[120th Anniversary] Know Beida via Keywords: talents
May 02, 2018
Peking University, April 5, 2018: Peking University is going to celebrate its 120 anniversary on May 4, the date of its foundation in 1898. As a milestone in the history of PKU, the 120th anniversary serves as a key point to review the past achievements and to look forward to future development. Knowing Beida via 120 keywords, produced by Beidanews, is a series of historical snapshots that provide a fresh and immersing entrée to PKU’s illustrious past.
1. “Welcome talents with full heart”
PKU has always been holding on to the principle of talent construction that it should promote the welfare of talents who have devoted themselves to PKU as well as attracting more elites from afar. Under the guideline of welcoming talents with full heart, PKU has attracted talents from “The Recruitment Program of Global Experts”, “Changjiang Scholars Program”, awardees of National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, and etc., that constitute 3 layers of talents group raging from the senior scholars to the burgeoning youth.
2. Office of Teacher Education
In early 2016, PKU set up the Office of Teacher Education to enhance the ideological consciousness of faculty. Cooperating with functional and administrative departments, the office takes “professional ethics” as the most important criterion when reviewing the appointment, promotion, and removal of a teacher.
3. Tenure track system
The Tenure Track System is an integral part of a series of structural reforms in teaching, scientific research, and position management. After the system was established in 2014, PKU has been able to provide faculty with a positive approach to gaining experience for future development.
4. Academicians
By the end of 2017, PKU has produced 76 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (including 27 dual-employers) and 19 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (including 10 dual-employers). Furthermore, 25 teachers in PKU have been granted certificates by other national academies, domestic and abroad.
5. Senior Professors of Philosophy and Social Science
As a comprehensive university with many academic subjects, Peking University also gathers numerous talents in the fields of philosophy and social science. By the end of 2017, there were 13 senior tenure professors in PKU who have been here since 2005.
6. Thousand Talents Plan
Since government promotion of the “Thousand Talents Plan” in 2008, PKU responded to the call by attracting many returning world-class scholars from overseas. 225 scholars from PKU were chosen as eminent talents of the “Thousand Talents Plan”, making PKU a leading university in this area.
7. Boya Talent System
Boya Talent System focuses on top talents and young scholars including Boya chair professors, Boya distinguished professors, Boya young scholars and Boya post-doctors. This system has attracted eminent scholars, outstanding academic leaders, and academic powerhouses from all over the world.
8. Cai Yuanpei Prize
The Cai Yuanpei Prize is the highest honor for prestigious teachers who devote themselves to education and make great contributions to the school. Ji Xianlin, Hou Renzhi, Li Yining, and Justin Yifu Lin have won this prize in last two years.
9. Eminent Teachers
PKU attaches great importance to its teaching staff. By setting up awards like the Cai Yuanpei Prize and the “Ten Best Teachers” award, PKU endeavors to improve the professional ethics of teachers.
10. Meng Erdong
Meng Erdong is a professor of Chinese literature in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature. He exhausted himself so much when undertaking volunteer teaching atn Shihezi University that he eventually passed away from a malignant tumor. Meng epitomizes teachers who dedicate themselves to education with professional ethics in PKU.
11. Young and Middle-aged Core Teacher Training
The training intends to improve teachers’ capabilities of research and teaching. PKU also holds a teaching competition to provide teachers with a platform to learn from each other in these areas.
12. Post-Doctors
Since the setup of mobile postdoctoral stations was endorsed by the government in 1985, PKU has attached great importance to the academic atmosphere of postdoctoral training. After years of hard work, there emerge now 75 mobile postdoctoral stations which cover five departments and 47 subjects.
Written by: Peng Wei
Edited by: Wei Yunqi, Karen Xu
Source: PKU News (Chinese)
