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Professor Chia-Wei Woo, President
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
On behalf of my colleagues at HKUST, I would like to congratulate Peking University at its 100th anniversary.
Being an honorary professor of Peking University, I feel like a host today as well as a guest. It is no doubt the best of all worlds: to share the glory of Peking University as a nominal host, and to do no work at all while enjoying the generous hospitality as a guest.
Just two weeks ago, Peking University and HKUST signed an agreement to enter into a very comprehensive and strong alliance. We hope this North-South axis would contribute much in the years to come to ¬ì±Ð¿³°ê (Revitalization of the Nation through Science and Education) .
This afternoon I would like to speak on the need for every country and society to distribute its higher education over a full spectrum of institutions.
In recent years, there appears to be a trend around the world for higher education institutions to want to become comprehensive research universities. In United Kingdom and Australia, the polytechnics, which had historically served a most important function in fulfilling society's economic and manpower needs, became "upgraded" to universities. Many highly specialized institutions in China changed their names and expanded their scope. Merger of existing institutions is taking place in Chinese provinces and municipalities - some for very good reasons, and others to repair mistakes committed in the 1950's when universities were broken up in accordance with practices in the Soviet Union.
People are not born the same; they have diverse talents and interests, and learn in very different ways. Societies differ; so do their needs as they go through varying stages of development. Thus, every state or region needs a full spectrum of institutions.
The spectrum should include at least the following categories:
comprehensive, all-inclusive "mega-versities"
a very small number of state-supported institutions whose teaching, research, and services cover a very wide range of disciplines, interdisciplinary areas, and professional interests; comprehensive research universities with highly selected focuses of excellence
a small number of strong universities whose teaching, research, and services cover a variety of disciplines, interdisciplinary areas, and professional interests - some of which as centers of excellence and core capabilities, and others in a peripheral way; elitist institutions with sharply defined goals
like France's grandes ecoles, a large number of small, elitist profession-oriented schools each focusing on a narrow range of specialties, networking with one another and cooperating with comprehensive universities; traditional professional/vocational institutions
like British-style polytechnics, teachers colleges, art and music academies, and allied health institutions, a large number of middle-to-large-size institutions which teach skills that fulfill society's more immediate human resource needs; undergraduate colleges offering well-rounded general education
like American-style liberal arts colleges, a very large number of generally small colleges characterized by intimate learning atmospheres and individual "personalities", to provide students with high-quality undergraduate education and a sound academic foundation; public institutions to facilitate lifelong learning
like American-style community colleges, British-style open universities, and Chinese-style TV universities, to provide the public with continuous education, enrichment courses, and remedial studies.
All categories in the spectrum are equally important. Division of labor calls for a rational distribution of institutions among these categories, and a proper balance.
For every category, quality is the key word and must be of primary concern. Institutions must not struggle to get into the wrong category, wind up second-rate or worse, and survive without a soul. Every institution should be clear about its own mission and proud of its identity, and strive to be the very best in the world in its category. Government and society should realize that higher education institutions of all categories are needed and valuable, and reward excellence accordingly.
Now, a few observations close to home.
In the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, there are eight government-supported higher education institutions. According to my classification, three are in the category of "comprehensive research universities with highly selected focuses of excellence", three are "traditional professional/vocational institutions", and two are "undergraduate colleges offering well-rounded general education". Each is committed to its own mission, and striving to be world-class in its category.
Hong Kong is a small city - small by Chinese standards. We do not, cannot, and need not, try to cover the full spectrum.
Let us look at all of China. The "211" Initiative is an excellent concept. One of the consequences of the Initiative is, however, a trend towards what I call "merger and acquisition". Question: Is it possible to create 100 Peking Universities? Is it desirable to create 100 Peking Universities? What if we wind up with many second-class, third-class, unsuccessful clones of Peking Universities? Or worse yet, defective mutants? My humble opinion is: China needs just a few excellent mega-versities, about a dozen superior comprehensive research universities with clear focuses, 20-25 elite grandes ecoles, 20-25 strong traditional professional/vocational institutions, 30-40 top liberal arts colleges, and a few large-scale lifelong education institutions.
By coincidence, they add up to about a hundred leading institutions. Vast room is available for the 900-odd remaining institutions to identify themselves among the stated categories, or to experiment with other forms of higher education.
On this 100th anniversary of Peking University, my colleagues and I at HKUST express our admiration for our  "Elder Brother", and reiterate our enthusiasm for the North-South strategic alliance being established between the two universities.
Thank you very much.
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