Peking University, Nov. 9, 2010: Professors at Peking University jointly called for the change of its enrollment system Monday, proposing a new scheme that combines both test scores and interviews.

In a letter delivered to the president of the university, these 11 professors, who reportedly are all household names in their respective fields, have expressed their anxiety over the existing enrollment system. Under the current system, the fate of a student is predominantly decided based on the scores of gaokao, or the university entrance examination, though the university also recruits a few who are either exceptional in certain fields such as sports and art or recommended by the presidents of middle schools.

To better evaluate the motivation, innovation capacity and general competence of the students, the letter suggests scholars in various disciplines give interviews to the applicants, and they'll decide which students can be recruited by taking into account both test scores and interview performances, according to the open letter.

PKU President Zhou Qifeng said he "personally completely agrees with the proposal" and was ready to solicit more opinions from the teachers and students of the university.

President Zhou Qifeng's response to the open letter is presented as follows:

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Dear all,

I have recently received a letter from 11 professors - Gao Song, Chen Shiyi, Rao Yi, Wen Dongmao, Zhou Qiren, Ye Yanlin, Zhang Yiwu, Chen Yuehong, Wu Guosheng, Pan Jianfeng, and Kang Jian. They advise to respond to China's "Outline of National Long-term Education Reform and Development Plan," to intensify the undergraduate admissions reform, to break the thrall of the college-entrance-examination-scores orientation, and to try a new entrance examination form which  combines the score of college entrance examination and that of the PKU expert interview. It is a sincere letter commenting the present method of undergraduate admissions with a fair explanation of the reform’s meaning, necessity, and feasibility.

I personally completely agree with the proposal. However, reform of undergraduate admissions is a matter of significance, which may cause change to the whole when undertaken. More careful consideration is needed, so I am now presenting the issue, hoping all of you would comment on that for perfection. Please send your comments to the Office for Undergraduate Admissions or to me.

Zhou Qifeng

Edited by: Zhao Ning and Chen Miaojuan

Source: CRI