Beida Lectures (Volume 7)

Author: Compiled by the Editorial Committee of "Peking University Lectures"
Publisher:
Publishing Date: March 1, 2005
Features: Lectures are a distinctive feature of Peking University's campus. If lectures disappear from universities, campus culture will become a trickle in the desert—though clear, it will be weak and fleeting. The spark of wisdom in the lecture hall should not be confined to the campus but should extend outward, offering all lovers of wisdom the opportunity to listen to the teachings of masters and to personally experience how a trickle can transform into a surging wave racing to the sea. Universities aim to cultivate well-rounded talents, broaden students' knowledge, and reform teaching models and course arrangements, which are naturally the most fundamental. However, achieving this in the short term is very challenging. Through numerous lectures, students can learn about other disciplines, spark their interest in learning, and be guided to study more fundamental humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. They can also stay informed about the latest developments in contemporary technology and hot topics in socio-economic development, helping them better understand society and integrate into it. Lectures have thus become one of the most vibrant components of campus culture. Lectures are an open classroom for quality education. What is a "lecture"? Scholars speak on stage, and students listen in their seats. Some have "jokingly" said: "You can skip classes at Peking University, but you must not miss lectures." Today, in our campus, posters in bulletin boards announce various lecture schedules. Before the lectures, classrooms are packed with students, with desks filled with items used to claim seats. During the lectures, students experience enlightening insights, and after the lectures, they engage in questioning, debate, and deep reflection. All of this has become a distinctive feature of Peking University's campus. Through this scene, you can see the traditionally perceived "residents" of the ivory tower—those who are not content with themselves—retracting their air of arrogance and beginning to reflect on themselves within the campus. You can also see outsiders, with admiration, curiosity, and inquiry, watching the hurried scholars within the tower, even beginning to pause and linger on campus. Lectures not only enrich the sacred land of Peking University but also make this ancient campus more vibrant and youthful, becoming a valuable spiritual treasure for Peking University students.