Mr. Hou Jiechang, the president of Wuhan University, is calling
for a deeper reform of college education.
During the ongoing
session of the National People's Congress in Beijing, Hou
said change and development in society have required multi-edged
professionals able to meet challenges, seize opportunities
and make greater contributions to the country.
As China shifts
from a planned to a market economy, multi-purposed talents
should be cultivated instead of continuing to rely on one-discipline
education. The university should be a place for students not
only to gain knowledge, but to hone team work capability.
Hou added that
a complete system involving teachers, engineers, financiers,
etc, should team together to work out a quicker way turning
academic achievements into productive forces. Otherwise, there
would be a great waste in research funds and human resources,
since academic results and patents might be outdated in just
several years.
The Donghu Hi-tech
Development Zone in Wuhan City, for example, is one of the
first group hi-tech zones in China that works closely with
universities to market the results of academic research.
College teachers'
social status should be respected and their pay decent to
encourage their drive for research. A free academic atmosphere
should be created to encourage creativity and academic exchanges.
President Hou also
stressed a more scientific curriculum be set up in universities
to equip students with more knowledge within the limited school
years while leaving them freedom in choosing courses.
On the current
university merging trend, he felt it was good, but not the
only way to better college education. Mergers, however, might
complement features among universities.
(CIIC by Guo Xiaohong
03/15/2001)
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