Attracting the Talents, Developing the University
December 3, 2001

In April 1999, the celebrated writer Jin Yong was invited to Zhejiang University and engaged as the chair of College of Humanities. In June 2000, the distinguished jurist Li Long took up the post of the president of College of Law. After one year's preparation, Zhejiang University has appointed all the heads to the twenty colleges, twelve of whom are eminent scholars and experts engaged from outside the university. At the same time, 65 young and middle-aged experts in different fields have been employed, helping to broaden the academic range of the subjects, improve faculty qualities, and enhance front-line research works.

As President Pan Yunhe says, " a first-class university must develop first-class subjects, produce first-class research fruits, and cultivate high-quality students ". All this cannot be done without first-class faculties, which should be the prerequisite to the long-term development of a university. Since its establishment, the new Zhejiang University has aimed at becoming a top-rank university in the world, and accordingly designed its major guidelines of developing subjects and faculties. Some of the department chairs enjoy nationwide, even worldwide, prestige in their respective academic fields, such as Li Guojie, one of the chief scientists in Project 863; Gao Shangquan, a top expert in Management Science, and economist Wang Luolin. There are also eleven members of either Academy (China Academy of Science and China Academy of Technology). These prestigious scientists and experts are invited to Zhejiang University not only to lead the teaching and research work in their own fields, but also to attract more people of talent to work in Zhejiang University.

The university has also adopted more vigorous policies to create better working and living conditions for the coming talent. In June 1999, Professor He Sailin left Sweden for Zhejiang University under special engagement. As soon as he took his position, he began to prepare for the construction of the Light and Magnetic Waves Research Center. The department was, unfortunately, short of teaching space and couldn't arrange any housing for the center. Very soon, the News reached Chancellor Zhang Junsheng, who immediately went to visit Professor He and helped him to solve the housing problem. Another case concerns Shen Jiacong, Dean of College of Material and Chemical Engineering, who is a well-honored scientist in the field of chemical materials. Upon arriving at Zhejiang University, he proposed to broaden research scopes in the areas of Medical Materials and Organic Macromolecule Materials. His proposal won overall support in the college. The university thus arranged a special outlay of RMB 3 million for the college's purchasing facilities and other preparation work.

It is a common understanding of both the presidents of the university and the administrators at various levels that talented people are a precious asset to the university. They thus make their best efforts to attract and introduce talented people to work in Zhejiang University. Chancellor Zhang Junsheng has worked in Hong Kong for many years and thus have friendly relationship with many famous industrialists there. Thanks to his personal relations, some of the industrialists have made generous donations for the university's "Talent Project ". In the year of 2001, Mr. Cao Guangbiao donated HK$20 million to set up a " High-tech Talent Fund ", which covers 7 different disciplines and attracts top scientists and experts in various fields. The Personnel Department of the university also contributes a lot as their work is directly related to the efficiency of the talent project. They help solve problems concerning those professors' work and life, research assistance, spouses¡¯ employment and family housing, to name just a few. The professors also regard it as their obligation to find and introduce talented researchers for the university. In 1998, Professor Qian Zhaoming of College of Electrical Engineering attended an academic conference in the US, and got acquainted with an outstanding scholar, who at that time worked in a US key Lab. Impressed by his research, Professor Qian invited him to work in Zhejiang University. After receiving his application and personal materials in 1999, the university put his name in the list of " Chang Jiang Project " and reported to the State Education Ministry. Now, he has been working in Zhejiang University and started his research project of RMB 80 million.

The university has a leading panel, headed by the president, to lay out specific policies and rules for financing researches, purchasing research facilities and granting academic titles. This panel has solved many urgent problems with high efficiency. The university has also established a special panel for conferring senior research titles, under preferential policies. In addition, the university pays special housing allowances to these specially engaged professors and experts.

It is reported that last year 2 Academy members came to Zhejiang University, along with 6 visiting professors and professors sponsored by " Chang jiang Project ". Among the one hundred young and middle-aged teachers and researchers that came to Zhejiang University, some have doctoral or even postdoctoral degrees, and 5 have foreign passports but now have settled in Hangzhou. Also last year, 25 new doctoral programs were set up. As a result, the total number of doctoral programs of the university is now 138, ranking the second among all universities in China. The number of postdoctoral stations has now increased to 29, ranking the top nationally. 1743 new research projects were approved, and the total research outlay increased by 30% and amounted to RMB 300 million. Zhejiang University also ranked NO. 1 in terms of the number of projects of National Natural Science Fund and Youth Science Fund.