Fostering Innovative Talent Models in Chinese Keystone Universities

Dr. Gilsun Song College of EducationZhejiang University

May 6 2010

WUN IDEAS OF UNIVERSITIES SEMINAR

Content

1.Background: “choice” and “concentration” policies

2.Innovative talents model: TU, PU, ZJU 3.Zhejiang University Survey: Student understanding4. Conclusion5. References

Challenges

• “Chinese education is in examination mode” (Wen Tasi Huang 2008)

• “More knowledge does not mean stronger innovative ability” (Qingshi Zhu 2008)

• “University has independent thinking and independent soul” prime minister, Wen Jiabao (Huang Zhen 2009)

How Chinese keystone universitieshave reacted to the “choice” and“concentration” policies

Background

Economy (since 1980) ：’Modernization

’

Science and education

Higher education

development

Priority development

From cities to countryside

KEJIXINGGUO ‘ 科技兴国 ‘ (1980s): The strategy for developing China relies on science and education

National Policies: Innovative Talent

• State Council executive meeting to listen to the implementation of the CAS Knowledge Innovation Project report (1998): Innovative National system

• The People's Republic of China Law on Higher Education (1998): Article task of higher education is to foster an innovative spirit and practical ability of high-level expertise…

• President Hu Jintao (2007) “High-quality innovative talent is the guarantee for developing an innovative country.”

• Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) : Innovative Talent Models

science and technology and engineering

Choice and concentration

985 Project（ 1998 ）

211 Project（ Since 1995 ）

Choice and concentration

211 project (5 year terms) ： 6% selected universities

985 project ： 2.3% selected universities

1995 (15) 1996 （ 99 ） - 2001 （ 107 ） - 2006 （ 112 ）

1999 （ 9 ） - 2003 （ 34 ） - At present （ 39 ）

Choice and Concentration: 985 Project

• World Class universities: • Tsinghua , Peking (each 1.8 billion

RMB)• Zhejiang (1.4 billion RMB)

Government Expenditure 30 billion RMB (1999-2002) ：39 universities

Choice and concentration ： 211 Project （ 1996-2000 ）

211 Project total funding = 18.63 billion RMB

• Key disciplines: 6.47 billion RMB• Infrastructure construction: 8.55 billion RMB• Public service system: 3.61 billion RMB

hardware investment (facilities, campus, laboratories)

Achievement (2008): Fostering talent & Research

• Graduate students increased by 5 times• Research funding increased 7 times• SCI papers increased by nearly 7 times• Ph.D. teachers increased by nearly 5 times• Instruments and equipment worth up 4

times• More than 40 subjects close to the

advanced international level

http://www.moe.edu.cn/edoas/website18/59/info1206522506577459.htm

Achievement (2008): Fostering talent & Research

• 6% of the keystone universities selected • Responsible for: • 4/5 of PhD, 2/3 of graduate students, and 1/3

undergraduate students• Holdings: 85% of the national key disciplines 96% of the State Key Laboratory 70% of research funding

Choice and concentration

985 Project（ 1998 ）

211 Project（ Since 1995 ）

University Students

• National College Entrance Exam • Already scheduled curriculum (limited choice) • No tutorial system • Less international activities and research • Lack Flexible education system • Less then 20 % go on to graduate studies

Methods of selecting talented students and the models for fostering students:

Peking University (PU)Tsinghua University (TU)Zhejiang University (ZJU)

Top Universities: choice and concentration

Disciplines Science &Engineering

Students ：innovative talent

Fostering innovative talent through special training

Fostering Fostering innovative talentinnovative talent

Tsinghua University (TU), Peking University (PU), Zhejiang University (ZJU)

Profile: TU, PU, ZJUTU-Tsinghua school PU- YuanPei

CollegeZJU- Chu Kochen Honors College

Established 1998 (1919) 1999 (1898) 1984 (1897)

President Comment

High quality, high level, diversification, and innovation

Research, cutting-edge and innovative base

Contribute to establishing an innovative nation

Aim of Education

Building a world-class university to train top-notch creative talents

International competitive talent

Innovative Talent

Training classes

Bio-mathematic Science Class, Bio-Chemical Science Class, Social Science Class etc.

Liberal art classScience class

Engineering mixed Class, Liberal Art Class, Science Class, Finance experiment Class, innovative & venture class etc.

http://www.tsinghua.edu.cn/qhdwzy/xxgk.jsp www.jyb.cn/china/gnsd/200907/t20090719_292570.html

TU, PU, ZJU: Student selection

TU-Tsinghua school PU- YuanPei College

ZJU- Chu Kochen Honors College

Selection 1. Recommended students: high schools2. National competition Award3. The College Entrance Examination4. Recommended students: Individual schools in TU

1. Individual application

2. College entrance examination scores

1.Recommend students: high schools 2. College entranceexamination scores

3. Recommended students: Individual schools in ZJU

Student N. 781 1,800

selecting the most excellent students for special training

ZJU- Chu Kochen Honors College: undergraduate special training system

Selected students

Two kinds of education training (after 2 years chose major)

