Preparing to Face the Preparing to Face the
World World
Michael M.C. Lai, M.D., Ph.D.
Michael M.C. Lai, M.D., Ph.D.
President, National Cheng Kung President, National Cheng Kung
University University
SATU Youth Forum SATU Youth Forum
Nov. 9, 2008 Nov. 9, 2008
The Missions of a The Missions of a
University University
Educate students to become future Educate students to become future leaders and innovators
leaders and innovators
Do research to generate and Do research to generate and
promulgate new knowledge and promulgate new knowledge and
technology technology
Serve the society and mankind to Serve the society and mankind to solve global and local challenges solve global and local challenges
The changing nature of university The changing nature of university
education education
Before 19th century (e.g., Harvard Before 19th century (e.g., Harvard University,1637): classical
University,1637): classical
curriculum (Greek, Latin, moral curriculum (Greek, Latin, moral
philosophy and mathematics) philosophy and mathematics)
– To prepare the virtue, religion and To prepare the virtue, religion and discipline of the mind
discipline of the mind
– To mold “Renaissance” gentlemen of To mold “Renaissance” gentlemen of the upper-class society
the upper-class society
The changing nature of university The changing nature of university
education (II) education (II)
Since 1870 (e.g., Johns Hopkins, Purdue, Since 1870 (e.g., Johns Hopkins, Purdue,
Stanford, etc.): promoting the advancement Stanford, etc.): promoting the advancement
of new scholarship and knowledge.
of new scholarship and knowledge.
Research universities Research universities
– Original research and scholarshipOriginal research and scholarship
– Practical skills in agriculture and mechanics Practical skills in agriculture and mechanics (professional training for jobs)
(professional training for jobs)
– Specialization of academic disciplines and Specialization of academic disciplines and
creation of majors (in 1920s): studying subjects creation of majors (in 1920s): studying subjects of individual interest
of individual interest
The changing nature of university The changing nature of university
education (III) education (III)
Since 1960: Bachelor degree Since 1960: Bachelor degree
emphasizes general education and emphasizes general education and
has become only a preparatory has become only a preparatory
degree.
degree.
– Information explosionInformation explosion
– Longer life span (changing several Longer life span (changing several careers throughout a lifetime)
careers throughout a lifetime)
– The need to acquire self-learning skillsThe need to acquire self-learning skills
The goals of university The goals of university
education education
17th century: Renaissance men17th century: Renaissance men
19th century: Develop new 19th century: Develop new knowledge and skills
knowledge and skills
– Research universitiesResearch universities – Professional trainingProfessional training – Ivory towerIvory tower
20th & 21st centuries: General 20th & 21st centuries: General education
education
The winning personality traits of The winning personality traits of
21st century 21st century
Skills and Knowledge Skills and Knowledge
IQ (Intelligence Quotient)IQ (Intelligence Quotient) EQ (Emotion Quotient)EQ (Emotion Quotient)
MQ (Moral Quotient)MQ (Moral Quotient)
AQ (Attitude Quotient orAQ (Attitude Quotient or
Adversity Quotient)Adversity Quotient)
The qualities of successful The qualities of successful
global citizens global citizens
Good EQ, MQ and AQGood EQ, MQ and AQ
– EQ (Emotion quotient)EQ (Emotion quotient) – MQ (Moral quotient)MQ (Moral quotient)
– AQ (Attitude or adversity quotient)AQ (Attitude or adversity quotient)
Cross-disciplinary knowledgeCross-disciplinary knowledge
Ability to do team workAbility to do team work
Communication Communication
Leadership and entrepreneurshipLeadership and entrepreneurship
Appreciation for different cultures Appreciation for different cultures (internationalized)
(internationalized)
Goals of undergraduate education Goals of undergraduate education
at NCKU at NCKU
Humanistic education accompanied by Humanistic education accompanied by goodgood professional trainingprofessional training
Interdisciplinary educationInterdisciplinary education
Creativity trainingCreativity training
Entrepreneurship and leadershipEntrepreneurship and leadership
Communication skillsCommunication skills
Internationalization (global awareness) Internationalization (global awareness)
Social responsibilities and community Social responsibilities and community involvement
Humanistic training Humanistic training
Broad visionsBroad visions
Character buildupCharacter buildup
Interpersonal skillsInterpersonal skills
– Job searchJob search
– Job promotionJob promotion – Career successCareer success
Interdisciplinary training Interdisciplinary training
Every issue involves more than specialty Every issue involves more than specialty knowledge, e.g.
knowledge, e.g.
