Chinese universities are "rising through the ranks" quickly, as top universities in China continue to strive for standards of excellence, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford Andrew Hamilton said recently in an interview with Xinhua.
"Universities can never stand still. I think that universities must always be open to new ideas and foster innovation in the way they teach or carry out research," he told Xinhua in the detailed written interview.
Hamilton, 63, has been the vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford since 2009. In the interview, he said that Chinese universities still need some time to build up world-class facilities and the ability to attract the best talents, but they are catching up fast.
"We've had 900 years to do this, but these top Chinese universities are starting to catch up, and managing to do it rapidly," he observed.
OXFORD-CHINA TIES "VERY PLEASING"
Talking about Oxford-China educational ties, the university helmsman stressed that "the exchanges between China and Oxford increase both in number and scale."
"In the mid-90s, fewer than 100 students from China studied in Oxford, now we have nearly 1,000 excellent Chinese students coming here, many funded through an even wider selection of scholarships," he said.
Hamilton revealed that now more than 4,000 Oxford alumni live in China, representing the second largest overseas population of Oxonians in the world, after the United States.
Oxford's Department for Continuing Education has received nearly 5,000 delegates for its training programs for senior Chinese officials over the last 10 years, he said.
Oxford and its Chinese partners, the vice-chancellor noted, also share many research ties, particularly in the area of global health, leading to "scientific and medical breakthroughs that benefit millions of people worldwide."
"This is all very pleasing, but we want to continue building on our links with Chinese students and alumni, as well as working with Chinese institutions and researchers in finding solutions to this century's most urgent challenges like climate change, the environment, and global health," he said.
