Teacher: Interview with Professors from the School of Economics and Management at Tsinghua University

Author: Liu Ying, Niu Xiaohong
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: Discussing the experiences of studying abroad, Bai Zhong'en quotes a saying by Li Fanghongjian: "After studying abroad, you won’t be afraid of foreigners." He smiled and said, "There’s no such thing as a 'ten Bai,' but if you live in a place and immerse yourself in its environment, there will be fewer barriers. Before going to the U.S., I had some understanding of the country through books. When I first arrived in the U.S., I found nothing surprising, at least on the surface. But there were still many things that you could only truly appreciate by living there." Compared to the academic environment in China, Bai Zhong'en believes one significant difference is the competitive market abroad. He said, "A scholar doesn’t have to stay in one place forever. If they are well-received in the market and believe another place can better help them thrive, they can change jobs at any time. This has a great motivating effect." Professor Bai further explained, "Meeting a good leader in a place is great, but not everyone is so lucky. Abroad, a leader may not be as important as relationships with colleagues. If you can’t get along with people around you in a place and it’s not a fluid environment, you’ll find it very difficult. So, 'mobility' is a very important factor."
During this process of mobility, there is also the issue of evaluating scholars. Beyond widely recognized standards, who is considered a good scholar and who isn’t is mainly based on peer evaluation, not just by counting how many articles they publish or how many times they are cited by SSCI. For example, if someone is changing jobs, their new employer will ask for recommendation letters. Different people write recommendation letters in different styles—some always praise others highly, while others may be more objective. Perhaps because the market has been running for a long time and has accumulated some experience, people interpret the content of recommendation letters based on past experiences, making this evaluation process quite effective. It is also because the academic market abroad has an effective evaluation system, and this evaluation directly affects a scholar’s market value, that many scholars remain highly motivated even after receiving tenure."
When asked about his views on the domestic academic environment, Professor Bai Zhong'en paused and thought for a full minute. I thought he might have reservations, but he said, "This isn’t hesitation; I want to be precise."
There are many differences between China and the U.S., which may stem from different market demands. The U.S. has a relatively mature academic environment, with many economists specializing in narrow fields, allowing them to delve deep into their research. In China, however, the supply of researchers is insufficient while the demand is strong. When demand exceeds supply, everyone tends to study broad issues, and with so many research topics, they may not have enough time to delve into them deeply. In China, there is also a tendency for "circle-gardening" in academia, where everyone highly values who proposes new ideas, so they all strive to become idea-proposers. In the process of proposing ideas, they may not be as cautious, and some may even propose numerous, unfounded ideas. Meanwhile, the market demand side has limited judgment ability, so the ideas can be mixed with dross, even misleading. In the long run, this is not a healthy situation."
Professor Bai Zhong'en’s point resonates deeply with me. Part of my job involves media relations, and I often find it puzzling that Tsinghua professors are reluctant to speak publicly. When a hot topic is being widely discussed in society, Tsinghua professors often remain silent, largely due to their rigorous academic attitude. But in an era where fame can be achieved overnight, it’s truly a pity for them at times. Professor Bai Zhong'en shared the same sentiment, saying, "This is a common issue faced by Tsinghua professors. As more people engage in research, the market demand side will become more selective, and their judgment ability will also strengthen. I believe this situation will improve in the future." P5-6