Standing up for the world with a Rhodes Scholarship

Cecil Rhodes created the Rhodes Scholarship in 1903, with a view to seeing his scholars "esteem the performance of public duties as their highest aim".

One of the oldest international scholarship programs, it took more than a century to come to China. Since 2015, the Rhodes Scholarship has selected 12 Chinese students to study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

Charles Conn, CEO of the Rhodes Trust, visited China between March 19 and 23, looking to attract new applicants from cities and regions around the country.

"I sincerely hope that the Rhodes Trust will be able to expand the number of Chinese scholarships we can award each year, creating opportunities for more young people from all across China to join our global community of Rhodes scholars."

The first cohort of four Chinese Rhodes scholars attended the University of Oxford in 2016, each winning a scholar-ship of 50,000 pounds ($71,100). Zhang Wanyu was one of them.

Zhang graduated from Peking University with a bachelor's degree in law, and is now working toward a bachelor's degree in philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford university.

Her aim is to better understand the theoretical underpinnings of social justice to make the law more meaningful for marginalized populations.

"I think for law school students, we need to train our legal thinking and watch closely law development," Zhang says. "Politics and economics can solve the problems before the need for a lawsuit ever happens, and philosophy can help guide both these areas."

After she graduates from Oxford this summer, Zhang plans to attend Stanford Law School to pursue a doctorate as a Knight Hennessy scholar.

"I've learned a lot theoretical knowledge, and now I'm like a medical student without a scalpel," Zhang says. "I think going back to be a law school student, will be like being handed a real scalpel to solve the problems in practical ways."

Oxford University places a great deal of emphasis on self-learning and writing, and Zhang had to read between 10 and 20 articles or books and write two 2,000-word essays each week. "At first I thought it would be hard, but then I realized that we need to learn how to research and filter information efficiently."

Zhang is grateful for the opportunity to become a Rhodes scholar, as it helped her improve not only academically, but also developed her confidence and honed her way of thinking.

"Being in this community is just incredibly inspiring. I have Rhodes friends here who care deeply about the environment, equality, healthcare and politics - almost every important issue in our lives."

When Zhang was in high school in Chengdu, Sichuan province, she never thought she would be able to attend Oxford, especially since it seemed financially out of reach.

"I applied to the Rhodes Scholarship because it would allow me to study at Oxford," Zhang says. "I was also drawn to the Rhodes motto of 'standing up for the world'."

Zhang remembers that for the final round of the selection process, she joined 15 other applicants to attend a dinner with the selection panel, which included retired NBA player Yao Ming and investor Xu Xiaoping.

"I was nervous and I had to prepare to use a fork and knife before the dinner, but when I saw there were chopsticks, I felt more relaxed," Zhang says.

Zhang received the scholarship offer just as she was planning a gap year trip to Cambodia.

As to how to become a Rhodes scholar, Zhang thinks the first step is to "reflect deeply upon who we are and how we became who we are, what we care deeply about and what we want to contribute to the world".

"Thinking about it is not enough. We need to take the initiative, take action and really be the change we want to see in the world," Zhang says.

Conn visited Zhang's high school, Chengdu Experimental Foreign Language School, during his visit to China, and was impressed by the students there.

Stepping in as the CEO of the Rhodes Trust in 2012, Conn is also a Rhodes scholar, who earned a first-class honors degree in philosophy, politics and economics while at Oxford.

Since then, he has been pushing the trust toward greater global expansion, including China, with a view to deepening the world scholarship experience and extending the scope of the fellowship.

"Our scholars receive more than just an academic experience. They also learn what it means to be a leader, why we serve others and how we develop our virtues of character," Conn says.

Nicknamed "the Nobel Prize for 23-year-olds", the Rhodes Scholarship attracts more than 12,000 applicants from over 60 countries and regions pursuing 100 scholarships every year.

"We were looking for a special kind of spark, energy, courage and authenticity," Conn says.

Although the selection process for the scholarships is very demanding, once the applicants are awarded the scholarship and a place at Oxford, they will enjoy a series of events when they enroll, including intergenerational forums, mentorships, retreats, talks and discussions on topics of community interest.

"Cecil Rhodes said that he hoped that the scholarship program would help reduce conflict around the world and increase global cooperation," Conn says.

liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn