China and America came together at UIC on 18 and 19 November for the 8th Sino-American Liberal Arts Forum. Presidents and Professors from schools all around the US travelled to UIC with the purpose of discussing the future of liberal arts education. The representatives in attendance were special because they were from schools that have partnered with UIC to promote the exchange of students and knowledge between the US and China.
Speakers of the forum were Professor Ng Ching-Fai, UIC President; Professor William J. Craft, President of Concordia College; Dr Paul C. Pribbenow, President of Augsburg College; Professor William M. Tsutsui, President of Hendrix College; Dr Owen Williams, President of the Associated Colleges of the South; Dr Larry Goodwin, President of The College of Saint Scholastica; Professor Timothy E. Elgren, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Oberlin College; and Professor Zee Sze Yong, Vice-President of UIC.
UIC President Professor Ng Ching-Fai emphasized the importance of this event for UIC by saying that “this forum thus plays a profound role in facilitating UIC’s international development, in exploring new perspectives, and above all, in providing an innovative platform for academic collaboration.”
Following his opening speech Ng started the forum as the first speaker. His topic was “Liberal Arts Education in China: the UIC Model”. In his speech he explained to all in attendance the history of UIC, the values of Whole Person Education, and the emphasis UIC puts on cultural learning. The details of his speech connected listeners to the history of education in China and how UIC is helping to modernize China without losing the foundations of deep-rooted culture and long lasting history.
Professor Ng Ching-Fai on “Liberal Arts Education in China: the UIC Model”
The forum continued later with Professor William J. Craft, the President of Concordia College, a member of UIC’s partner the Minnesota Private College Council, with the topic of “Knowledge is Power: The Work of the Liberal Arts”.
In his speech Craft explained a simplified overview of American Liberal Arts and the role these universities play in American society. The thing about liberal arts in America is that often these schools traditionally do not offer pre-career paths. Meaning that business, law and even some sciences are not taught or available at most smaller liberal arts colleges. Craft said the reason that most prospective students avoid a liberal arts college is because concerned parents believe their children won’t be able to get a job. However this is not the case. Liberal arts play a key role in American society because they train those who will write the award winning novels, the star dancers, and the professors who will teach the future generations of the world. Craft continued on to say “it is not the job of liberal arts colleges to just prepare students for their careers but also to be an effective member of the global community.”
Professor William J. Craft on “Knowledge is Power: The Work of the Liberal Arts”
The next speaker was Dr Paul C. Pribbenow, President of Augsburg College, his speech being entitled, “Hearts Broken Open”. While the speech name might not seem like it would be related to liberal arts, Dr Pribbenow’s speech was an inspiring discussion on the higher education community’s loss of “hungry hearts”. This meaning the loss of “those who have a love for learning and openness to experience; the courage and curiosity to stare into the Abyss of human experience and get excited; and the willingness to risk beliefs and values because you have confident beliefs and values to risk”. Dr Pribbenow’s speech gave an interesting perspective of how easy it is to stop learning because it is enjoyable and to instead start learning just to make money.
Dr Paul C. Pribbenow on “Hearts Broken Open”
Following Dr Pribbenow’s speech the representatives went off to lunch and then were treated to a guqin performance.
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| A visit to the House of Qin (guqin) |
A visit to the House of Shedao (Chinese archery) |
Professor William M. Tsutsui, president of Hendrix College, one of the new partner schools of UIC, finished the day’s speeches with his titled “The Challenge of the Liberal Arts: Difference, Diversity, Distinction.” The topic of this speech was more than listing the problems that American liberal arts schools face, but rather explaining how they need to adapt for the future. Often in the United States, liberal arts schools are considered too expensive or “elitist”. “Today liberal arts colleges are trying to conform in order to fit in.” This loss of character in the universities is one of the major problems that American liberal arts universities are dealing with. In addition, as students become “more and more educated it is up to colleges to challenge them and encourage innovation and creativity.”
Professor William M. Tsutsui on “The Challenge of the Liberal Arts: Difference, Diversity, Distinction”
Professor Tsutsui's speech concluded the forum for Wednesday and afterwards the representatives were invited to the New Cultural Village.
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| Visiting the New Cultural Village |
On Thursday, a day of presentations began with Dr Owen Williams, President of the Associated Colleges of the South and his discussion on “Questioning the Liberal Arts”. Dr Williams explained the theory of liberal arts and how they are changing with each new innovation in education and culture. He said liberal arts education enables students to learn how to learn. While seeming to offer no training, it actually prepares for everything.
Dr Owen Williams on “Questioning the Liberal Arts”
Dr Larry Goodwin, president of The College of Saint Scholastica, followed Dr William’s speech with the topic “The Future of Liberal Learning”. Like the previous presenters he outlined the problems that American liberal arts colleges are facing with the changes in American culture. He recognized the need for business and pre-career education but also emphasized the necessity of continued study in the arts.
Dr Larry Goodwin on “The Future of Liberal Learning”
After Dr Goodwin’s presentation there was a short break and then Professor Timothy E. Elgren, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Oberlin College, gave a presentation on “Depth, Breadth and Convergence: The Power of a Liberal Arts Education”. His speech outlined the benefits of liberal arts education in addition to its weaknesses. He gave a detailed explanation of the Oberlin model and encouraged participation when explaining how it could apply to UIC or any other university. As one of the new partners of UIC, he outlined how Oberlin is learning from UIC and UIC can learn from Oberlin.
Professor Timothy E. Elgren on “Depth, Breadth and Convergence: The Power of a Liberal Arts Education”
Professor Zee Sze Yong, Vice-President of UIC concluded the presentations with the topic “Liberal Arts Education: Challenges and Possibilities in Mainland China”. In the final presentation Zee outlined the key foundations of liberal arts education and how they are being accomplished in UIC. He specifically focused on “How liberal arts education can provide future leaders that the world needs” and “How liberal arts education institutions can fulfil the needs of the digital age”. He discussed the types of leaders and how leaders are made as well as things that “designed and adopted at UIC to train our students to servant leaders”, servant leaders being the specific type of leaders that UIC wants to produce.
Professor Zee Sze Yong on “Liberal Arts Education: Challenges and Possibilities in Mainland China”
After Professor Zee’s speech there was a long break for lunch. After lunch the representatives from UIC and the Minnesota Private College Council, the organization that connects UIC to Minnesota schools for exchange, had a meeting to discuss further cooperation.
The UIC-MPCC meeting
When the forum was back in session, two UIC students on traditional Chinese instruments played for the guest of honour, Professor Jialu Xu, Chairman of the UIC Council. Professor Xu then gave a speech in Chinese that was translated for the visiting representatives in which he discussed his purpose in encouraging the formation of UIC. He recognized the need for a liberal arts college in China. Through his experience as the head of College of Chinese Language and Culture at Beijing Normal University and as a vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress he had the ability to act as a “matchmaker” between Hong Kong and mainland Universities. He thanked the visiting representatives for helping further his vision by helping further UIC’s mission to be an example for the rest of China.
Professor Jialu Xu encourages UIC students to be world citizens
After Professor Xu’s speech both Hendrix College and Oberlin College’s representatives signed Memorandums of Understanding with President Ng. With this marked the end of the 8th forum and the creation of two new successful partnerships.
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| Signing an MoU with Oberlin College |
President Ng shakes hands with Prof Tsutsui |
Reporter: Heather Lana
Photographer: Xie Yi (CCM, Year 2), Vivi Xie, Simon Liu, Cheryl Chen
Editor: Deen He
(from MPRO, with special thanks to the ELC)
