Mr. Xu Jialu, the Chairman of UIC Council, met the Chairman of the Council and Court of HKBU, Mr. Wilfred Y. W. Wong, and staff members of HKBU on November 27, 2008 and gave the following speech about higher education in China and about UIC. His speech inspired everyone at the meeting.
Chairman Wong Ying-Wai，President Ng, Distinguished Guests and Professors,
Greetings!
We are all aware of how fast the world is changing recently due to the economic turmoil that is affecting every country. However, China seems to be the only one that can ride over the turbulence relatively unscathed. It has, in fact, become a steadying force in this financial crisis. Because of the high degree of development over the past decades China has become a major power in international trade and commerce. In view of the new position we are in, it is high time we ask ourselves what is most necessary for us to develop in the days ahead. Is it more money? We do need new investments; however, that is not most urgent. Is it technology? We need that, too; but, we are not doing so badly in bringing forth new technology ourselves. And, most technology can also be bought or transferred. Then, what is it we do need most? Talent. We need the best qualified men and women to elevate us to a higher plateau of economic development in this fast-changing world.
It is expected the number of university graduates will reach six million next year, and that number is going up to ten million in not too distant a future. But, quantity is not the critical thing. Quality is essential. Then, what kind of talents are we looking for? First, in terms of our own culture and traditional virtues, how knowledgeable and receptive are our young graduate? Second, how knowledgeable is he or she in terms of global issues and global environment? Furthermore, what kind of vision does he or she have? Does it transcend the individual, his own community, or his own country? Will it embrace the world community and will it reach out to the frontiers of human development? That is what we are after. Only by reaching out to the frontiers of knowledge can we explore and discover and create. That, again, is exactly what is missing in higher education in China today. I must say I am not the least bit excited about the number of graduates we are churning out each year. Lately, I have dedicated a good deal of energy first in promoting Chinese culture as a means of uniting Taiwan, and, secondly, in advancing educational reform in both higher and basic education. In my opinion, this is not a matter of resources, for resources we now have in good measure. It is finding the way to reform and UIC is part of this very important experiment.
Earlier this year, Party Secretary Wang Yang came to Zhuhai on an official visit. As a member of the Politbureau of the central government, he made an inspection tour of all sectors and heard a lot of reports. He was particularly interested in visiting UIC and spent some time with our professors and students, listening attentively to our briefings. He was impressed with what he saw and commented, "UIC has brought us an advanced educational model from Hong Kong and abroad. At the same time, you have kept Chinese culture and traditions as part of your curriculum. Bringing the two of them together seems to be the model we are looking for." He added, later on, that ours is the path to reform. We should be gratified he has given us such encouragement. Let us look at UIC in a new light, then. It has become a point of reference for pushing forward with our reform which has brought about such spectacular changes in China over the last three decades, far exceeding the earlier objective both BNU and HKBU had when UIC was first conceived. Of course, Chinese universities may not be in the position to transfer most of what we do here; and, yet, they can certainly use UIC as constructive reference. There are over 1,400 institutions of higher learning and many thousands of administrators who travel far and wide each year to learn what others are doing in their professional field. Now UIC has brought some of the best practice to their own doorstep. For this, I must thank the leadership of HKBU, the trustees, the President and Vice-Presidents, and all the professors who have contributed so much to the success of UIC.
Of course, we must not be satisfied with the present state of affairs. UIC has a long way to go to allow its potential to be fully realized. Part of the problem we are facing has to do with the system and mechanism of governance under which we operate. As we move forward in time we may allow ourselves the assurance that what we are doing is necessary and beneficial to the country and that UIC has, in fact, been a pioneer in the path of educational reform in China.
There is a good deal of vitality in our new institution. As Party Secretary Wang Yang pointed out UIC is on the right track by bringing innovation in education and Chinese culture together as if they were inseparable. There will be obstacles, certainly; but obstacles will not impede us or diminish our determination. I hope in the years to come, before the College Council asks me to retire from the present position, I may be allowed to work with all of you to bring about a better UIC so that it will become a better specimen in the field of educational reform and experimentation.
Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to speak to you and to invite you to work with the Council and me in advancing our work in education here in Hong Kong and in China.
(Translated by Mr. L. K. Wong)
