Chinese universities are opening their doors wider to the public, sparking debate

More universities in China recently said they intend to open their doors wider to the public, including top universities such as Peking and Tsinghua. The move won applause but has triggered worry as well.

While some say that universities are public resources that should be open to the public, many students and staff worry opening without restrictions may disturb normal campus life and increase the burden on campus management.

Over 10 top universities in China recently said they have simplified measures for public visitors who need to enter their campuses. Visitors who are neither students nor staff can enter their campuses only by making an appointment online or swiping their ID card at the entry gate.

Both Peking University and Tsinghua University attract huge numbers of study tours and visitors, especially during the summer and winter holidays. As the winter vacation approaches, both universities have introduced a series of new measures to cope with the visiting boom at the end of December, such as extending opening hours and increasing the number of appointments.

Tsinghua University said the number of public visitors' campus tours available on weekends and holidays has increased to 12,000 people a day, up about 50 percent from before. The university has also planned 10 special tour routes, with more than 200 student volunteers working as tour guides.

Chen Peiran, a senior student of Wuhan University in central China, said he is supportive to the idea of opening university campuses to the public.

"Good universities have no walls. I visited Wuhan University before I became a student here. If the campus was closed at that time, I might not have had the opportunity to visit this university and later set the goal of studying here," said Chen.

Cui Yingling, associate professor at the School of Sociology, Wuhan University, said the openness of university campuses lies in the fact that universities should assume their social responsibility as public educational facilities, showing the spirit of inclusiveness.

"The greatness of a university lies not in its buildings, but in its masters," said Cui, adding that masters are supposed to be able to pass on knowledge and spirit to more people, giving them hope.

However, students and teachers call for proper restrictions to avoid potential risks. A student from Xiamen University in east China's Fujian Province said she opposes zero restriction, which has caused a lot of chaos in her university, such as over-crowded canteens and roads.

Professor Bing Zheng of Jilin University in northeast China said that sharing cultural resources with citizens can be beneficial to universities on the condition that the order of teaching and research is not affected.

"Universities play an important role of leading regional culture and academics. If they are separated from society, they will be unable to play a pioneering role," Bing said.

On January 2, the Ministry of Education said wider openness of campuses for the public will help universities better integrate into and serve society. But the ministry also pointed out it is necessary to strike a balance between openness and management, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of universities, and avoiding safety problems.

The cherry blossoms in Wuhan University in spring have drawn a growing number of tourists in recent years. In 2016, the daily number of visitors for cherry blossom viewing were limited to 10,000 on weekdays and 20,000 on weekends. In 2023, the number increased to 15,000 on weekdays and 30,000 on weekends.

To avoid disturbing students and staff of the Wuhan University, places such as teaching, research, office buildings and student dormitories are not open to public visits. In addition, student canteens don't offer services for public visitors.

For some universities that are popular tourist attractions, the impact on campus life, the ability to handle and serve public visitors and the cost of campus management should all taken into account before they expand campus openness, said Zheng Yaomin, vice president of the Institute of Culture and Tourism Development, Beijing Technology and Business University.