In order to construct its philosophy and social science disciplines with Chinese characteristics and a Sichuan University style and boost its competitive edge in liberal arts, Sichuan University held the Sichuan University Forum on Philosophy and Social Sciences in the Water-Front Auditorium, Jiang’an Campus on November 15. President Yanrong Li attended and delivered a speech at the forum. Around 400 people took part in this forum. They include Ms. Ning Wang, a senior professor of Beijing Normal University, Qingzhu Liu, a research fellow and member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Zhiren Zhou, Peking University professor and deputy chair of the teaching steering committee of the Ministry of Education, Zhibin Jiang, professor of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Yichuan Wang, distinguished professor of Peking University, Guiping Du, distinguished professor of Beijing Normal University, Professor Xizhang He of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Yongdong Li, professor at Southwest University, SCU Professor Shichuang Zhan and Professor Wei Huo, heads of SCU liberal arts colleges and related departments, and representatives of teachers and students. Vice President Shijing Yan presided over the forum.
On behalf of SCU and Chairman Jianguo Wang of the university council, Yanrong Li welcomed all the guests at the forum and thanked all the experts for their long-standing care and support. He indicated that over the past 123 years, SCU has accumulated profound humanistic and academic connotations, gathered a large number of remarkable scholars, and formed a school of humanities featuring the New Shu Study. SCU has made a large number of landmark achievements including Compendium of Confucian Woks ( Ru Cang ). In addition, the university has taken on the national key cultural project, the compilation of Chinese Compendium of Taoist Works. Moreover, SCU has established cultural heritage and innovation centers and high-level think tanks such as the Chinese Culture Institute, the Research Center for Ancient Chinese Characters and Pre Qin History, and the China Center for South Asia Studies.
Next, SCU liberal arts ought to reinforce the following four aspects of work in accordance with the established objectives: first, to have spirit, that is, to uphold independent thinking and academic freedom. Second, we should have characteristics and cultivate academic schools with a Sichuan University style. Third, we should focus on the core competitiveness and speed up the construction of first-class disciplines. Fourth, we need the atmosphere, and make efforts to create a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere for teachers to study at ease and devote themselves to educating people. With the concerted efforts of all of us, I believe that SCU liberal arts will surely develop its philosophy and social science disciplines with Chinese characteristics and an SCU style.
Ning Wang, senior professor of Beijing Normal University
Qingzhu Liu, Member of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Zhiren Zhou, deputy chair of the teaching steering committee of the Ministry of Education and Peking University professor
Zhibin Jiang, a Changjiang Scholars Program scholar and professor of Shanghai Jiao Tong University
SCU Distinguished Professor Shichuang Zhan
At the forum, Professor Ning Wang, Research fellow Qingzhu Liu, Professor Zhibin Jiang, Professor Shichuang Zhan, among others, not only analyzed the current situation, existing problems, challenges and future development trend of their respective disciplines, but also proposed suggestions for the innovation and development of the disciplines, shedding light on enhancing the competitiveness of the disciplines and building first-class liberal arts.
In his summary, Shijing Yan pointed out that liberal arts are the foundation and highlight of Sichuan University. Consisting of the traditional dominant disciplines of the University, the liberal arts have good foundation, strength, status and characteristics. Our university has always attached great importance to the prosperity and development of liberal arts. In 2018, the university adopted the development policy of "building first-class liberal arts" and decided on the development path of "excellent liberal arts". We should continue to work hard at accelerating the construction of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics and an SCU style, boosting the core competitiveness of liberal arts in our university.
In the afternoon, College of Literature and Journalism, School of History and Cultures ( Tourism ) and Business School held sub forums on “Chinese academic research during the New China”, “Regional history and nationality under the viewpoint of double first-class construction”, “Research on the reform of state-owned enterprises under the strategy of innovation driven development” respectively. At the forums, experts and scholars had in-depth discussions regarding the connotative development, as well as how to improve the core competitiveness and build first-class liberal arts to serve the development of the country.
