President of UIC and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Prof Tang Tao gave a lecture to the new students in the University Hall on 23 September, sharing his insights into how to spend the next four years wisely at UIC.
The lecture was chaired by Party Secretary and Vice President (Administration), Prof Mao Yaqing.
President Tang speaks to the new students
Prof Mao Yaqing chairing the lecture
President Tang first analysed the difference between high school and university in terms of learning objectives, content and methods. President Tang explained that university education is an education that inherits and innovates knowledge. It is diversified from learning content to learning methods. He encouraged the students to establish new learning goals as soon as possible, transform passive learning into active learning, and cultivate comprehensive capabilities for interdisciplinary development.
President Tang also suggested that students should cultivate self-care skills in life and obtain time management skills, as well as developing team spirit. President Tang Tao also urged the students to strengthen their self-control, stop indulging in the virtual world, and spend more time on personal development.
In the second part of the lecture, President Tang introduced the characteristics of the liberal arts education of UIC. President Tang said that Liberal Arts Colleges play important roles in the modern educational environment, and UIC integrates both Chinese and Western cultures and is well versed in ancient and modern. It aims to cultivate talents with profound professionalism, broad knowledge, complete personality, and with an international vision and patriotism. At UIC, students can experience the convergence and collision of diverse cultures, broaden their international horizons, and systematically integrate traditional Chinese culture into liberal arts education and whole-person education.
President Tang said that UIC students should develop a full understanding of Chinese culture and history as well as China's national conditions under the development of the times. UIC has always made the dissemination of Chinese culture one of the missions of the college and hopes that students can become messengers of Chinese culture in the future.
President Tang also suggested that students actively and selectively participate in the activities of interest clubs and participate in social practice to enhance their sense of social responsibility.
At the end of the lecture, President Tang shared with students the historical and cultural heritage of Zhuhai, the place where UIC is based, and its influence on higher education. He introduced stories of famous Zhuhai celebrities, such as the first-known Chinese student to graduate from an American university, Yung Wing, the first president of Tsinghua University Tang Guoan and the founder of Fudan University Tang Shaoyi.
President Tang said that people are the reflection of their environment. In his opinion, the education trend in Zhuhai remains today. As the first Chinese Mainland-Hong Kong joint university based in Zhuhai, UIC is committed to exploring innovative talent training models and it is also the inheritance of the spirit of rejuvenating the country through advanced education. He also hoped that the students would be able to walk around the various historical and cultural attractions in Zhuhai and feel the charm of Zhuhai when UIC campus is open.
Finally, President Tang told the students to make full use of the academic resources and multicultural environment of UIC, continue to grow in academic, moral, wisdom, and physical and mental aspects, and contribute to the development of society and the progress of human civilization in the future.
In the question and answer session, students raised their hands to interact with Prof Tang. Studying abroad issues, campus management and learning issues were some of the topics asked and discussed. President Tang also revealed that beginning from this semester, meetings between the President and student representatives will be held every two weeks to provide more efficient communication.
From MPRO
Editors: Samuel Burgess, Deen He, Covee Wang, Zhang Fan
