A daylong national workshop on Developing Universities was held on November 30, 2005. More than ten experts from academia, policy bodies as well as industry and private sector participated. The theme of the workshop was “The Evolving Role of Universities in the National System of Innovation of China.”

The core issues addressed in the workshop were: the history of Chinese universities, the role universities play in the national system of innovation of China today, what challenges and opportunities Chinese education system face, and how innovation policy can stimulate the university to be more proactive as knowledge-producer, incubator and networker and can enforce the linkage and cooperation between universities, research institutes and industry.

In his opening address, Mr. Zhou, from National Research Center for S&T for Development (NRCSTD), first introduced the background of the “Developing Universities” Project and the present effort that NRCSTD had made. He stressed the importance of the project for developing countries, especially for China, and pointed out that the purpose of the national workshop was to contribute a better understanding of the changing role of universities in China and start a public discussion and policy process on this issue.

The major speakers were: Mr. Wang Nan, from Ministry of Education, introduced the history of Chinese higher education system from 1949 to 2005 and the different characteristic of higher education system in different time; Ms. Wang Haiyan, from NRCSTD, analyzed the evolving role of higher education system in National System of Innovation of China; Professor Liu Yi, from Tsinghua University, presented the development of Tsinghua University and the role it played in the economic growth of China; Professor Jin Wulun, from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out the challenges and opportunities that Chinese education system face; Mr. Guo Zhe, from Ministry of Science and Technology, stated the policy Chinese Government had made for the cooperation between universities, research institutes and industry.

After a daylong discussion, the experts provided a great amount of useful information and made some constructive suggestions, which would contribute a lot to the project. The national workshop closed with a complete success.

The NRCSTD will summarize the achievement of this national workshop and do further research on the evolving role of universities in the National System of Innovation of China, especially through carrying out some case studies in selected universities.

PS: workshop program and participants list.

Workshop program:

8:30-9:00 introductory statement by Mr. Zhou yuan

9:00-10:00 presentation from Ministry of Education

10:00-11:00 presentation from NRCSTD

11:00-12:00 presentation from Tsinghua University

12:00-2:00 lunch

2:00-3:00 presentation from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

3:00-4:00 presentation from Ministry of Science and Technology

4:00-5:00 summarizing discussion

Participants list:

Policy bodies:
Mr. Guo Zhe, Ministry of Science and Technology
Mr. Wang Nan, Ministry of Education

Universities:
Professor Liu Yi, Tsinghua University
Professor Yang Aihua, Ms. Zhang Yan, Beihang University
Professor Zhang gang, Professor Yan Shimei, Zhejiang University

Research institutes:
Professor Wang Yumin, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Professor Jin Wulun, Professor Zhuang Xuliang, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Mr. Zhou Yuan, Ms. Wang Haiyan, National Research Center for S&T for Development (NRCSTD)

Industry and private sector:
Mr. Zhao Shuang, Capitel Group