At this special time when we say goodbye to the fruitful year of 2003 and welcome the promising 2004, I am very pleased, as the president of Tsinghua University, to extend new year’s greetings and best wishes to all Tsinghua students, faculty, staff and alumni.
2003 was an uncommon year in our nation’s history, highlighted by many events including the 10th National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and the election of the nation’s new leaders. China also won the war against the SARS epidemic, and watched in wonder the flight of Shenzhou V, which brought the dream of space flight to the Chinese nation and revealed our country’s technological strength.
In the spirit of the 16th CPC National Congress and “Three Represents”, Tsinghua developed the “Three Nine-Year Plan” strategy to build itself into a world-class university, concluded the first stage of the “985” plan and started phase two, and launched the 10th Five Year Plan and the “211” project. Tsinghua focused on education quality through offering highly advanced courses and gaining renowned faculty members. Tsinghua deepened the reform of the technology management structure and technology renovation, started the restructuring of Tsinghua-run enterprises, developed cooperation with enterprises, and made great contributions to society.
In the past year, Tsinghua continued to cooperate with world-class universities, received numerous internationally known visitors, and raised the international cooperation and exchange to a higher and more diversified level. Tsinghua carried out the strategy to find the most talented personnel, restructured the faculty appointment system, improved infrastructure, and upgraded the work, study and living environments of everyone on campus.
In 2003, six Tsinghua professors were appointed as academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and five professors received the “University Excellent Teacher” award given by the Ministry of Education. Eight papers from Tsinghua won the National Excellent Dissertation award. Tsinghua also ranked first in China for its 1,899 publications in SCI, 2,094 publications in EI, and 1,144 publications in ISTP (the 2002 figures were announced in 2003).
Tsinghua-run enterprises showed record-high revenue of 13.5 billion RMB. Tsinghua completed construction totaling 216,000 square meters, including the Zijing student dormitory, the No. 6 Teaching Building, and the Nanotechnology and Information Building. In addition, 10,000 students moved into new dormitories.
In brief, Tsinghua had a great start in the second “Nine Year Plan” towards becoming a world-class university.
In the new year, we will continue our efforts and keep abreast of the times. First of all, we will develop and realize three plans step by step: the 2020 development plan, the “Tenth Five Year” plan, and Tsinghua Campus development plan.
We will deepen four areas of renovation. Tsinghua will: accelerate the education reform by gearing the university to become more research-oriented; establish a highly qualified research-oriented faculty team; improve the education management system; and improve the course structure and content. Tsinghua will work to restructure the technology research system and to strengthen departments and disciplines, elevate research quality, develop a system to facilitate multi-disciplined, large-scale cooperation and reform which can make significant contribution to our country, develop a system to promote cutting-edge scientific research, establish a system to support cross-discipline research and new discipline creation, and offer an open platform and research base to promote discipline build-up, personnel training and sustained development.
Tsinghua will restructure the personnel system, expand the strategy to hire outstanding people as this is the core of the technology and education development, and stick to the policy of combining training and practice. Tsinghua will plan for the restructuring of the university management system, promote more democracy in academic policy making, develop a scientific evaluation system to adapt to the new situation, and develop an administration management system to adapt to the world first class university. Tsinghua will also focus on the strengthening of university culture and spirit.
Looking back over the past year, we feel a great sense of pride in our university’s development; as we look toward the future, we feel the responsibility of the goals and expectations facing us.
Let’s keep in mind the philosophies of “Self Discipline and Social Commitment,” “Patriotism, Devotion, and Pursuit of Perfection” and “Action Speaks Louder Than Words.” In our quest for comprehensive improvement, we must standardize management, encourage creativity, achieve significant development in 2004, and write another great page in the progress towards becoming a world-class university.
