Today, I want to talk about mission statements from two universities I have stayed or is staying right now. The first university is Xiamen University in China where I obtained my master degree and the second university is Virginia Tech in US where I am finishing my doctorate degree.
Xiamen University, established in 1921 by renowned overseas Chinese leader Mr. Tan Kah Kee who is also called the ancestor of this university. This university is quite unique among all Chinese universities since this is the first university that found by private rather than government. In 1920s, overseas Chinese planned to establish a new China by promoting modern education and many of them donated a large amount of money to establish the Xiamen University. From 1921 to 1949, this university was totally funded by private people and most of funding were donations from overseas Chinese. After 1949, Xiamen University is funded by the Chinese government.
The motto of this university is Pursue Excellence; Strive for Perfection. The first part of the motto can be explained as “As the movement of heavens is forever dynamic, so the superior man pursues excellence all his life.” And the second part of the motto can be understood as “the ability to explain and exemplify virtues, to show love and concern for people, and to strive for perfection.” This university has special meaning for me not only I spent three happy years there but also it provides me with humanist ideas and thoughts. When I studied there as a master student, my academic knowledge was upgraded and teachers there told me how to treat unknown knowledge and how to deal with fears in academic world. A man can not solve all problems and everyone needs to know how to control fear or misunderstanding when faced with unknown world. After graduation from Xiamen University, I have the confidence to pursue a higher degree and challenge myself to another country to continue my education.
Another university I want to talk about is Virginia Tech which is established in 1872 and expanded after WWII. This is a public, land-grant, research university in Virginia. Right now, I am finishing my doctorate degree in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.
I want to talk about this university not only because I will spend a long time there but also this university makes me understand how to be a good researcher or even a professor in the future. First of all, being athletic and energetic should be the priority for everyone. The slogan for Virginia Tech is “Go, Hokies“. Some people interpret this as a spirit of pursuing knowledge but I would like to consider this as a encouragement of sports and health given the athletic tradition in this university. After spending three years in this university, I gradually begin to grasp the essence of research: pursuing the knowledge and break the limitation for yourself. When I begun my Ph.D. career, I barely know anything and feel that I needs to learn a lot. Fortunately, with the help of my advisor and many other professors, I start from the very beginning of each knowledge. This also helps me understand how to become a excellent teacher in the future: start to teach from the very basic knowledge otherwise many students can not follow. Virginia Tech will be the university where I stay for the longest time among all universities I have ever stayed. After ten-years education, I finally find the core and true spirits of education and research in Virginia Tech. Let’s go, Hokies!
Zhenyu's blog 
This was a very interesting analysis of University mottos! It is interesting because mottos are usually short exclamations rather than paragraphs of ideas. From the author’s analysis, it is also perceived authors feelings towards both Universities. Both Universities seem to have inspired the author, though Xiamen University is perceived as motivational and Virginia Tech as Inspirational.
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I really enjoyed reading about how you incorporated each school’s mission statement into your own life as a student at both schools. I was wondering if the interpretation/explanation of the Chinese university’s motto was written by you personally or the school, as I found it really empowering and effective even with such simple language. I haven’t seen any other spiritual mission statements in my own research for this assignment and found it quite interesting as to its ability to connect to other aspects of life aside from school and careers. I also really liked how you shared insight into the fears of an unknown world. Traveling and studying abroad definitely opens your eyes to the many unknowns in the world and the lack of knowledge one has living in their small bubble.
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The contrast that I can see in two these statements, is that the Xiamen university is more concentrated on individualism by motivating students to develop their skills by being strong, competitive candidates. It gives my the sense that it does not leave any space for students to make mistakes, but they have to be perfect in what they are studying. Even if its only purpose might be to motivate the students, it seems that this statement could trigger many stressful behaviors. I understand a university’s willing to present itself as being of the top, but it should take into account the psychological conditions of its students as well.
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Its interesting that Xiamen University only have a motto and not a mission statement.Do you know if they have a mission statement? I believe both motto and mission statement are often used interchangeably but they they differ with my understanding. I believe a motto is is short phrase that captures the ideas of an individual or organisation why a mission statement talks about ‘what we do ‘, ‘who we serve’ ‘how do we serve them. As you rightly said, the motto “Pursue Excellence; Strive for Perfection” is concise but I will love to know how to intend to achieve that
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Thanks for the post Zhenyu! I like your twist on “Go, Hokies!” as well. I also enjoyed that you portrait Xiamen university as a place where you thought to face your fear of the unknown. I was wondering if the funding process of Xiamen affected its vision? Does the process of being funded by private donors at the beginning, and governmental funds at the present, affect the way that Xiamen is shaping its future?
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Thanks for comments. Actually, in China, the majority of universities are funded by the government because the government firstly wants to anyone who is qualified for university will not be dropped because of financial reasons. Second, the government will definitely put some pressure on the topics that universities work on. However, universities will also get a lot of funding from the government such as high-speed railway, renewable energy and many other industries. So, I would say there are some advantages and disadvantages and obviously, Chinese universities choose a government funding path.
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I appreciated your international insight talking about your studies in China. I always find it fascinating discussing with people such as yourself their experiences in other countries and comparing it to what we find in the United States.
I think it awesome that you found happiness at Xiamen University studying as a masters student and that gave you confidence to come to America to pursue a higher education. I find it amazing that the university had many private donors come together to lay the foundation of the school. I’ve always wondered how that would work nowadays in the United States where those types of transactions tend to have a negative perception with people wondering how such conflict of interests would impact the school. However, it is awesome that in Xiamen’s case people came together for the common good.
Glad that you’re now studying in the United States and I wish you the best in your time studying here!
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