Annual Report 2011–12

Remembrance of Times Past 5 It has been half a century hence, and the Chinese University has acquitted itself very well. Over these years the University has lived up to the lofty expectations of its well-wishers: it has established itself as a major centre of academic and intellectual interflow between the East and the West, and the superlative quality of its teaching and research have both been recognized by peer institutions with laurels and accolades, as we shall narrate in full detail in subsequent pages. University and Society The history of the Chinese University during its first 50 years has been a story of success upon success. Of course the firm conviction of its teachers and students, and their hard work and perseverance, have been the most crucial factors, but the diversification of the Hong Kong economy, the fiscal buoyancy of the city as a centre of world finance, the sustained determination of the Government to invest in higher education as a key area of growth, and the multitude of benefactors in the community at large, have all given the University both the impetus and the support for rapid, impressive growth. On this eve of our Golden Jubilee, as the University is poised to celebrate its standing and prestige in the academic arena worldwide, I deem it also an opportune time for us to reflect on how we should relate ourselves to the society that has nurtured our growth, and position ourselves therein. It is common knowledge that a modern university, quite unlike its medieval forebear, does not exist in a vacuum under the seal of quasi-monastic scholasticism, nor does it reign above peoples and governments by prescribing tenets governing human behaviour and ruling in territorial or dynastic disputes. University students nowadays need to be educated first and foremost to be responsible citizens, and it is through their acceptance of their social responsibility that they may employ the knowledge and capabilities they have acquired in the university to the advantage of the community they live in. Our General Education curriculum has always featured the essential elements of social responsibility, and outside the classroom our students also have a long and glorious tradition of being engaged in services and activities that demonstrate a strong sense of care and concern for their fellow-citizens, and for the protection of the environment. 過去半個世紀以來，中文大學出色地履行了 使命。這些年來，中大的支持者對本校 寄望甚殷，大學也沒有辜負他們：它成為東 西方之間學術和思想交流的重鎮，教研質 素高超，深得同儕機構讚譽和嘉許，這在 本《年報》內會詳細述說。 大學與社會 中文大學頭五十年的歷史是一次又一次成 功的故事。當然，本校師生的確定信念，他 們的努力和堅毅，是最關鍵的因素，但是 香港經濟多元化，這個城市躋身世界金融中 心享有的繁榮富裕，政府視高等教育為重 要的成長領域而決心持續投資，以及社會 上大量善長仁翁捐助，全都給予大學動力 和支持，令大學能有叫人讚嘆的快速發展。 際此金禧校慶前夕，大學將慶祝它在世界學 術界獲得的地位和享有的聲譽，我認為這 也是合適的時機，讓我們思考一下該如何 與孕育大學成長的社會相聯繫，從而尋找 我們的位置。 眾所周知，現代大學不同於中世紀時代的 大學，並非飛遯離俗埋首經院哲學而存在 於真空之中；也不是凌駕於人民和政府， 高高在上，規定各種各樣的原則來管理 人類行為，裁斷領土和王朝爭端。今天的 大學教育首先要教導學生成為負責任的 公民，他們明白自己負有之社會責任後， 就能運用在大學獲得的知識和能力，促進 社會的福祉。社會責任一直是本校通識 教育課程不可或缺的元素，在教室以外， 本校學生也素有長久而光榮的服務社會 傳統，積極參與關懷大眾和保護環境的 活動。 為了向學生灌輸世界公民意識和公民責任 感，並團結師生合力追求共同的目標，中文 大學推出包羅廣泛的 I ‧ CARE 博群計劃。 此計劃旨在開拓學習和服務機會，以開拓 參加者的眼界知識，提升文化審美能力，