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The University of the Future
——Xu Xiaohu
The 21st century is the era of the
knowledge-based
economy. University education must be able to meet the challenges of the times and aid economic and social progress, promote the spirit of humanity and further the development of science and technology. Every university should develop its own niche, its own unique positioning and strategic platform.
In the early 1990's, China set the direction for higher education reform, which was termed "Systematic Reform is the Key; Pedagogical Reform is the Core". Shantou University has positioned itself at the forefront of China's higher education reform efforts. Leveraging on our unique advantages and gaining international exposure, Shantou University has developed its own distinctive organizational structure and teaching methods. We hope that our efforts will help Shantou University become a respected university and also to contribute to higher education reforms.
Over the past years, Shantou University has suffered the pains of reform, but has also tasted the sweet fruits of its success. Our reform programs included: English Enhancement, School-wide Credit System, Financial Control, Human Resources Management, and the development of a unique synthesized integrated teaching mode.
In terms of organizational structure, we aim to achieve greater efficiency and minimize administrative costs through the use of modern management systems to enhance allocation of resources for teaching and research. At the center of our efforts to reform education is the welfare of our students. We aim to accommodate more flexible and more dynamic curricula and teaching methods, and stimulate the students' desire for learning so that when they graduate, they take with them the spirit of lifelong education.
Shantou University cannot be considered a large general university whether in terms of our program scale, our campus size, or our number of students. But I firmly believe that the development of a university requires setting a clear direction, keeping up with the times, and meeting changing needs. Shantou University will forge its own path to become a lively, energetic university that is ahead of its time. |
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