Honorary Doctorate Degree ofr H.E. Madame Chen Zhili :

 

A special convocation was organised at the Hall of Fame, Coronation Building on Monday, April 10, 2000 to confer the honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Management on the Minister of Education of the People’s Republic of China. We repro-duce below the oration delivered by Rector Dr. P Martin Komolmas, the citation read by Vice Rector Dr. Bancha Saenghiran and the acceptance speech by Madame Chen Zhili.

Oration by the Rector.

Your Excellency Madame Chen Zhili and honourable members of the Chinese delegation.

Your Excellency Vuttichai Sanguanvongchai,

Esteemed Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of University Affairs, Associate Professor Dr. Vanchai Sirichana.

Distinguishted Members of the University Council, Respected Senior Executives, faculty, staff members and invited guests.

Today we are honouring Her Excellency Chen Zhili, the Minister of Education of the People’s Republic of China. In so doing we recognize her many achievements over a career that spans many disciplines. We also recognize the continuing and enduring importance of China not only on the world stage but to Thailand in general and to Assumption University in particular.

Our Chinese students at ABAC have excelled and their work ethic truly reflects our motto Labor OmniaVincit. One story illustrates this point. Professor Maley in reading the Journal of the one Chinese student in our newly established Master of Arts in English Teaching said that the student noted in her Journal that a number of students had withdrawn from the program because the course required too much work. She was aghast and perplexed noting that no one in China would ever withdraw from a course because it involved too much work. Students such as she can serve as an important stimulus and even a warning to others who come from societies that place too much value on leisure and play. The track star who is way out front and never looks back may be shocked when he is passed and may never find the strength to catch those who over-took and passed him.

Her Excellency Chen Zhili, as mentioned, has an interesting background in the materials science of ceramics and as Vice Mayor of Shanghai where she was in charge of culture, education, science and technology. What struck me was the fact that in man’s evolution the use of fire led to the creation of pottery and the creation of pottery marks the very beginning of civilization. Chinese ceramics originated in prehistoric times and the word “China” connotes the finest of porcelain in many languages. China from China became prized possessions in the greatest houses of Europe and Asia and elsewhere. We have learned much from China and there is a great deal more that can be learned

In closing, through recognizing Her Excellency Chen Zhili and by her acceptance of our degree we hope , in some small way, to continue to advance , improve and strengthen our working relationships with the educational community and people of the People’s Republic of China.

Speech at the Honorary Doctorate Awarding Ceremony at Assumption University, Thailand
by H.E. Mme. Chen Zhili

Your Excellency, Mr. Prachuab Chaiyasan
Respected Rector Professor Dr. Martin
Fellow Professors
Fellow students
Ladies and gentleman

Good morning!

I am very pleased to come, for the second time, to this beautiful campus of Assumption University. As a well-known private seat of learning in Thailand, Assumption University enjoys great prestige for its unique style of management, especially its top-grade educational quality. Assumption University lays great emphasis on research in Chines Studies, it also initiates the major of Chinese Language on a long-term basis. Being in good cooperative relationship with universities in China, Assumption University has become one of the bridges of Sino-Thai friendly exchanges. Today, I feel greatly honoured to be awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Assumption University. Please allow me to avail myself of this occasion to extend to the University my sincere thanks.

I was in your country last October. Your beautiful land, industrious and kind people, magnificent national culture and your warm friendship and hospitality towards China have given me a lovely and profound impression.

The traditional friendship between China and Thailand dates back to ancient times. Just as Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn puts it in one of her poems: “China and Thailand sharing a feeling of kinship, the brother-hood lasting from century to century.” Ever since formal diplomatic relations were set up in 1975 between the People’s Republic of China and the Kingdom of Thailand, the raditional friendship has been further developed and there have been extensive exchanges and co-operation in all fields, including education. All this has been achieved on the basis of friendship, equality and mutual benefit. I believe, China and Thailand will certainly cooperate more closely in the new century. China and Thailand will make greater contributions to their respective development and rosperity, to peace and development in Asia and in the world. A new chapter of friendship between China and Thailand has already begun.

Innovation in Education for the 21st Century -By H.E. Mme. Chen Zhili--

  1. More than two thousand years ago, Confucius, the great Chinese thinker and educationist, advocated the important idea of no rank dis-tinctions in education. We are happy to see this idea is coming true in an entirely new mode in the learning society of the 21st century.

  2. Education runs through the development of human history. Every major change in human society gives rise to innovation in education.

  3. The 20th century has been one of remarkable achievements in science and technology. “Information explosion” and progress in science and technology have rapidly changed human behavior and life style. Lifelong learning becomes possible and necessary. Education is required to teach students how to learn in the learning society.

  4. At the turn of the century, mankind is entering the era of knowledge-based economy. Education plays a basic role in both social and personal development. Traditional mode and system of education can hardly adapt to the new changes. Innovation in education has become extremely urgent.

  5. Our target of innovation in education is to transform the heavy population burden into valuable human resources through innovation and big-stride development. Education has become a strategic priority in our development. The Chinese government has drawn up a new blueprint for educational reform and development.

