Autonomy for colleges

Some universities are very utilitarian and everything they do is linked with money. This is virtually detrimental to their development, said Premier Wen Jiabao this week about the universal and major problems that Chinese universities face.

Premier Wen, who has been seeking the opinions from within the academic circle for his work report at the annual session of the National People's Congress early next month, continued to say that a good university must be unique and independent. What he says scratches exactly where it itches.

To be unique and independent, universities must have the right to preside over their own affairs. Premier Wen did emphasize that institutions of higher learning must have autonomy to run on their own.