After a busy and exciting first day, participants were eager to start the second day of the International Liberal Arts Forum at UIC. The day began at 9:20 a.m. with the Director of the International Development Office (IDO), Dr Katharina Yu introducing the first keynote speaker for the day, President of Concordia College, Prof William J Craft. His talk was titled ‘Tell the Truth: The Work of the Liberal Arts in Our Time’.
Director of the International Development Office, Dr Katharina Yu introduces the guest speakers
Prof Craft began by explaining how liberal learning begins in discovery and wonder that are good in themselves, but that such learning is never safe. He went on further to talk about the experience of learning, the danger of learning as well as how to turn it outwards to the world. Using an example of a student from Haiti, who was sponsored to study at Concordia College, Prof Craft said how this student after graduation returned home to help the less fortunate children in Haiti to study and receive an education. He went on to talk about how truth-telling demands an education that is based in inquiry, not dictation from authority; in a place where the difference in thought and in culture is the norm, not the exception.
President of Concordia College, Prof William J Craft
Following Prof Craft’s speech was the next keynote speaker, President of Hendrix College, Prof William M Tsutsui. His speech was titled ‘The Liberal Arts and the Challenges of Leadership in a Global Age’. Prof Tsutsui began by focusing heavily on the British Empire and the ‘American Century’. He talked about how the elitists running these countries were heavily driven by their liberal arts educations as well as their traditions of classical antiquity.
Later, he spoke about how liberal arts colleges changed in the USA and became different from the UK during the 19th century while linking America’s rise to power to liberal arts education. Prof Tsutsui went into great detail about how he thinks the new leaders of the world will be changed and also how he would like to see liberal arts education become enriched by different cultures from around the world. He finished by questioning if this could be the ‘Chinese Century’, which got a response at the end of his talk from UIC’s President, Prof Ng Ching-Fai, who said that it would be more correct to say a ‘Global Century’ due to the way the world has changed.
President of Hendrix College, Prof William M Tsutsui
The third keynote speaker of the morning was Dean of Mahidol University International College (MUIC), Dr Phitaya Charupoonphol, who gave a talk titled ‘Liberal Education and Professional Fields in Disruptive Environment: An Integrated Model in Thailand’. He mentioned how for more than three decades, MUIC has led the way in Thailand in terms of instituting international standards in providing quality liberal arts education. Dr Charupoonphol spoke of the importance of preparing global citizen for the 21st century. He finished his talk by saying “We must be ready to adapt and prepare our students for real-world settings”.
Dean of Mahidol University International College (MUIC), Dr Phitaya Charupoonphol
The last keynote speaker of the morning session was the John P. Tandberg Chair in Economics and Management at Augustana Campus, University of Alberta, Dr Varghese Manaloor. His talk was titled ‘Opportunities and Challenges of Study Abroad Courses in a Globally Interconnected World’. The talk began with Dr Manaloor stressing the importance of global citizenship in a knowledge-based economy, then gave an example of how his students have taken part in exchange programmes in India. He explained how India is very unique and helped a lot of the students understand the diverse cultures and traditions. Using a survey to show that studying abroad is usually a defining moment in a young person’s life, Dr Varghese stressed the importance of providing students with this opportunity.
John P. Tandberg Chair in Economics and Management at Augustana Campus, University of Alberta, Dr Varghese Manaloor
At the last keynote lecture of the forum, the Vice President of UIC, Prof Sze Yong Zee, gave a speech titled ‘Enhance China’s Power in Innovation: Education Reform and Beyond’. In his speech, Prof Zee reviewed the development of Education Reform, from the Sui Dynasty which first started the Imperial Examination System to the Ming and Qing Dynasty, highlighting how these examinations were a double-edged sword. They indeed cultivated talented scholars, but they held back the development of scientific and technological innovation.
Vice President of UIC, Prof Sze Yong Zee
Prof Zee asked the audience “How will China be able to cultivate innovative talents?” before introducing his own ideas on the topic. His first suggestion was to promote and encourage innovation and emphasized the importance of innovation in driving the economic growth of China in the next 10-20 years. The second suggestion was to facilitate students’ pursuit of knowledge overseas while proactively motivating their return to China to work. His last idea was to advocate a substantive education reform which aims at nurturing innovative talents and meeting challenges in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) reform.
Prof Zee’s lecture ended with a question and answer period, with the President of Concordia College, Prof Craft, asking “What can we do to encourage students to undertake and sustain the humanity arts?” Prof Zee answered, “Humanity is not art for them, the first thing we need to do is we need a change.” He added that students learn how to use computers faster and quicker than the older generations, and people adapt over time. He also emphasized that the change has been so fast, if we don’t follow it, we will be out of date, “It is important to change the educational system to ensure we stay ahead”.
Prof Craft asking Prof Zee a question during the Q&A session
After Prof Zee’s presentation, the visiting presidents and representatives had a round-table discussion in the Council Chamber. The topic of the round-table was to discuss the events of the past two days.
President of Augsburg University, Dr Paul C. Pribbenow speaking during the round-table session
At the beginning of the round-table, the president of Trinity University, Professor Danny J. Anderson, expressed his gratitude towards President Ng and the entire UIC staff for their hard work. He also announced that he was deeply impressed by the activities presented as part of the liberal arts forum. After, President of Hendrix College, Prof William M. Tsutui, brought up the topic of international liberal arts teaching. He discussed with Prof Anderson and the other delegates how they can globalize liberal arts.
At the end of the round-table, Prof Ng and Prof Anderson walked onto the stage to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the new partnership between UIC and Trinity University, which was a positive end to the productive meeting.
Prof Ng and Prof Anderson sign a Memorandum of Understanding
Once the round-table finished, delegates were given a tour of the Presidential Residence on campus and treated to a musical and art performance by UIC students. The first performance was a student playing the traditional pipa, while two students did calligraphy in sync. The second performance was a student playing the guzheng instrument. Prof Ng welcomed visitors to have a tea break after the performance before they embarked for dinner in downtown Zhuhai.
A UIC student playing the guzheng instrument
Students perform calligraphy in sync
To finish the day, delegates took a short trip to see the Zhuhai Grand Theatre, followed by a meal at the famous Deyue Fang restaurant. Before the dinner, Prof Ng presented all members of the Liberal Arts forum with gifts before giving a toast where he thanked everyone for coming and how he hopes that this kind of dialogue will continue to make a better world.
A group photo outside the Zhuhai Grand Theatre
A celebrational toast to end the International Liberal Arts Forum
Read more: International Liberal Arts Forum: Day 1
Reporters: Samuel Burgess (MPRO) Deng Min (Year 2, IJ), Weng Yanrong (Year 1, BA)
Photographers: Ivy Liao, Samantha Burns
Editors: Samantha Burns, Deen He
(from MPRO)
