A Century Of Service: A Study On The Development Of Harvard University Extension Educatio

University extension education is a prominent way for universities to exert their social service functions.With the rapid development of American industry and the influence of utilitarianism in the 19 th century,the upsurge of establishing public education organizations focusing on the dissemination of "practical knowledge" in the United States has risen.Lowell Institute was founded by a wealthy businessman John Lowell Jr.,it aimed to provide lectures on philosophy,natural evolution,literature,science and other aspects to the public,so as to improve the literacy of Boston citizens in terms of morality,intelligence and sports.As the third principal of Lowell Institute,Lawrence Lowell served as President of Harvard University in 1909.Under the influence of the University Extension Movement,he reinterpreted the spirit of "serving the public interest" of Lowell Institute.In 1910,he established the University Extension Curriculum Committee and University Extension Education of Harvard University Department jointly with other colleges and universities in Boston,which officially kicked off the extension education of Harvard University.From 1910 to 1949,the extension education of Harvard University developed steadily.Owing to the donation of Lowell Institute,the exellent teachers of Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences have offered a stable number of courses,providing high-quality resource guarantee for the extension education of Harvard University,and attracting adults in Boston to participate in learning.However,due to the strict degree awarding standards,few students can obtain a degree.The extension education of Harvard University in this period mainly served the needs of social and economic development.From 1950 to 1984,the extension education of Harvard University expanded rapidly in scale.The “Program for Afloat College Education(PACE)” is of unique significance,it marks that the scope of Harvard University’s extension education has expanded beyond Boston area for the first time.Simultaneously,Harvard University has significantly increased the number of courses offered,students enrolled and degrees awarded by raising tuition fees and audio-visual education.With the upgrading of the industry and the improvement of the requirements for talent quality,the extension education of Harvard University mainly served the needs of adult career development in this period.From 1985 to2009,the extension education of Harvard University expanded rapidly in function.In order to meet the diverse learning needs of students,Harvard University has created a variety of extension education models,degree and certificate programs,and it has expanded its outreach to the world through overseas education and modern distance education.With the transformation of people’s employment,study and life style in the post industrial society,as well as the influence of lifelong education and Lifelong Learning Act,the extension education of Harvard University mainly served the needs of adult lifelong learning in this period.Harvard University has played different social service functions in different historical periods,from "serving social and economic development" to "serving individual career development" to "serving lifelong learning for all".The evolution of the social service function in Harvard University’s extension education presents the characteristics of gradual generation of service function,humanistic transformation of service objects,practical orientation of service value and two-way interaction of service trend.Extension education of Harvard University has always been supported by the endowment fund of Lowell Institute,which is an important source of funds for its survival and development.Meanwhile,as a world-class research university,Harvard University has an excellent team of teachers who are willing to participate in university extension education.Therefore,it has always maintained an outstanding academic reputation;Harvard University adheres to high academic standards,and does not lower the requirements for graduates of university extension education in degree awarding;In addition,the development of Harvard University’s extension education has the characteristics of keeping pace with the times and adapting to social demands.At present,in the development of a learning society,different types of colleges and universities undertake different missions.Therefore,summing up the experience of Harvard University’s extension education,adult education in research universities in China can learn from experience in the investment of educational resources,the construction of teaching staff,adherence to academic standards and the persistence of keeping pace with the times.The analysis of the interaction between the extension education of Harvard University and society has some inspirations for adult education in China’s research universities: It is necessary to grasp and build a collaborative and innovative "university circle" between universities and cities,universities and universities,to pay attention to the two-way interaction between universities and society,to construct a diversified model of adult education,and to accurately meet the needs of society and individuals for adult education.