  6. From 1998 to 2002, the percentage of educational spending in the central government expenditure has been and will be doubled. This means, in about 5 years, the per-centage will be doubled.

Implementing Quality-Oriented Education - Innovation of Target

  1. Quality-oriented education shall be promoted in all types of schools at all levels. The misleading tendency of examination-oriented education must be corrected. Efforts are made to raise the moral standard of stu-dents. Focus is placed on developing their creativity and practical abilities, and on helping them to grow up soundly.

  2. With school, community and family as three major pillars, ethic education must be enhanced so as to help students to have a strong sense of social responsibility, civil and noble sentiments, to respect and cooperate with others, and to contribute to society.

Improving Quality of Teaching - - Innovation of Mode of Education

  1. The role of students as the principal part will be established in the process of teaching. Attention must be given to the stimulation of their independent thinking and innovativeness, to the cultivation of their scientific spirit and creative thinking, and to the development of their ability to analyze and solve problems.

  2. Teaching content must be reformed and a curriculum system and sets of standards will be established for the new century. For basic education it is to be accomplished in five years. Local governments and schools will be brought into play to make the curriculums flexible and adaptable.

  3. Teaching methods must be re-formed. Teaching objectives will be designed in light of the needs for students’ development. Students will be enabled to learn through receiving, probing, imitating and experiencing.

  4. Children’s overloaded burden of studying will be reduced. Teaching quality will be improved and pilot schemes on “success education”, “pleasant learning” will be experimented so as to enable students to develop in a lively manner and on their own initiative.

  5. Examination and assessment system will be reformed. The present way of taking examination as the only assessment must be changed. An assessment of students’ comprehensive capabilities and potential qualities is to be established to promote students’ all-round development.

  6. The key to the improvement of educational quality is the teacher. A teacher should be a person of great learning and model in life. “The Continuing Education Project for Teachers towards the New Century” is being implemented in China. By the year 2002, over 10 million schoolteachers and several hundred thousand headmasters will all have taken some training courses through continuing education, especially in computer application and information technology. Outstanding talented persons will be attracted to go into teaching.

Making Full Use of Information Teachnology in Education - Innovation of Technology.

  1. The Chinese government is making great efforts to use information technology in education so as to accomplish big-stride development of education.

  2. The China Education and Research Network (CERNET) was established in the 90s. CERNET is linked to over 70 cities and 400 universities with more than 2.5 million users. It is about 25% of whole network users in China. Over ten universities in China in-cluding Tsinghua University have started to offer higher education courses on the networks.

  3. The application of information technology in education will be pushed forward on three strata. One is to spread and use educational technology in schools with the multimedia computer technology as the core. Another is to promote the popularization and application of the networks. The third is to develop modem distance edu-cation, to build up and provide net-work resources extensively, and to establish a life-long learning system with this as the platform.

  4. The network will provide a variety of channels for learning and training programs to the general public. High-quality courses will be sent through distance education to remote, rural and western China. More practical technology will be provided for the farmers.

Restructuring Education - - Innovation of Structure

  1. A learning society and the trend of life-long learning call for readjust-ment of the educational structure.

  2. Basic education must be given top priority. At present, in China, there are 340 million people who are receiving education. The illiteracy rate in the total population has reduced from over 80% in 1949 to 14.5% in 1998. China will accomplish the goal of basic universalization of nine-year compulsory education very soon. In cities and economically developed areas, 12- year education will be universalized step by step. The national level of education will be raised and goals of education for all will be accomplished.

  3. Vocational education is equally important as general education. Particularly, the development of vocational education should speed up in rural areas so as to enhance the education and training of the labor force.

  4. Higher education will be developed through a variety of means. Enrolments for universities increased by 47.4% last year and will increase continually. Higher education will be popularized as soon as possible. Arrangements are being made to speed up the training of hi-tech personnel.

  5. Barriers between different types of education at different levels are to be broken down to ensure that they can be inter-linked. Learning can be achieved through diverse channels. Fly-overs can be built for the development of talented persons.

  6. A life-long learning system is being established to advance towards the learning society. We all know that China values learning very much. About 13 million people are receiving higher education through examinations for self-taught learn-ers. About 100 million people are receiving continuing education.

Linking Education with Economy and Society -- Innovation of Function.

  1. Future school education is open and linked closely with all aspects of society. We have always attached great importance to the integration of education with social practice and made the integration an important component of our educational policy.

  2. Universities play an important role in economic and social life. They are the cradles for the training of high-level talented persons, the front line for the exploration of the truth and innovation of knowledge. They are also the major force to increase productivity through the development of science and tech-nology, and a bridge for the exchange between fine Chinese cultural identity and world advanced civilizations.

  3. In 1998, the turnover of hi-tech enterprises run by universities in China reached about US$2.6 billion. A project, “Putting High Technologies from Universities into Industrial Production”, is being implemented in China.

