Eliot And The Reform Of Harvard University

Eliot was the greatest principal in the history of Harvard University, which is one of the most famous university in the world. On the basis of detailed material and Eliot's university idea, the paper attempts to analyze the reform of Eliot, and then obtain beneficial enlightenment for the constructing the world's first-class for Chinese university.The first of the paper's five parts introduced Eliot's biography experience briefly. The second part briefly introduced the background of Eliot's a series of reforms, which embraced American social situation as well as development of higher education at that time.Then Eliot's university idea had been introduced: servicing for nation and society; basing on native place; reforming course contents and methods; establishing scientific research function and insisting academic freedom.The fourth part mainly analyzed Eliot's reforms: transforming special institution; reforming undergraduate course curriculum as well as carrying out non-majors taking system; constructing the graduate school and developing graduate education in order to enhance academic level and introducing elites.The last part summarized the influence of Eliot's reforms and enlightenments on how to construct the world's first-class university in China. The function of university principal; adjusting raising goal to adapt society development; rooting in the native culture, and revealing the national special characteristic; persisting the learning, and promoting scientific research standard; persisting the academic freedom, and establishing the good academic atmosphere.