World-Class University Tour: The 50 Top-Tier Universities You Can't Afford to Miss

Author: Jiang Lexing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Harvard has been in existence for over 360 years but still considers itself "young." The said, "Even in the oldest buildings, the residents are new students." In Harvard, you can feel its youth and vitality everywhere. When you first step onto the campus of Harvard, you might be a bit disappointed: there is no gate or sign that tells you it's Harvard. Why do top teachers from around the world come here? Harvard University is renowned largely because it boasts a first-class faculty. Among its 2,000+ teachers, nearly 800 are full professors, and these professors are among the best in their respective fields worldwide, including Nobel laureates and Pulitzer Prize winners. To become a professor at Harvard, the competition is extremely fierce. The basic requirement is a doctoral degree from a top American university, but the chance of success might be as low as 1 in 50,000. Most Harvard professors lead extremely busy lives, facing immense pressure. Harvard actively recruits top-tier professors and implements a "non-tenure-track" system. An assistant professor who fails to advance to associate professor within five or six years might have to start looking for another job. To secure tenure, one must first become a full professor. Why do so many of the world's finest elites still pursue this arduous path to become professors? First, because they are truly passionate about knowledge and research. Second, it's the unparalleled prestige of the Harvard brand. Additionally, the university encourages professors to engage in consulting and other social work. Practical experience makes teaching more targeted and applicable. Social can provide them with a comfortable lifestyle. Generally, a business school professor can earn up to $10,000 in consulting fees per day. Lectures—Honor for Both Listener and Speaker Harvard University is famous for the number of lectures it hosts, and the speakers come from all walks of life. From heads of state at the top to students at the bottom, anyone with a suitable topic can post a poster and give a lecture. The content of these lectures is incredibly diverse, covering everything and anything, and often includes the unexpected. Academic exchanges take different forms depending on their level. Speeches by heads of state are attended by ticket holders, who are carefully selected—some are assigned, and others are chosen through a lottery. Generally, lectures by celebrities are ticketed and quite expensive. Academic lectures, however, are free, with the exception of high-level speeches by Nobel laureates and others. Many small academic lectures are not only free but also offer coffee, tea bags, and snacks for the audience. As one of the world's most famous universities, Harvard has long been a "holy land" for many. Many people consider it an honor to have the opportunity to speak at Harvard. In fact, many world-renowned figures have delivered lectures at Harvard, including heads of state and leaders from various countries. Since 1997 alone, prominent figures who have visited Harvard to deliver speeches include: Nobel laureate Roberts, newspaper columnists Barkley, famous actress Jane Fonda, film critics Haskell and Albert, former Canadian Prime Minister Campbell, and Disney Channel CEO.