Q+A: Han Zhen

How do you feel after moving to head a new university (from Beijing Normal University to BFSU) ?

I'm much busier than before and I shoulder more responsibility. I have grown into my new job and face bigger challenges. I've been very active over the last year and I've learned a lot.

What's the biggest change you brought to BFSU?

I don't think I can really change anything, but I can bring something new. The first thing is to modify the structures of courses and human resources. When I came here I found that teachers only accounted for 48.59 percent of the total staff, which is lower than the national average. Now it is 51 percent.

What do you want to say to graduates of BFSU this year?

Young people should have a dream, and the dream should not only be a personal dream but should be about taking social responsibility. They should be independent and self-reliant and contribute more to society, more than just asking for things.

What do you want to leave to the university when you retire?

I hope by that time the role of president will be less important and the role of professors and scholars will be more important.

What kind of president do you want your students to remember you as?

I hope they'll remember me as an easy-going man and someone they would like to talk to. That's enough.

(China Daily USA 07/26/2013 page4)