Xu Meide, an internationally renowned higher education expert, Professor of the University of Toronto, Canada, and Guest Professor of Tianjin University (TJU), visited TJU where she delivered a wonderful academic lecture and accepted an exclusive interview.
As a university renowned for its engineering education, she thinks it’s advisable for TJU to learn from other research universities around the world and carry out more constructive communication with them. She also mentioned that Tu Weiming, a very famous Confucianism philosopher, put forward the phrase “beyond the enlightenment mentality”. His point was that Chinese universities with their knowledge of Confucianism and traditional civilizational thought can help the world to move beyond the scientific achievements of the enlightenment. The success of the scientific enlightenment resulted in environmental damage, and Confucian philosophy emphasizes the harmonization of human life with nature, which is a key philosophy for environmental protection. In her opinion, in order to build a world class University, TJU should take advantage of traditional Confucian philosophy and focus on building its Chinese characteristics.
She holds the firm conviction that Chinese culture and civilization has a great deal to offer to the world, and particularly to the world of academia and universities. She thinks that universities and scholars are the best people to bring China's civilization to the world, for they are the ones who know it intimately, study it and understand it. It's not easy for China because for a hundred years there was a lot of controversy regarding Confucianism. Many Chinese intellectuals attacked Confucianism as it is a feudal ideology and was preventing China from becoming modern. It took time to rethink and understand deeply what China’s Confucian philosophical heritage is. It doesn't mean it doesn't have to be changed or looked at critically. We have to reflect on other important parts of Chinese heritage to think about what China can bring to the world.
She emphasizes that Confucian philosophy is a global philosophy, not only a philosophy for China. Modern technology is to some extent detrimental to our environment. China and other places are suffering from the effects of its influence. Now, the world has to cooperate and to figure out the way to protect and preserve the natural environment. In the thinking and ideas of Confucianism there may be something that can contribute to that particular area. She argues that the other thing that came out of the enlightenment and modernization of western society was a form of social disintegration. Due to extreme individualism, a lot of people are becoming isolated, feeling lonely and lost. Chinese philosophy emphasizes family, community and society, and that we are responsible for and must support one another. We have to think about our family, community and nation instead of only striving for individual achievements and development.
In her eyes, Chinese universities have a wonderful opportunity to bring some of these traditional ideas from Chinese civilization into the notion of what it means to be a world class university. It's not only about the ranking and high marks for our scientific contribution, but it’s also about values of human sustainability and protecting the environment. As to advance the process of internationalization of China’s universities, she put forward a proposal for an outward-looking pattern. She believes that the Confucius Institute is a useful exploration of the cooperation between Chinese and foreign institutions of education. Moreover, by receiving international students and providing educational assistance to underdeveloped countries, China has really carved its way out onto the international arena. It's really an important time for Chinese scholars to step up, step out, and explore the world.
At the mention of the city of Tianjin, she shared her special feelings for the city that have arisen due to her connection with her friend in China, who was born and lived in Tianjin for many years. When asked to give some advice to college students, she sincerely calls on students to learn the art of concentration. And according to her, mastering the methodology of teaching and scientific research is their primary task.
By: Xu Lanzhi
Editors: Qin Mian and Christopher Peter Clarke