Major training Special training (4 year double degrees or graduate training)

Long term education system

Nadenian Medical Class (8 years)Law (BA+ MA/ PhD)Management

Double degree (Flexible training system)

Computer + X Biology + XForeign language + XX + InformationX + ManagementX + Law X + Economic Trade

TU, PU, ZJU: Innovative talent model TU-Tsinghua school PU- YuanPei

CollegeZJU- Chu Kochen Honors College

System Tutorial system Flexible educational systemTutorial system

Long learning academic system （ BA-MA-Ph.D, BA.-MA, MA-Ph.D) Double degreesTutorial system

Faculty Teacher-student ratio (1 : 3)Well-known scholars (academician, Changjiang Scholars)

51 (academician, Changjiang Scholars etc.)

8 Academician ， 9 Changjiang Scholars, Specialty advisor teams

http://yuanpei.pku.edu.cn/http://ckc.zju.edu.cn/Index

TU, PU, ZJU: Innovative talent modelTU-Tsinghua school

PU- YuanPei College

ZJU- Chu Kochen Honors College

Educationachievement

- Around 80 % go on to graduate studies

- 78% go on to graduate studies

- National Innovative Talent Experiment and Reform Plan in Platform (2009)

- - More than 80 % go on to graduate studies

- National Teaching award 1st prize ‘Exploration and Practice of Fostering Top-notch Talents with Spirit of Innovation for 20 years’ - 8 national exquisite courses

Internationalcommunication

PU-Yale programPU-Stanford

Fostering Excellent Talent Plan , IAESTE, Melton foundation, Chinese Enterprises Internship Experience Plan

TU, PU, ZJU: Innovative Talent models

• Various student selection methods• Diverse competition • General education (early two years)• Flexibility in course selection• Flexible system (PU)• Tutorial system• International communication

• Continuing on to Graduate study: around 80%

increasing research ability

The Zhejiang University “Innovative Talent” model:

investigation into student opinion

Survey framework

Chu Kochen students (CKS)1. Concept of ‘innovation’ Definition Possibility for

fostering

2. Understanding of ‘Innovative Talent’

Quality

3. ZJU-Innovative Talent recognition

understanding Curriculum

4. ZJU-Teaching method aim

5. ZJU: Priorities of Chu Kochen learning process

strengthen weakness

6. ZJU- Current situation Degree of Satisfaction

challenges

Concept of ‘innovation’

• New ideas, methods, create things, other paths (50%)• Courage, Bravery, curiosity (30)• Contribution to society (10%)• Moral and personality (5%)• Other (5%)

Concept of ‘innovation’

0

38 37

3

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

A B C D

Current study

第二题

Understanding of ‘Innovative Talent’

ZJU-Innovative Talent recognition

ZJU-Innovative Talent recognition

ZJU-Teaching

ZJU-Teaching

ZJU: Priorities of Chu Kochen learning process

30

61

47

00

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

A B C D

Student Difficulties

第十三题

ZJU: Priorities of Chu Kechen learning process

Challenges: Survey result

Chu Kochen students (CKS)1. Concept of ‘innovation’ Definition Possibility for

fostering

2. Understanding of ‘Innovative Talent’

Quality

3. ZJU-Innovative Talent recognition

understanding Curriculum

4. ZJU-Teaching method aim

5. ZJU: Priorities of Chu Kochen learning process

strengthen weakness

6. ZJU- Current situation Degree of Satisfaction

challenges

Closing remarks: TU, PE, ZJU• Similarities - Concentrate superior quality, fostering Topnotch

innovative talent – Research development ability through research plan

• Differences – Recruiting students – Emphasis

• Challenges– Not clear on innovative talent Models – Need more examination of the effectiveness of innovative

talent models– Methods are changing too quickly– Puts extra stress on students

Thank you for your attention

Contact : Gilsuns@hotmail.com

References• Edward E. Lawler (2008). Talent: Making People Your

Competitive Advantage. Jossey-Bass A Wiley Imprint.• Karlson & Micheal (2005). The Natural Advantage of Nations.

UK & USA: Earthscan.• Mariken & Gerda & Jan (2009). How to Strengthen the

Connection between Research and Teaching in Undergraduate University Education. Higher Education Quarterly, 63(1),64-85.

• Mark Easterby-Smith (1987). Change and Innovation in Higher Education: A Role for Corporate Strategy?. Higher Education, 16, 37-52.

• The Boyer Commission (1998). Reinventing Undergraduate Blueprint for America’s Research Universities. Available at http://naples.cc.sunysb.edu/pres/boyer.nsf/673918d46fbf653e852565ec0056ff3e/d955b61ffddd590a852565ec005717ae/$FILE/boyer.pdf

• ZJU website: http://www.zju.edu.cn/redir.php?catalog_id=1000105

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