Zhejiang University's new academic rule sparks debate

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A new policy released by eastern China's Zhejiang University has unexpectedly sparked a wide range of reactions and endless debate online.

Now, the authors of online articles can apply for an honorary certificate or equivalent status if their texts are carried by mainstream media's social media platforms and have wielded significant influence on the web, garnering more than 100,000 hits.

The university, one of China's top academic institutions, says works can be in a variety of forms, including original articles, audio-visual presentations and animated products.

Acceptable publication platforms include state-owned media like People's Daily, Guangming Daily and Qiushi Journal; while social media platforms such as Weibo, Tencent and Youku are also on the list.

A survey on social media asked people what they think of the new policies, and 45% of respondents said they only accept articles in academic journals, while 49% believe articles posted online also could be eligible for academic recognition. /Photo courtesy of CGTN’s Li Jingyi

Students and scholars hold different views towards the new regulations.

Supporters say it could encourage a more general audience to read academic works, while critics allege the move will ruin the paper evaluation system of serious journals.

CGTN invites some media experts to comment on the new rule. /Photo courtesy of CGTN’s Long Xingchun

Some believe that such a move is part of the phenomenon of social media's expanding influence, saying that the media's effect on academia can help some scientists, who are all but unknown, stand out.

There is a hierarchy in Chinese academia. The structure is best described as a pyramid, and scholars who publish many academic articles tend to climb to the top. There are many Chinese scientists who have made unprecedented contributions to society, but did not move quickly up the ladder.

China’s academic pyramid /Photo courtesy of CGTN’s Shang Jianglong

Neither Nobel Prize winner Tu Youyou nor the father of hybrid rice varieties Yuan Longping are academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, an honorific title used to denote a full member of an academy that has a strong influence on national scientific life.

“Humanity and social sciences are different, science and engineering are different. I have met friends who are just like Yuan Longping or Tu Youyou, working in the engineering field. However they cannot publish so many articles as their counterparts in the field of science,” said Wang Peng, a Research Fellow from the China Institute of Fudan University. “So in this field I think it's better to measure their contribution to society.”

“Research and publications are not the only way to contribute to society. You can also participate in the policy making process, solving practical problems and making contributions in that aspect,” said John Gong, a professor from the University of International Business and Economics.

Zhejiang University's move aims to recognize online pieces of cultural excellence by its faculty members and students. But how effective the new ruling will be is yet to be seen.

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