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An Interview with NPC Member, PKU President Zhou Qifeng
Mar 15, 2012

Peking University, Mar.14, 2012: On March 9, Professor Zhou Qifeng, president of Peking University (PKU) and deputy to the National People’s Congress (NPC), exchange ideas with netizens online on the topic of higher education  .

 

 

[Host]: It is obvious that almost all the people in China yearn for PKU. Professor Zhou has expressed that PKU will train the best undergraduates in the world; now the question is what the advantages of PKU is?

 

[President Zhou]: On one hand, PKU has a firm foundation. In the history of 114 years, PKU has formed the tradition of patriotism and democracy, as well as the atmosphere of diligence and creativity. What’s more, when Cai Yuanpei, former President of PKU, put forward the academic guideline of “Thought freedom and all-embracing doctrine”, which is our precious treasure.

 

We’ve built up a high quality faculty, involving 70 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. We also have many senior professors in the field of human science and liberal arts.

 

On the other hand, the investment of our country and the support of our people are great treasures to PKU. With the development of our economy, our country has invested more and more into the educational field, including PKU; our people all care about PKU, support PKU, and of course always criticize PKU. These are all very valuable to us.

 

We receive supports around the world, which is also very important. PKU has friends everywhere, which enables PKU to communicate and cooperate with top universities in the world.

  


[Host]: I know that you’ve taken measures to boost the reform of higher education. Can you introduce some of the measures to us?

 

[President Zhou]: Although the undergraduate education of PKU enjoys high status in the world, still we have to keep on working to make it better and better. On one hand, we must stick to the fine traditions of PKU; On the other hand, we must enhance the foundational education as well as develop our students’ interest.

 

Also it is necessary to improve the quality of faculty. Although this group of faculty is excellent, it is not very balanced. The development of young and middle-aged teachers needs to be enhanced, and more teachers should be encouraged to focus on teaching.

 

The second classroom activities need to be attached more attention to. Different from the first classroom, which means the activities in classrooms and laboratories, the second classroom activities involve extra-curricular practices and club activities. Many clubs of PKU, such as the Mountaineering Association of Peking University, the Cycling Association, etc, are very famous, for they help to develop personality and character of students.

 

Internationalization is also very important. With the background of globalization, students of PKU must have a broad international vision. We’ve worked hard to give our students chances to study overseas for a certain period of time. We’ve cooperated with top universities, such as Yale University and so on, to train students jointly.

 

[Host]: People show much attention and expectation to Peking University, including President Zhou yourself. All expectations come from a hope that PKU will do better. From your conversations and speeches, we can feel your caring affection for PKU. According to your experience, what is the most important quality of an educationist?

 

[President Zhou]: From this perspective, the most important quality is his or her love for students and their education. He or she must have a loving heart that is devoted to education. This is the premise of everything. I cannot be called an expert in education, but I love my students and my career.

 

Besides, teachers must have the spirit of sacrifice. We often compare teachers to candles, because they enlighten others and sacrifice themselves. In fact, teachers in the meanwhile also enrich and improve their own life. To see children grow up can give teachers a strong sense of happiness.

 

For an educationist, much more is needed. I think he or she should be quick in learning, and always keeps an open mind. On the one hand, reforms are important. Education should keep pace with its own time. On the other hand, we should not be impetuous. Innovative spirit and patience are equally important.

 

In addition, inheritance and reform should be well balanced. Traditions are valuable and we should not leave them behind.

 

[Host]: You say that education requires enthusiasm and sense of responsibility. As an educationist, you shoulder great responsibility. How do you interpret the word? What’s your responsibility as a NPC member, as well as president of PKU?

 

[President Zhou]: This is a good question. I always think that each generation must bear its own responsibilities. In the present, as a Chinese, what are our responsibilities? In my view, the rejuvenation of our nation, the happiness of Chinese people and international harmony come first. The responsibility is of great significance, and we should face it as a whole.

 

Personally, I will perform the duties of a citizen in the first place. Secondly, I will do what my position requires of me. For example, as president of PKU, my primary obligation is to provide a better platform for the development of PKU students, teachers and other staff members.

 

 

 

Written by: Gao Hongfei and Yan Binghan
Edited by: Cao Yixing
Source:
People's Daily Online

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