The “Consultation Forum on History Discipline Development” hosted by the Faculty of History of Nankai University was held on Jinnan Campus on the afternoon of October 5. More than 30 people, including representatives of history discipline alumni and peers from academia, business circles, enterprises and public institutions, attended the event, which is one of celebrations for the centenary of Nankai University Faculty of History.
The forum was conducted in three phases. The opening ceremony was presided over by Huang Jiayou, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Faculty of History, Nankai University. Niu Wenli, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Nankai University, was the first to deliver a speech, recalling the pioneering development of Nankai University’s history discipline and the predecessors’ rigorous attitude to academic studies, and hoping that the Faculty will develop in line with social development and contribute its wisdom and strength to the country’s development. Yu Xinzhong, Dean of the Faculty of History of Nankai University, expressed gratitude to the people who are concerned about the development of Nankai University’s history discipline, and proposed establishing “Consultation Forum on History Discipline Development” under the framework of the Nankai History Alumni Association, which will gather alumni from all walks of life to jointly promote the development of Nankai University’s history discipline. Lan Hai, Secretary-General of Nankai History Alumni Association, reviewed the work of the Alumni Association, expressed thanks to alumni for their support, and called on Nankai University people to continue to contribute to the development of Nankai University’s history discipline.
The speech session was chaired by Qiu Lin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Faculty of History, Nankai University. Hong Guoqi, former Secretary of the Party Committee of Nankai University, hopes that Nankai University’s history scholars will pursue a rigorous attitude to academic studies as their veteran scholars did, and put forward new development plans under the new situation on the basis of further developing the competitive discipline. Nan Bingwen, a senior professor at Nankai University, shared his history studies and encouraged young scholars to keep their passion for history discipline despite difficulties. Zhu Fenghan, a Boya Chair Professor at Peking University, suggested that Nankai University’s history scholars should promote interdisciplinary development on the basis of strengthening its competitive discipline. Professor Wang Xiaode of Fujian Normal University proposed prioritizing the cultivation of doctoral students in order to produce top-notch personnel. Researcher Li Qingxin, President of the Guangdong Society of History, shared his ideas for the development of Nankai University’s history discipline in the next century in terms of “building consensus”, “focusing on direction” and “gathering talents”.
Chen Li, General Manager of the Financial Interbank Department of China Minsheng Bank, talked about the subtle influence of Nankai University’s veteran history professors on himself, starting with his experience as a student. Li Weizhong, President of Yulin Normal University, stressed the need to maintain confidence in the discipline and usher in a glorious “new century” for Nankai University’s history discipline with an open, inclusive and innovative attitude. Wen Guipeng, President of Nankai University Los Angeles Alumni Association and Chairman of American Paradise International Enterprise, reviewed the extraordinary 100-year development process of Nankai University’s history discipline, and said that we should be down-to-earth and innovative while keeping to the right path under the new historical circumstances. Li Jianming, a first-class professor at Fudan University, made targeted suggestions on the training of research teams, the organizational setup of centers and teaching & research offices, etc. Zhang Guogang, a senior professor of liberal arts at Tsinghua University and President of Nankai University History Alumni Association, said that it is necessary to attach importance to academic accumulation and inheritance, have a sense of crisis, and adopt the model that combines talent introduction and cultivation.
The free talk session was chaired by Wang Linran, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Faculty of History, Nankai University. The participants entered into lively discussions after the introductions were made by Kong Fanfeng, former Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Nankai University, and Huang Jiayou, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Faculty of History, Nankai University. Han Dongyu, former Vice President of Northeast Normal University and Director of the Research Center for the History of World Civilizations; Wang Xinyang, Professor Emeritus of the Division of Humanities of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Guo Changhong, Deputy Secretary-General of China Television Art Committee; Zhang Lijun, head of Chuangbianzhe (Beijing) Education Technology Co., Ltd.; Hu Zhigang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Tianjin Foreign Studies University; Meng Lihua, Managing Director of Zhejiang Ming’anchaoju Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.; Hu Yuanzhi, Deputy General Manager of Strategic Comprehensive Department of China Reform Holdings Corporation Limited; Zhang Yafeng, board director of Beijing City Manor Wine Culture Co., Ltd.; Xia Wei, Chairman of Kangyuan International Medical Co., Ltd., and other representatives of alumni made suggestions for the Faculty’s development in the “new century” in terms of discipline building, talent introduction, university-enterprise cooperation, and social promotion.
Ding Jianmin, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of History of Nankai University, made concluding remarks, expressing heartfelt thanks to the leaders, experts and alumni for their presence. He said that the Faculty would earnestly study questions and suggestions raised by experts and alumni, and hoped that research institutes and universities could continue to guide and support the work of Nankai University in history discipline and foster cooperation and exchanges between universities and research institutes.
