The Emerging University 1970-74

V The Chinese Un i ve r s i ty and the I n t e r na t i onal Academic Wo r l d As is evident t h r oughout the preceding pages, The Chinese Un i ver s i ty has aspired to be a Chinese i ns t i t u t i on of i n t e r na t i onal character. T o be international, the Un i ver s i ty must first be Chinese. Its distinctive educational mission, the integration of Chinese and Western cu l t u r a l traditions, has increasingly shaped p r og r amme and organization. I n order to foster the i n t er f l ow of Chinese and Western thought , the Un i ver s i ty maintains wo r l d -w i de communications and productive relationships w i t h i nd i v i dual scholars and other specialists, w i t h universities and their research institutes and centres, w i t h governmental commissions and agencies, w i th foundations hav i ng i n t erna t i onal interests, and w i t h regional and i n t e r na t i onal associations of universities. I n these relationships, the Un i ver s i ty pa r t i cu l a r ly acknowledges the v i t al contributions made by p r omi nent overseas Chinese scholars and professional persons. I n Ho ng K o ng The Chinese University sits at the crossroads of the i n t e r na t i onal academi c wo r l d, so to speak, and the comings and goings of countless i n t erna t i onal visitors have greatly enriched the intellectual and cu l t u r al life of the Un i ver s i ty commun i t y. Wo r l d -Wi de Associations One o f the impo r t ant f o rmal ways in wh i ch The Chinese Un i ver s i ty maintains constructive relations w i t h universities in other parts of the wo r ld is t h r ough various associations of universities. The Association of Commonwea l th Universities ( ACU ) , for example, holds annual conferences attended by the executive heads of the member institutions, and t h r ough its Council, to wh i ch the Vi ce-Chance l l or has thrice been elected, ensures con t i nu i ng cooperation on ma j or problems of higher education. The A C U has p r ov i ded significant assistance to The Chinese University's staff development p r og r amme t h r ough scholarships, fellowships, vocational t r a i n i ng grants, travel grants, and consultations. Simi l ar l y , The Chinese Un i ver s i ty has benefited f r om its membership i n the I n t e r -Un i ve r s i ty Counc il for H i gher Educa t i on Overseas ( I UC ) i n Br i t a i n. As a member of the Steering Commi t t ee for the Conference of Vice-Chancellors and Principals sponsored by I UC , the Vi ce-Chance l l or has par t i c i pa t ed i n the p l ann i ng and management of conferences in O t t awa (1970), Ghana (1971) and Ho n g K o ng (1972). The Chinese Un i ver s i ty par t i c i pa t ed i n the F i f th Genera l Conference of the I n t e r na t i onal Association of 6 4