Seminar on Development of Arts & Science Disciplines held in CQU

The Seminar on Development of Arts &Science Disciplines was held from March 17 to 19, 2011 in Chongqing University in an effort to boost the construction of an internationally well-known research-oriented university of high standard and the implementation of the development policy exploiting engineering courses, strengthening sciences courses, improving arts courses, and developing life science and interdisciplinary subjects .

A total of 19 celebrated experts and scholars with significant academic influence at home and abroad were invited to discuss the disciplinary development of arts and sciences of Chongqing University.

Arts experts participating in the seminar include: Wu Zhipan, a law professor and Managing Vice-President of Peking University, Zhang Xudong, a professor with the Department of Comparative Literature and Director of the Department of East Asian Studies of New York University, Wang Xi, a professor with the Department of History of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Cui Zhiyuan, a professor with the School of Public Management of Tsinghua University and Director Assistant of Chongqing State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission; Wang Shaoguang, a professor with and Head of the Department of Political Science of Chinese University of Hong Kong, Gan Yang, President of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities, President of Liberal Arts College, Director of general education, and a professor with the Department of Philosophy of Sun Yat-sen University, Liu Xiaofeng, a professor with the Department of Philosophy of Sun Yat-sen University and the Department of Philosophy of Renmin University of China, Luo Gang, a professor with the Department of Chinese Language and Literature and Director of the Research Center of Contemporary Chinese Culture of Si-mian Institute for Advanced Studies of East China Normal University, and Peng Jixiang, an expert in cinema aesthetics and professor with the School of Arts of Peking University.

Science experts participating in the seminar contain: Wu Yundong, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Vice-President of Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Yang Zhen, a professor with Peking University and President of the School of Chemical Biology & Biotechnology of Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Qin Yong, a professor with Sichuan University and Vice-president of the West China School of Pharmacy of Sichuan University, Li Weidong, a professor with Nankai University and Head of the Department of Pharmacy, Lin Shuo, a professor with the Branch of University of California, Los Angeles, Gong Zhiyuan, a professor with the National University of Singapore, Jin Zhe, a researcher with the Johns Hopkins University, Long Qiaoming, an associate professor with Cornell University, Yan Zimeng, a senior researcher with AstraZeneca, and Xiao Ruiping, a professor with Peking University and Director of the Institute of Molecular Medicine.

CQU leaders present include Ou Keping, Lin Jianhua, Chen Demin, Zhang Siping, Xiao Tieyan, Zhang Weiguo, Huang Zongming, Zhang Zongyi, Yang Dan, Bai Chenguang, etc.

In addition, leaders and experts from Southwest University, Chongqing Medical University, Sichuan International Studies University, the School of Literature of Southwest University and the Third Military Medical University also attended the seminar.

On the opening ceremony, Prof. Ou Keping made the speech of welcome. He gave a brief introduction to the development history of CQU, stating that the university had made certain achievements in recent years but was at the same time facing challenges. He added that CQU was now making efforts to be one of the best universities in China , and encouraged scholars and experts to point out problems hindering the development of CQU.

He also proposed his hope that participants from the university would be open-minded and accept recommendations from others so as to make the seminar a milestone for the progress of Chongqing University.

Later, Prof. Lin Jianhua expounded strategies for the further development of Chongqing University, pointing out that the goal of building Chongqing University into one of the best universities in China is great but requires overall progress in various aspects including administration, logistics, finance, teaching, etc.; therefore, it could be regarded as a process of an overall reform. Disciplinary development of CQU includes utilization of advantages in its engineering courses as well as development of arts and sciences courses. Adjustment of disciplines and construction of the university system are quite critical as well. In order to build a comprehensive university, the interdisciplinary research platform and construction of basic disciplines should be combined. Comprehensive development of CQU doesn t have to be all-sided; it could be realized through building up high-standard platforms in certain fields, thus to drive the development of basic disciplines. When it comes to construction of the university system, academic power and administrative power should be balanced by strengthening the construction of faculties to ensure their full rights. Furthermore, cooperation with other universities in the area should be strengthened; CQU is planning to establish a university union with other universities so as to complement each other's advantages and to make further contribution to the rapid development of higher education in Chongqing. Such proposal has been well accepted by other universities in Chongqing. Lin hoped that the discussion could focus on building of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, as well as the operation mechanism and positioning of the interdisciplinary sciences platforms and the Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences. Afterwards, all experts delivered speeches and then held discussions in the science group and the arts group separately. On the conclusion meeting held on March 19, Zhang Xudong made a statement on behalf of the arts group, saying that the development goal of arts of Chongqing University could be divided into two types, namely, the maximum-program goal and the minimum-program goal, which respectively refer to what CQU is expected to achieve and what it can achieve in the following years. Zhang suggested that the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and the Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences be set up at the same time. He also stated his opinion on building of the two organizations and the relation between them. Wu Yundong, a representative of the sciences group, said CQU should explore establishment of the modern university system and find a new road for higher education of China through measures including setting high goals, improving its system and mechanism, etc. Later, Lin Shuo and Qin Yong, the other two representatives of the sciences group, made their statements about construction of the disciplinary platforms. Other experts expressed their own opinions as well.

Then, Prof. Ou Keping extended his appreciation to all experts and scholars and expressed his confidence that the seminar would be a great event for the development of Chongqing University. He said that through three days of discussion, the main frame of the development of sciences and arts subjects had been shaped, and the next step is to put it into practice, utilizing the geographical advantages of Chongqing, with experts advices and the features of CQU taken into consideration.

A lot of good suggestions and creative ideas were proposed during the discussion, said Lin. He indicated that to become one of the best universities in China with its own features, Chongqing University should maintain its advantages in engineering subjects, and strengthen disciplinary development of both arts and sciences subjects. He emphasized that the overall planning and step-by-step implementation should be the general principle and the construction of advanced study platforms and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences should be integrated. At last, Lin again extended his appreciation to the experts and scholars and expressed his expectation that they would go on with support for the construction and development of CQU.