理解大学

This course begins with the idea that university is a special place and is divided into two main sections. The first section discusses that university is a “special place” in the sense that: firstly, it is a place where students are nurtured by means of teaching in a holistic sense, not only in the classroom.The university should provide students with knowledge, ability, ideas, and methods. Secondly, the university is a place for doing things, and the way of doing things is research in its overall sense, not only writing papers. The university should make both teachers and students willing to conduct scientific, innovative, and groundbreaking work. Thirdly, the university is a place to lead the development of the society, and the way to lead is to open the “ivory tower”, not only to go out, but also to let new things from the outside into the “ivory tower”. Universities are inherently equipped to be critical, practical, and forward-looking. On this basis, the second major section discusses the fourth point, which deals with the “four elements” of university connotations -- students, scholars, disciplines, and universities, “three highs”- high knowledge, high standards, and high ambitions, “three muftis” -multi-dimensional capabilities, multiple resources, and multiple impacts, and “three groups of people“ - students, faculty, and administrators. Students will thus have a deep understanding of the meaning and characteristics of universities.The fifth point is a discussion on the “types and levels of universities“, with special reference to issues related to “World Class Universities“. The course will conclude with a student-led discussion on “challenges facing universities“.