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北京大学英语新闻网/Peking University News
―Ambition and Aspiration for
Excellence Defines a Great
University‖--Vice-Chancellor of
Cambridge University Says
By Liu Lanxiang
PKU NEWS 2006--04-12
http://ennews.pku.edu.cn/news.php?s=144997715
Peking University, Beijing, April 12, 2006: Professor Alison Richard, Vice-Chancellor
of Cambridge University, gave a speech on Global, National, Local: The Domains of
A Great University in the Overseas Exchange Center this afternoon.
Professor Alison Richard, who came to Peking University for the first time in 2004,
began the speech with recalling her last visit here, during which she received the title
of honorary doctorate of PKU.
Her speech focused on global, national and local ―activities and responsibilities‖ of
Cambridge University as well as the interrelationships of the three aspects. On the
global level, Cambridge University took a global perspective for its students,
especially post-graduates, and the master partnership programs with the PKU are
part of the efforts. Now non-UK nationals comprise 53% of the graduates at
Cambridge and a fund-raising campaign will be staged in the 800th anniversary
celebration of the university to provide more support for foreign students, she said.
As regards the national level, Cambridge University recruits more students at home
for undergraduate studies, which is compatible with the university‘s orientation---―a
British university with a global reach‖. When it comes to campus expansion,
Professor Alison Richard said that Cambridge University cannot be replicated and
it‘s local factors of the university that are linked to its international impact.
At the local level, Cambridge City has become ―a diverse and dynamic educational
hub‖ thanks to the university, she said. She pointed out that the university has a
positive impact on the local community in view of its contribution to the city in
education, business, culture and technical expertise.
At the end of her speech, Professor Alison Richard said the three aspects are
overlapping domains, adding that a combination of education, scholarship, research
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