Chinese Universities: Present and Future

Professor GU BinglinPresident of Tsinghua University

June 24, 2004

2

The history of civilization in China can be dated back to thousands of years ago. However, the history of Chinese universities in a modern sense is only slightly longer than a hundred years.

3

109 years ago, with the approval of Emperor Guangxu, Peiyang Public School was established in Tianjin

It made the city the birthplace of Chinese higher education and the first university in modern China.

4

The Memorial Pavilion and Stele in the Peiyang Campus of Tianjin University

The Diploma No.1 was authorized by the Emperor and granted to Mr. WANG Chonghui

5

After the establishment of Peiyang University

Nanyang Public School (1896, renamed as Shanghai Jiaotong University)

Qiu-shi Academy (1897, renamed as Zhejiang University )Metropolitan University

(1898, renamed as Peking University)Fudan University (1905)

Tsinghua University (1911)

6

Chinese universities have :

established an educational scheme with Chinese characteristics

consistent with Chinese tradition and actual situations

finally stepped onto the right track leading to the making of modern universities.

7

Present of Chinese Higher Education

Expansion in Size and Increase in Quantity Elevation in Rank and Leap in Quality

Reform and Development of Chinese Higher Education

Reform of Chinese Higher Education Development of Chinese Higher Education Prospects of Chinese Higher Education

8

Expansion in size and increase in quantity

Number of Chinese common higher institutionss

0500

10001500200019

49

1965

1978

1980

1985

1994

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

year

quan

tity

Higher Education Institutions

9

Number of at-school undergraduates in Chinese higher institutions

02000400060008000

100001200014000

1949 1978 1985 1999 2001 2003

Year

in T

hous

andd

10

Number of yearly recruited undergraduates in institutions of higher learning

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

1949 1978 1985 2001 2003

Year

in T

hous

andd

11

Number of graduates from Chinese higher institutions

0500

1000150020002500

1949 1965 1978 1980 1985 2000 2001 2003

Year

in T

hous

and

d

12

Post-graduate education

Recruitment in 2004 (estimated): 330,000

Year 1949 2001 2002 2003

Recruitment

242 165,000 202,600 269,000

At-school graduates

629 393,000 501,000 651,300

Degree granted

107 67,800 80,800

13

Constitution of the teaching staff in colleges and universities

Teachers in colleges and universities: 16,000 in Year 1949 532,000 in Year 2001

Professors: 50,700 Associate Professors: 161,000

Age: under 30 – professors: 48 associate professors: 617 Age of most of the associate professors: 36 ~ 45

14

Research papers and achievements of scientific and technology

Scientific Monographs: 3,228 (1985) 5,534 (2001)

Papers published in international academic journals: 4,533 (1985)

Research Papers: 302,000 (2001)

Articles included in citation index: 14,800 in SCI (2001)11,400 in EI (2001)

4,091 in ISTP (2001)

Scientific research achievements tested and appraised: 6,812 ( 1986, with 912 items of international level) 6 679 (2001) Patent permission: 448 ( 1986),

1,850 (2001)

15

Reformation of the macro-management system of higher institutions and the institutional amalgamation

In the Past:

• Universities were subordinate to different ministries and committees

•Divided into too narrow field (i.e. Railway University)

•Inconsistent with the human resource demand of society and economy

16

Reformation of the macro-management system of higher institutions and the institutional amalgamation

Jiangxi University and Jiangxi Industrial University into Nanchang University in 1992

Multi-disciplinary comprehensive universities by 1994: Sichuan (associated) University, Shanghai University, Yangzhou University

Super-sized Universities at pesent: Zhejiang University, Jilin University and Suzhou University

17

Reformation of the Diversified Investment System

Major Problem: Lack of Investment

Solutions: financial allocation as the main part increasing individual share of cost proportion collecting educational taxes developing university-owned enterprises accepting community donation raising funds establishing education funds

18

Reformation of the Management System: Enrollment and Placement

Old management system: “unified enrollment, unified management and unified placement”

Since 1995: Recruitment -- charging tuition fees -- a diversified supporting system: scholarships, loans,

student aids, special subsidies and tuition waiver Placement -- two-way selection between graduates and the employers -- students are encouraged to open their own business

19

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1982 1987 1993 1998

Adjusting Disciplines, Reforming Teaching Contents and Curriculum

Number of Disciplines

20

Adjusting Disciplines, Reforming Teaching Contents and Curriculum (cont.)

reforms on teaching and curriculum :

“Towards 21st Century: Reforms on Teaching and Curriculum Plan” Disciplines covered: humanities, science, engineering, agriculture, medicine, finance, law and foreign languages

Projects established: 221 projects and more than 900 sub-projects

People involved: more than 10,000 university presidents, academicians, professors, teachers, management staff and researchers

Time required: 3 to 5 years

21

Enlarging Enrollment “Towards 21st Century: Education Advancement Plan” proposing a goal of “popularizing higher education and driving up the net enrollment ratio to 15% before 2010.”

From 1999 to 2003, the number of students on campus totaled up to 19 million (including adult students) in 2003, compared with 6.43 million in 1998; the gross enrollment ratio jumped from 9% of 1998 to 17% of 2003, basically accomplishing the goal of popularizing higher education .

22

Building World-Class Universities and Key High-Level Colleges

World-class universities become a must to realize the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education.

Tsinghua University as an Example:• comprehensive discipline layout;• Research-oriented style for college training,

cultivating intellectuals with high quality and great innovation;

• build an innovative system for science and technology, enhancing the capability innovation in science and technology;

• to be people-oriented, building a high-qualified teaching team;

• to strengthen the construction of infrastructure on campus, creating good campus environment.

23

Building World-Class Universities and Key High-Level Colleges (contd.)

Projects:

Project 211: 100 key universities and key disciplines

Project 985: Peking University

Tsinghua University Fudan University

Shanghai Jiao Tong University Zhejiang University

University of Science and Technology of China Nanjing University Xi’an Jiao Tong University Harbin Institute of Technology

24

Private Higher Education

Up till July 2003, there are 167 independent private universities that can issue certificates or diplomas, 2 private adult universities, and 12 private universities that hold more than 10,000 students.

Distance Education

Education through direct mails Education through TV and radio Education through computer and digital multimedia technology Up to 2002, Chinese modern distant education has opened 140 majors covering 10 disciplines, enrolling 1.373 million students.

25

Enhance the Society Service Function of Higher Education

University-owned Enterprises University Science Park

26

Chinese high education has been • developing rapidly, healthily in an overall, systemic and steady manner

• providing plenty of graduates for economic and social development

27

Prospects of Chinese Higher Education

Weaknesses: insufficient funding from government agencies and social organizations; unreasonable discipline categorization and structures; dissatisfaction in meeting the needs of economic development; lack of comprehensive, internationalized and high-qualified intellectuals; inadequate internationalization

Chinese higher education in the new era should get along with world higher education, improve itself and co-work internationally. It must strengthen the communication and cooperation with higher education of other countries, and contribute to the development of all mankind.

28

Thank You !Thank You !