UIC President, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences Prof Tang Tao, gave a lecture titled "Exploring Modern Liberal Arts Education" on 22 February 2023, discussing the connotation, history, and development of liberal arts education.
The lecture introduced the students to the notion of it from the western to the Chinese idea of liberal arts education, the contemporary requirement of such education and its future development.
The concept of liberal arts education came from Europe. It flourished in the US and was promoted by world-famous universities, including the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, Harvard University, and more. After the popularisation of higher education, some German research universities spawned a new model of education from liberal arts education – general education, which is also adopted by UIC now.
Prof Tang at the lecture
Prof Tang pointed out that contemporary liberal arts education at UIC cultivates whole persons with rationality, wisdom, and aesthetics. They think critically and adapt to new environments with an international mindset.
Nowadays, China's higher education has paid more and more attention to liberal art education. As the first full-scale cooperation in higher education between the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, UIC is committed to building a first-class university, carrying out liberal arts education that integrates Chinese and Western culture, and ancient and modern ideas.
Prof Tang stressed that UIC, adhering to the student-oriented education, develops undergraduate education and graduate education, enhances the interaction between teachers and students, and cultivates students who know both arts and science. UIC focuses on the physical and mental growth of students, as well as creates a diverse and rich learning environment for them.
Students ask questions at the lecture
UIC will keep developing with its students, and continue to explore more possibilities of modern liberal arts education in the future.
From MPRO
Reporter: Liang Qianning
Photos provided by Owen Li
Editors: Cecilia Yu, Deen He
