A cultural change is taking place. Underlying the above initiatives is our belief that all round education should start at the basic education level. Universities are where we advance the frontier of human knowledge, and nurture men and women of integrity. It would be extremely sad if our universities are only factories producing professionals conversant with text-book knowledge but do not think critically and independently. Universities must equip our youngsters with not only the breadth and depth of knowledge to meet the challenges in the real world, but also the heart and integrity to serve the wider interest of the society.
Universities also act as a generator, developer and provider of knowledge that propels our economy.
At the tertiary level, we have introduced new policies which sought to foster whole person development of our tertiary students. First, our student hostel policy. Under the new policy, undergraduates will all be given the opportunity to enjoy hostel life for at least one year. In addition, research postgraduates, non-local students and those undergraduates who have to travel long hours to and from campus will be granted hostel places. Perhaps I do not need to elaborate the cultural, intellectual and social benefits of student hostel life in a Public Seminar organised by a College, the mission of which is to develop itself into a fully-residential liberal arts institution.