Harvard president speaks at Peking University
Universities are key drivers of innovation and transformation, centers of progress and collaboration, institutions that foster connection despite turbulent times, and havens of open exchange where myriad opinions and ideas offer solutions to the world’s most pressing concerns, Harvard President Larry Bacow told an audience in Beijing today. Bacow also met with Chinese President Xi Jinping later in the day to discuss the importance of learning and of cultural and educational exchanges. On his first overseas trip as Harvard’s president, he will travel to Japan after his China visit. During his speech at Peking University, the oldest such institution in China, Bacow addressed students, faculty, and administrators, telling them that “transformational thought and action” often take root on university campuses where intellectual freedom is paramount. “Overturning conventional wisdom takes a remarkable amount of grit and determination, as well as a willingness to welcome contrary views and to risk being proved wrong,” said Bacow. “Great universities...