On November 14, 2020, the “Vigorous Pursuit of Truth: 20 Years Anniversary of Restoration of the School of Social Sciences” and the High-end Forum on Social Governance were successfully held at the Fatu Lecture Hall of Tsinghua University. During the event, Mr. Peng Gang, Vice President of Tsinghua University, Mr. Hu Xianzhang, Former Deputy Party Secretary of Tsinghua University, Mr. Peng Kaiping, Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Prof. Li Qiang, Senior Professor of the Social Sciences delivered remarks. The event was presided over by the Dean of the School of Social Sciences Wang Tianfu.
Peng Gang reviewed the history and evolution of social science-related disciplines in Tsinghua University. He pointed out that predecessors like Chen Da, Pan Guangdan, Li Jinghan and Fei Xiaotong have left precious legacies for sociology education in Tsinghua Univerisity. He encouraged social science researchers to explore a development path tailored to China’s realities, so as to revive the venerable traditions of the old School of Social Sciences. As of today, the School of Social Sciences has cultivated a total of 474 graduates with bachelor, master and doctorate degrees who are contributing to the advancement of social science in various sectors. Peng stressed that the rapid development of the School of Social Sciences had to be attributed to the fast progress and transformation of Chinese economy, the strenuous efforts by faculties and students. Lastly, he conveyed gratitude towards all the academic workers, faculties and students who have contributed to the establishment and development of the School of Social Sciences. He also expressed his expectations for greater efforts to promote social progress.
Hu Xianzhang reviewed how Tsinghua University has restored the School of Social Sciences between 1998 and 2000. He stated that Tsinghua University restored the School of Social Sciences in 2000 under the guidance of building a world-class comprehensive university. Hu thought that the leadership position of the School of Social Sciences in the international social science field must be attributed to the joint efforts by faculties and students. He expressed gratefulness for Prof. Li Qiang, faculties of the School of Social Sciences, and other schools which have contributed to the development of the School of Social Sciences. He also pointed out that China is facing greater challenges amid the once-in-a-century turbulent landscape, placing heavier responsibilities on the School of Social Sciences. He urged faculties and students to rise to the challenges, with greater sense of responsibility, inclusive minds and practical attitudes. The purpose is to gather momentum to build the School of Social Sciences into a dynamic academic community and social community of sound social and cultural ecology, so as to better serve the people and the society.
Peng Kaiping congratulated the School of Social Sciences for the 20thanniversary of its restoration. He remarked that the COVID-19 had brought about significant changes to China’s society, politics and economy. The specialty research programs initiated by the School of Social Sciences, such as social governance, big data analysis, computing social science and social network, have offered great means and perspectives to study China’s social problems. Peng emphasized that the School of Social Sciences is rooted in China, and had kept serving the Chinese people for 20 years since restored. Social science values and scientific spirits are by no means about indifference, but aim to care about the grass roots. That is what the School of Social Sciences has been clinging to. The research tradition of the School of Social Sciences mirrors the methodology, development path and thinking mode of social science discipline, setting good examples for all disciplines within the department. Lastly, Peng conveyed his best wishes for the School of Social Sciences, hoping it could have a more glorious and magnificent future.
In his remarks, Prof. Li Qiang expressed gratitude towards university officials, colleagues from other schools for their supports to the School of Social Sciences. Besides, he also shared his experience of joining the school and the restoration history, and presented the school’s key researches and achievements of the past 20 years. Prof. Li remarked that the School of Social Sciences had focused its researches on five fields, including transformational sociology, urban researches, medical sociology, scientific sociology and sociology & anthropology. In recent years, it has kept exploring the social network and computing social science field. He highlighted that the School of Social Sciences had been committed to researches on social transformation and China’s social structure, and had made remarkable progress in community governance and grass-root governance. Lastly, he expected the School of Social Sciences to base its researches on China’s realities, so as to resolve actual social problems. He believed that the following generation will deliver more impressive achievements, pushing the School of Social Sciences to a higher level. During the event, representatives from partnership organizations also delivered speeches, including Mr. Chen Guangjin, Director of Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and President of Chinese Association of Sociology, Ma Guoqing, vice president of Central University of Nationalities, Zhou Feizhou, Dean of Department of Sociology, Peking University, and Feng Shizheng, President of the School of Sociology and Population Studies, Renmin University of China.
The opening ceremony involves the playing of a promotional film for the School of Social Sciences, and exhibition of inscription dedicated by Peng Peiyun, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 9thNational People’s Congress who graduated from the School of Social Sciences in 1945. Besides, a donation ceremony was held for the Hong Kong ZUNG FAIR EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION. The High-end Forum consists of the keynote speech session and three parallel sessions. The keynote speech session was moderated by Prof. Li Zhengfeng, Professor of the School of Social Sciences, Li Peilin, Member of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress Social Construction Commission and Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Li Youmei, Former President of Chinese Association of Sociology and Professor at the School of Sociology and Political Science Shanghai University. In particular, Prof. Hong Dayong, Deputy Director of Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, Director of Department of Academic Degree Management and Postgraduate Education, and Professor at the School of Sociology and Population Studies Renmin University of China, delivered insightful speeches over topics like “Grass-root Community Governance Amid the Pandemic”, “Active Participation into the Academic Practice of World Knowledge Production” and “Keep Improving the Mechanism for Common Prosperity”.
In the three parallel sessions, participating experts and scholars shared insights over their interested topics covering almost every aspect of social governance facing the present social transformation. Their discussions explored macro institutional design and micro implementation measures, from both historical and practical perspectives. Through reflection over classical theories and community practices, ranging from tangible topics like resources and policies to intangible topics like culture and attitudes, many refreshing views have been generated.
