New blood for Nanjing University? ( 2003-09-12 17:15) (China.org.cn)
In May 2003, Peking University threw out a series
of reforms on faculty appointments and promotions in order to realize its goal
of constructing a world-level university.
The core of the reform was to scrap the "iron rice bowl" system of existing
lecturers, where tenure meant for life. Peking University will not renew
contracts of lecturers and associate professors who fail to be promoted as
associate professors and professors during a period of tenure.
The reform news not only caused an "earthquake" in this top university in
China, but also erupted into a row across Chinese academia. Some media called it
"a reform introducing competition and eliminating rules into academic ivory
tower" and "an attempt of searching new roads for China's universities."
Almost at the same time as the reform of Peking University aroused debate,
Nanjing University, which has the same goal as Peking University, also issued a
reform of great impact -- by publicly seeking 149 professors and 149 associate
professors around the world. In addition, Nanjing University also intends to
abolish life tenure for lecturers in the university, which means lecturers in
Nanjing University will have to say goodbye to their "iron rice bowl" career.
What was the real purpose behind the actions of Nanjing University? Was it
defiance towards current faculty appointment systems or only a pretentious show?
Public attention
At the end of May, Nanjing University issued a notice on the overseas version
of the People's Daily and Guangming Daily that this year's newly increased posts
of 149 professors and 149 associate professors were all open to domestic and
overseas talent. Application began shortly after the notice. Currently, the
first-run recruitment has come to an end and entered into a period of appraisal
and selection.
According to people in charge at Nanjing University, the news of looking for
300 professors from around the world has caused shock among domestic and
overseas scholars.
Within only one month, nearly 100 talented applicants had applied for the
posts. Besides lecturers and scholars in other domestically famous universities
and scientific research institutes, overseas scholars also accounted for a
comparatively large ratio of the numbers applying. Among those applicants, there
was no lack of famous overseas scholars. According to the media report, some
even have gained PhDs and post-doctoral degrees from world first-class
universities including Harvard, Stanford and Yale universities. Besides overseas
scholars, there were also more than 100 applicants who were lecturers and
associate professors in Nanjing University.
Actually, what caught the greatest attention was the abolishing of life
tenure of university lecturers. That is to say, "professor" and "associate
professor" will no longer be the lifetime title of senior lecturers in Nanjing
University. It is seen as a bold move in China's institutions of higher
education.
Strong impacts
Some media have called the "radical reforms" of Peking University in May an
"earthquake". The practice of Nanjing University also brings about similarly
strong impacts.
According to a signed article on the overseas version of People's Daily, the
practice of Nanjing University has broadened the channel of inviting professors,
enabling universities to find increasingly satisfying staff.
Applicants have to first provide the relevant material according to the
requirements of the university, then take part in interviews and pass relevant
discipline appraisal tests, by internal and external qualified personnel.
Subsequently, the successful candidate will get a letter of appointment issued
by the president of the university.
Furthermore, since it is no longer a lifetime tenure appointment, greater
pressure is placed on those employed who must continue their studies and
research in their discipline. It is also conducive to breaking down the practice
of promotion by seniority during the appraisal of professional titles and
weeding out incompetent staff.
However, the move has also brought doubts and questions from some members of
the media and university insiders. The first is that the practice of Nanjing
University may achieve few results. Public recruitment by Nanjing University
focuses on first-class talent. However, due to problems such as personal
treatment of existing staff, Nanjing University may not much of an influence on
famous overseas scholars or in Beijing and Shanghai where many of China's top
universities are. The second is if Nanjing University really has the intention
to widely seek new blood? Do these posts really exist? Was it only propaganda
and a pretentious show in order to enhance its status?
The move also caused "earthquake" within the university. "During previous
appraisals, as long as we did better than other colleagues, we could be promoted
to professorship. Now, the rules have changed. We have to compete with domestic
and overseas applicants. We all feel great pressure," said several associate
professors from Nanjing University.
Competition to improve professors' level
According to Mu Ronghua, director of the Personnel Department of Nanjing
University, all posts of professor and associate professor that they are now
seeking do exist. Some are posts which will be available in two years after
retirement of some existing lecturers, accounted for 50 percent of the posts.
Others are newly created posts according to the development needs of the
university. What is more important is that the posts cover all disciplines. "The
move is a necessary reform rather than just a pretentious show. We have to do
it," said Mu Ronghua.
Zhou Yi'an, deputy director of the Personnel Department explained why it is
necessary for Nanjing University. "Just like many other universities, the
appraisal of lecturers' professional titles has developed into a vicious circle.
When a person with a PhD was assigned to the university, he or she would be
promoted to associate professor in two or three years time and then promoted to
professor in four or five years. You would have to promote him or her as long as
there is no special reason. Therefore, we do have many professors, but it is not
been in accordance with the developing requirements of the university."
Academic development needs talent
Since Nanjing University has abolished lifetime professional titles, the
traditional appraisal of professional titles is no longer as important as it
used to be. The system of recruitment has been enhanced. That is to say, in the
future, professors and associated professors in Nanjing University will be
appointed by the university with a certain time limit, usually three years.
"You are professor within three years and after three years, if the
university considers you are not suitable for the post of professor, the school
will not re-appoint you," said Director Mu.
As to the question whether Nanjing University has enough courage to dismiss
unqualified professors or associate professors, Mu said, "One thing is sure and
that is that most professors and associated professors in Nanjing University are
qualified. Even if there is a competition, they can win in the competition. We
are carrying out an improved faculty appointment system. If currently some
professors or associate professors are not competent for their posts, the
university will no longer appoint them after their first period of tenure. They
will face several choices. They will be asked to compete for other posts with
previous professors competing for the post of associate professor and previous
associate professors competing for the post of lecturers. Or, they can choose to
leave Nanjing University. The reason we are seeking talent from around the world
is to encourage a flow of talent. In fact the flow of talent in institutions of
higher education is conducive to academic development for an institution."
Sticking to practice of seeking professors publicly around the
world
At present, the global recruitment of Nanjing University is at a talent
appraisal phase. Mu disclosed that this time there will be a large number of
excellent domestic and overseas talent being selected for Nanjing University.
The 298 posts will not be fully filled this time. "We will adhere to the
principle of placing quality above quantity and continue our recruitment." After
the 298 posts are all filled, will Nanjing University still publicly seek
professors from around the world? "As long as there are vacant posts available,
we will continue the practice. This is the main developing trend of modern
universities," said Mu.
