On June 2, four days ahead of the 115th anniversary of Southeast University, “the Conference of Guo Bingwen and Modern University Education” was held at Si Pailou campus of Southeast University . The conference was co-hosted by Publicity Department and the Institute of Higher Education. The delegation of relatives of Guo Bingwen led by Ms. Xu Zhiyun, the representative of relatives of National Central University’s first president Zhang Naiyan, Zhang Wenjia, doctor of Columbia University and the English writer of Guo Bingwen biography Ryan M.Allen, researcher of National Institute of Education Sciences Chu Zhaohui, dean of Institute of Education of Nanjing University, professor Wang Yunlai, professor Yu Zixia of Central China Normal University, professor Zhang Yaqun of Xia Men University, etc., were invited to the conference. The directors of publicity departments of over 30 universities including Peking University, leaders of Southeast University Zhang Guangjun, Zuo Wei, Ren Lijian, directors of relevant departments and faculties, representatives of teachers and students, etc., attended the conference.
The conference included experts’ reports and discussion. Experts’ reports was hosted by the vice director of Social Science Administration Department, professor Chen Zhibin, and the discussion was hosted by the former director of Party Committee Office Shi Jutao. Focusing on the relationship between Guo Bingwen and modern university education, experts discussed heatedly from aspects such as the management of modern university, the thought of liberal education, the construction of faculty team, etc.. Guo Bingwen, as the first Chinese PhD graduate in Pedagogy of College of Education of Columbia University, received high praise from experts for his significant contribution to Chinese education reform and cultural exchange between China and America. As “the father of Southeast University”, Guo Bingwen played an important role in the history of Chinese modern higher education. Many of his education thoughts are epoch-making to the development of Chinese higher education, and still have significant value for today.
Mr. Guo Bingwen was born in 1880 in Nanjing, Jiangsu province. In 1908 he went to study abroad in America. In 1914, he received phD degree of Pedagogy from Columbia University. After he went back to China, Mr. Guo helped in the establishment of Nanjing Higher Normal School, and was the president of both Nanjing Higher Normal School and National Southeast University. During this period, Mr. Guo combined the traditional Chinese culture and educational system of American universities, and advocated democratic and open management. He emphasized on the construction of disciplines, the reform in teaching, and the recruitment of good teachers. He also focused on cultivating the school spirit of honest, diligent, objective. With his efforts, Southeast University gained reputation rapidly and soon became “the two pillars of Chinese higher education” together with Peking University. Mr. Guo Bingwen is a pioneer of Chinese modern university education, and the leader of Chinese modern university education reform. He enjoys an important historical status and has a significant influence.
