8) attended the meeting.
Combining typical cases at home and abroad with HIT’s own running tradition and development experience, president Zhou Yu mainly expounded the important role of universities in leading human civilization, cultivating innovative talents, innovating in science and technology, driving regional development, promoting industrial progress and promoting innovative culture, under the national innovation system. He also put forward the five views: firstly, research universities were important engines of the national innovation system; secondly, the mission of a university is to lead human civilization and social progress; thirdly, to drive regional economic development is the responsibility of research universities; fourthly, to promote industrial progress is the obligation of research universities; fifthly, to promote the formation and development of innovation culture is the pursuit of universities.
Mr. Zhou further pointed out that throughout all previous technological and industrial revolutions, especially in the era of knowledge economy, innovative talents centered on mastering high and new science and technology were always the most important strategic core resources, which were also key elements to determine a nation's comprehensive strength and international competitiveness. As an important juncture between the first productive force of science and technology and the first resources of talents, the university played an irreplaceable role in promoting the process of human civilization and leading the development direction of social core values and culture. The university was closely connected with national strategy, and its development path should be focused on the needs of national strategy, leading knowledge and technological innovation, especially in these new historical conditions, driving regional economic development, and promoting industrial progress. The aforementioned were important content of the development and construction of research universities, whose important features were coordinated development and common prosperity. Research universities should establish a new partnership with the government and enterprises by expanding the traditional functions of teaching and research, providing motives for innovative entrepreneurial activities with the carrier of innovative entrepreneurial organizations, such as interdisciplinary research centers, spin-off companies and technological transfer companies. Playing the role of the regional innovation subject, to undertake the mission of promoting national and regional economic development, research universities should promote independent innovative ability and adapt to the trend of integration of economy and science and technology, interacting with industrial and regional cooperation, providing a strong driving force for faster development. Mr. Zhou stressed that the core of innovation culture was scientific spirit, and research universities should take the responsibility to promote the formation of innovative culture in the whole society, making the innovation become the conscious action of people.
On April 8th, 2016 Summit for Presidents of World Class Universities was held at Xi’an Jiaotong University. Presidents and representatives from 102 foreign world-class universities and 32 top-class universities in China discussed the topic of “the mission of universities and mutual reference in multi-culture”, “the opportunities and challenges of universities in the information age”, and “the flow of talents with the backdrop of globalization”. During the discussion of “mission of universities and mutual reference in multi-culture” in the parallel forum, Mr. Zhou was the only representative Chinese president.
Mr. Zhou pointed out that creating innovative culture was an important part of the national innovation system. Universities were a good root soil for innovation spirit and innovation environment. One of the missions of universities in this new era is to cultivate an innovative culture, which should not only aim at granting degrees to students, but also cultivating students’ innovative spirit and creating an innovative cultural atmosphere, so as to cultivate more creative talents, creating more innovative products, to serve the construction of an innovative country and the progress of human civilization. He also stressed that distinct characteristics and prominent advantages had become common features of world-class universities. A university need not be big, as learning was more important; being complete was not important, but refinement, excellence and distinctiveness were stressed. Every university should have their own characteristics, which are a reflection of abandoning convergence and pursuit of diversified development.
Vice President Ding Xuemei, Vice President An Shi, and related officials from the School Office, Undergraduate School, International Cooperation Office and Recruitment and Employment Office attended the meetings. They also respectively participated in the executive committee meeting of the University Alliance of the Silk Road, the second session of the MOOCs for Accessibility Partnership (MOOCAP) Council and “Construction of MOOCAP” Summit Forum held during the same period.
President Zhou Yu attended the Workshop on Building Top-class Universities and 2016 World-class University Presidents’ Forum and gave a speech
President Zhou Yu participated in interactive discussion at the Summit for Presidents of World Class Universities
