Abstract

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Title:: Institutional Dasein of University Ethical Spirit and Construction of Cai Yuanpei’s University System

Keywords:: Cai Yuanpei; ethical spirit of university; institutional construction

Abstract:: The university system, which is endogenous, is based on the inherent logic of a university’s development. It is the institutional embodiment of a university’s ethical spirit. Cai Yuanpei, an advocate and practitioner of modern university concept, set up the modern university system in China. He made every effort to promote an overall development of man and disseminate democratic ideas, laying a solid foundation for the development of Chinese modern universities. Externally, he managed to divide the nation into some university districts to ensure educational independence and autonomy for university governance. To promote equal education, schools for common people and labor education programs were established. Internally, he encouraged professors’ engagement in university governance for its democracy and the establishment of institutes for doing high caliber research.