Forum urges universities to evolve

China had about 2,600 universities with more than 38.33 million students in 2018. The gross enrollment rate in higher education reached 48 percent, exceeding the average level of the key index of medium-high income countries, he says. The GER index measures the scale and quality of a country's higher education, and is also an indicator of its social development and progress.

Wang Yaoqi, president of the university, says as demand grows, the spreading of knowledge speeds up. This is fueled by big data and all-media networks, and the new technologies, especially those involved in internet, see a doubling in capacity every two years or so. This is not always easily comprehensible to every student and teacher.

In such cases, Wang says, the development mode of disciplines initiated by the university also undergoes dramatic changes from simple theoretical evolution to interdisciplinary study, teaching more practical approaches for students to better address and solve real-life problems. Meanwhile, current universities help students to obtain a greater understanding of humanity, morality and social benefit, according to Wang.