Zhu Chongshi, president of Xiamen University, was invited to China Development Forum 2016, held in Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing from 19 to 21 March. The topic for the forum this year is “China in the New Five-Year Plan”, concerning the reform and development of the 13th Five-Year Plan, building of an all-around well-off society, stable monetary policy, opening-up policy, and further reform of fiscal and taxation systems. 

    In his speech, on 19 March, at the session on education, Zhu Chongshi expressed his viewpoints on the topic “China Higher Education and the Cultivation of People with Innovative Talents”. He said that the three factors that influence the cultivation of innovative people are professional quality, spirit of innovation and desire for seeking the truth. He said that the three factors are not inborn but more depend on the postnatal education and cultivation.

    He pointed out that China higher education have seven problems to be solved:

    First, all-around development of people’s qualities should be the highest goal of education, instead of employment which is widely used to evaluate universities in China.

    Second, traditional teaching method which emphasizes lecturing and taking notes in class should be changed.

    Third, the quality of teachers as a whole should be improved.

    Fourth, education and teaching work have been chronically underfunded. Such situation should be changed.

    Fifth, the education authorities’ evaluation of universities is too simplified, which is unfavorable for the universities to develop their own specialties.

    Sixth, the evaluation of students is also simplified, which cannot encourage students to take risk and accept failure.

    Seventh, the system to select students should be reformed because such a system can only use up the energy of young men who spend their time in taking national exams.

    Zhu Chongshi also gave suggestions on the solution to the seven problems.

    Peter Salovey, president of Harvard University, Geoffrey Garrett, dean of Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Merit E. Janow, dean of Columbia University - School of International & Public Affairs, Qian Yingyi, dean of Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management were also invited to speak in the education session.

    After the conference, President Zhu had a talk with Peter Salovey and invited him to visit Xiamen University at his convenience. Peter Salovey accepted happily the invitation. 

    Link to Zhu’s speech：http://business.sohu.com/20160319/n441082877.shtml .