– Gentrification (aging)Gentrification (aging) – Global warmingGlobal warming
Broaden views and experiencesBroaden views and experiences
Fresh ideasFresh ideas
Creativity Creativity
““ The process of asking new questions The process of asking new questions and solving them” (S. C. Lai, a
and solving them” (S. C. Lai, a playwright)
playwright)
Brain as a computer; creativity is the Brain as a computer; creativity is the designing of the operating system to designing of the operating system to
organize the database in the computer organize the database in the computer
Creativity is trainableCreativity is trainable
Creativity includes wisdom and Creativity includes wisdom and
From Information age to knowledge
age and finally to
the age of ideas
Creativity is the core of future Creativity is the core of future
competitiveness competitiveness
The decline of the labor-intensive The decline of the labor-intensive industries and the rise of
industries and the rise of
“knowledge-based economy
“knowledge-based economy
The explosion of new knowledge and The explosion of new knowledge and ever-expanding new disciplines
ever-expanding new disciplines
Communication skills Communication skills
The ability to express ideas verbally The ability to express ideas verbally and in writing (native tongue and
and in writing (native tongue and foreign languages)
foreign languages)
Make yourself and your work knownMake yourself and your work known
Exchange ideasExchange ideas
LeadLead
Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurship and
Leadership Leadership
A will to leadA will to lead
Different circumstances require Different circumstances require different leadership skills
different leadership skills
– A university president (entertainer, A university president (entertainer,
visionary, preacher, psychologist, CEO) visionary, preacher, psychologist, CEO)
Leadership is an art but is trainableLeadership is an art but is trainable
Creative, fresh thinkingCreative, fresh thinking
Artful listeningArtful listening
Decision-makingDecision-making
Internationalization vs.
Internationalization vs.
Globalization Globalization
GlobalizationGlobalization
– ““The world is flat”: Thomas FriedmanThe world is flat”: Thomas Friedman
– ““A global village”: The world everywhere is A global village”: The world everywhere is connected and exposed.
connected and exposed.
InternationalizationInternationalization
– The understanding and exchanges of The understanding and exchanges of cultures and knowledge
cultures and knowledge
To become good global citizens To become good global citizens through internationalization
through internationalization
Becoming a global citizen in the Becoming a global citizen in the
21st century 21st century
““ The world is flat” (Thomas The world is flat” (Thomas Friedman)
Friedman)
A two-way processA two-way process
Brain drain vs. brain circulationBrain drain vs. brain circulation
The purposes of internationalization:The purposes of internationalization:
– Acquiring new knowledge and skillsAcquiring new knowledge and skills
– Gaining international perspectives and Gaining international perspectives and appreciating cultural diversity
appreciating cultural diversity
Purposes of internationalization Purposes of internationalization
To learn the cutting-edge science, technology and To learn the cutting-edge science, technology and scholarship.
scholarship.
To learn attitudes and other qualities of students from To learn attitudes and other qualities of students from other countries
other countries
To learn and understand foreign cultures.To learn and understand foreign cultures.
To facilitate international communication and establish To facilitate international communication and establish personal contacts.
personal contacts.
To upgrade the country’s standing in international To upgrade the country’s standing in international community.
community.
To be competitive internationallyTo be competitive internationally
Skills for Skills for
internationalization internationalization
Foreign languages (English as the Foreign languages (English as the second language)
second language)
Understanding different culturesUnderstanding different cultures
Understanding common etiquetteUnderstanding common etiquette
Establishing international connectionsEstablishing international connections
Keeping abreast of international news Keeping abreast of international news in politics, economy or your own field in politics, economy or your own field
What is a global university?
What is a global university?
Global brandname recognitionGlobal brandname recognition
Comprehensive excellence in teaching, Comprehensive excellence in teaching, research and faculty and students
research and faculty and students
Global “export” of teaching and learningGlobal “export” of teaching and learning
Strong international student demandStrong international student demand
Close interaction with global businessClose interaction with global business
Performing research on global issuesPerforming research on global issues
Social responsibilities and global Social responsibilities and global
concerns concerns
Community service Community service
Social awarenessSocial awareness
Concerns for mankind: “World is hot, Concerns for mankind: “World is hot, flat and crowded” (Thomas Friedman) flat and crowded” (Thomas Friedman)
– Energy conservationEnergy conservation – Population controlPopulation control – Limit pollution Limit pollution
– Green revolutionGreen revolution