  4. Support is given to universities for the development of new branches of study related with hi-tech. The allocation of educational resources such as degree-awarding designation, input of funds and faculty will favor these universities to train more top-level hi-tech personnel.

  5. Up to now, 15 high-level university science and technology parks have been established around university campuses to promote the development of hi-tech industry.

  6. Efforts are made to promote the integration of industry, education and research. Enterprises are encouraged to set up joint research and development centers in universities.

  7. University professors and students are allowed to set up hi-tech enter-prises with their knowledge and technology.

  8. An ambitious plan has been launched to establish the Zhong-guancun Science and Technology Park as a first-rate park in the world in next ten years. Zhongguancun area of Beijing is located with many universities and research institutes.

  9. Ladies and gentlemen, reform and innovation are opening the gate of the 21st century. As the most dynamic region in terms of economic globalization and technological progress, we are facing with more challenging reform and innovation. The only choice we can make is to go with the trend of the times, strengthen intellectual and economic co-operation between our two nations and meet the challenges together.

  10. Education will play an important role in the future. We will take positive actions to promote the innovation in education in the new century, and to create together a future of peace and prosperity.

Thank you!

Conferment of the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Management on H. E. Madame Chen Zhili Minister of Education of the People’s Republic of China

Citation

Mme. Chen Zhili was born in Xianyou, Fujian Province and began her study in 1959 at the Department of Physics in Fudan University from which she graduated in 1964. She then completed her four years (from 1964 to 1968) of postgraduate study success-fully at Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (China did not practice Academic Degree System then. However, her five years of undergraduate study and four years of graduate study are classified as equivalent to doctorate degree study.)

From 1968 to 1980, Mme. Chen Zhili worked as a researcher at Shang-hai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. During 1980 to 1982, she was a Visiting Scholar at the Material Research Laboratory, Penn-sylvania State University, U.S.A.. From 1983 to 1988, she served in such capacities as Deputy Director for Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Director for Municipal Commission for Science and Technology. During 1988 to 1997, she held the important position of Vice Mayor, Shanghai Municipal Government (in charge of publicity, culture, education, science and technology), and her other positions included:

  • Head of Leading Group of Computer Application and Industrial Development in Shanghai;
  • President of Chinese Association for the Promotion of Peace and Disarmament, Shanghai Branch;
  • Advisor, Shanghai Council of International Cultural Exchange;
  • Honorary President, Shanghai Institute of International Exchange;
  • Guest Professor at Shanghai Jiaotong University.

In 1997, Mme. Chen Zhili began to serve as Vice Minister, National Education Commission of the People’s Republic of China and in 1998 she began her portfolio as Minister of Education.

It will be observed from the above illustrious career details that Mme. Chen Zhili was based for a long time in Shanghai which enjoys the unique distinction as the center of finance, trade and manufacturing in China, and is one of the most vigorous metropolises in the world. By leading and immersing herself in various activities of its Municipal Government in Shanghai, she kept herself in close touch with and gained grassroots support from its populace. When such popular sentiment and acclaim reached resounding levels and when her leadership qualities, her skills in interpersonal relations and,expertise in human resource management were recog-nized, Mme. Chen Zhili’s rise was un-stoppable, from researcher to scholar, from mayor to minister, and her place as a trail-blazer was cut out and sealed.

Mme. Chen Zhili also played an important role in the realm of international relations by holding such key positions as President of Chinese Association for the Promotion of Peace and Disarmament, Honorary President, Shanghai Institute of International Friendship, President Shanghai Council of International Cultural Exchange. The exposition, propagation, discussions and participation in activities in the rarefied fields of peace, disarmament, international friendship and cultural exchange are very profound and these subjects lie within the lofty ambition of learned statesmen, intellectuals, and social philosophers. By engaging in these fields of thought and endeavour Mme. Chen Zhili has shown that she belongs to a select band of dedicated humanists and as such her interest in peoples’ welfare and her public spiritedness deserve recognition and high commendation.

Mme. Chen Zhili’s record of per-formance and achievements in the field of scientific study and research are equally outstanding and impressive. In 1980, she directed research on PLET transparent ferroelectric materials and was awarded the second prize for excellence by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. During 1980 to 1983, she published and presented more than 10 research papers on diffuse phase tran-sition of relaxor ferroelectr ic materials to international academic journals and international conferences, which drew popular attention. And during 1988 to 1999, she authored or acted as chief editor of 12 books in the areas of sciences, culture and philosophy and was awarded some national prizes, and Shanghai Outstanding Book Prize.

For her distinguished services and contributions in piloting and improving the system and standards of education of a huge country with a population of 1.2 billion people, for her leadership qualities exhibited in human resources development and management and for her farsighted espousal of the causes of international peace, friendship and cultural exchange, the Assumption University Council with the concurrence of the Ministry of University Affairs of the Royal Government of Thailand, is pleased to confer the honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy in management on H. E. Mme. hen Zhili, the Minister of Education of the People’s Republic of China.

Given in Bangkok, This Tenth day of April, in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand.

 

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