A University President's Confession

Author: Liu Daoyu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: Introduction to the Liu Daoyu Education Foundation: Professor Liu Daoyu has dedicated his entire life to education. During his nearly 50-year career in education, he served as a leader in higher education for 24 years. He persistently researched the theory and practice of educational reform and creative education, and has always been concerned with issues in China's educational reform and development. With the support of some alumni of Wuhan University, he established the Wuhan Lushi Education Reform Foundation in 1994. In 2004, when the foundation was reregistered according to the newly issued "Regulations on the Administration of Foundations" by the State Council, it was officially renamed the Hubei Liu Daoyu Education Foundation. The purpose of the foundation: Actively develop educational public welfare, promote the implementation and popularization of creative education, reward highly creative outstanding talents, and promote the dissemination of outstanding achievements in educational reform research. The humanistic spirit of the foundation: Paving the way for educational reform, paving the way for the growth of creative talents, and paving the way for the revitalization of China's educational cause! China's educational public welfare needs the participation and assistance of people of insight from all walks of life. The foundation sincerely hopes to contribute its love to the cause of education. In 1981, Liu Daoyu, who was only a lecturer, was appointed as the president of Wuhan University by the central government and was the youngest president among China's key universities at that time. Liu Daoyu once said, "I didn't want to be an official, so I wasn't afraid of losing my position. Then, I wouldn't have to worry about 'saving my job' and act cautiously. I could then freely unleash my creativity." "There is one word I like the most, and that is 'change.' With this word, there is great driving force for innovation." It was his personality of "speaking without reservation, acting without hesitation" that made him a prominent figure in universities in the 1980s and also contributed to the former glory of Wuhan University. A series of high education reforms he pioneered and promoted, such as the credit system, the transfer student system, the mentor system, the transfer system, the major-minor system, and the dual-degree system, attracted nationwide attention, making Wuhan University a pioneer in the field of educational reform at that time, even leading to the saying "North has Peking University, South has Wuhan University." The movie "Female Student Dormitory" features a president named Lushi, who is based on Liu Daoyu. Sixteen years ago, due to various reasons, the reform-minded Liu Daoyu was suddenly dismissed, and he disappeared from people's sight like a mystery. This book is the first time Liu Daoyu has presented his image to the world after 16 years of silence, revealing many hidden and unknown historical details. It will awaken the most beautiful memories in the hearts of Wuhan University students, taking them back to the golden years of Wuhan University, and at the same time, it is a perfect explanation for the "Liu Daoyu complex" that lingers in their hearts. The author has dedicated his entire life to the cause of educational reform. Many of his reform measures and perspectives were forward-looking, and he has preserved many valuable experiences and reflections in the book, such as the value orientation of universities, higher education models, and the selection of university presidents. For China's troubled higher education system, these have important reference significance.