An International Forum with the theme of “the Future of the Research University in the Age of Globalization—Innovations in Talent Cultivation” was held at Peking University on May 5th, 2014 at the Yingjie Exchange Centre. The forum attracted more than 30 Presidents and Vice Presidents from various universities across the globe.
Representatives of 46 universities came from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium, Mexico, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. Notable attendees from Mainland China include scholars from Peking University, Fudan University, Renmin University of China, Beijing Normal University, Zhejiang University, Wuhan University and Zhongshan University.
Renowned overseas universities including Stanford University, Chicago University, University of California, Berkeley, London School of Economics, Free University of Berlin, Tokyo University, National University of Singapore, Melbourne University, Hong Kong University and Taiwan University also sent representatives to attend the Forum.
During the opening ceremony of the Forum, Professor Wang Enge, President of PKU, expressed his warmest welcome to the representatives of the universities. In his speech, Professor Wang emphasized the importance of interaction and communication between universities from all over the world. Strengthening ties and promoting cooperation between universities from different countries is fundamental towards cultivating high quality talents with a truly global perspective, which is also a key goal for any institute of higher learning.
Professor Li Yansong, Vice President of PKU, was the host of the forum. The representatives from various universities then discussed under 3 main topics, namely “Visions and Strategies: New Paths for Innovations in Talent Cultivation”, ”Institutions and Techniques: New Dimensions of Innovations in Talent Cultivation” and “International Collaboration: New Modes for Innovations in Talent Cultivation”.
The first session was hosted by Professor Ronald Gronsky, Special Faculty Assistant to the Chancellor for International Relations, University of California Berkeley. During the session, Professor Henry Yang, President of University of California Santa Barbara, Professor Klaus Beck, Vice President of Free University of Berlin, Professor Ian Solomon, Vice President of University of Chicago, and Professor John Hepburn, Vice President of University of British Columbia shared their experience in talent cultivation respectively, and suggested innovative measures with a global outlook.
During the second session with the topic of “Institutions and Techniques: New Dimensions of Innovations in Talent Cultivation”, Professor Tan Chorh Chuan, President of the National University of Singapore summarised and shared with the attendees of the lessons he had learned from the institutional reforms conducted by NUS.
The last session with the topic of “International Collaboration: New Modes for Innovations in Talent Cultivation” was hosted by Professor Steve Hillier, Vice President of the University of Edinburgh. During this session, Professor Stuart Corbridge, Provost and Executive Vice President of the London School of Economics and Political Science, evaluated how technological improvements have brought about new standards and methods in the cooperation between universities of different countries. At the end of the forum, representatives from the different universities also took the opportunity to discuss the ways to further enhance interaction between schools and the ways to provide students with exposure to other cultures.
Overall, the forum provided an important platform for universities all over the world to reflect upon past practices and the outlook for new and innovative methods, and reform for talent cultivation.
Written By: Heng Kang Wei
