Rules needed to end college name disputes

Chinese people pass by an entrance of Nanjing University in Nanjing city, east Chinas Jiangsu province. [Photo/IC]

In an official statement on Tuesday, Nanchang University in East China's Jiangxi province declared "Nanda" to be its Chinese abbreviated name, which has been used by Nanjing University in East China's Jiangsu province. The Ministry of Education official said the universities should solve the disputes on their own. Comments:

The abbreviation of a university's name should be based on its culture, history, and academic achievements. The public will not recognize the name if it is only written in a university's statutes. The Ministry of Education needs to regulate the use of abbreviated names for institutions of higher learning in the country, and urge the colleges to focus on education and research.

rednet.cn, July 5

It is the educational and academic dedication of a university that really counts, not its shortened name. The abbreviation "Nanda" legally belongs to Nanjing University which acquired the name first. Those at Nanchang University simply have pretensions for such an abbreviated name, as Nanjing University clearly enjoys higher popularity and administrative ranking.

ifeng.com, July 4

It is understandable and respectful that more universities seek to protect their "registered trademarks", yet suing each other over such infringements is meaningless brouhaha. Forbidding the use of shortened names on official occasions and documents may as well be a solution for universities involved in such disputes. As for the common citizens, they can call the universities anything they like.

Beijing News, July 5

The clashes over abbreviated names between universities, to some extent, reflect the absence of relevant regulations, which the Ministry of Education should work on as soon as possible. The disputes can be fundamentally ended only when the naming rules that cover historical factors, public recognition, and relevant laws are drawn up.

gmw.cn, July 5