美国高等教育“大学化”的借鉴与反思

US Higher Education from“College”to“University”:History and Experience from the Middle of the 19^(th)Century to the Early 20^(th)Century

19世纪中后期到20世纪初,美国高等教育进入“大学时代”,建立了一批新型大学,部分传统学院也纷纷改名升格为“大学”,同时高等院校的内部结构、课程设置、教学模式等各方面都发生了明显变化。经过数十年的发展,逐渐形成了具有美国特色的现代大学制度体系。梳理其过程可知美国大学化的主要内涵是:立足本土传统、借鉴域外经验是实现办学特色创新的重要途径;人才培养与科学研究是大学的核心使命,而回应社会需求,贡献国家、服务社会亦是大学的重要职责;综合型大学与特色性学院都是高等教育系统的重要组成部分;构建现代大学,既要重视学科完善,也要加强课程建设。

From the middle of the 19th century to the early 20th century,US higher education came into“the age of the universities,”A number of new⁃type universities were established and some traditional colleges were renamed as and upgraded to“universities.”Meanwhile,obvious changes had taken place in colleges and universities in such areas as internal structure,curriculum,teaching mode etc.After decades of development,a modern university system with American characteristics has gradually emerged in this progress.In light of the American experience,it is concluded that taking Chinese tradition as the foothold and drawing lessons from foreign experience is an important way to school characteristic innovation;talent cultivation and scientific research are the core missions of universities,while responding to social needs and serving the country are also important duties;both comprehensive universities and specialistic colleges are important components of the higher education system;and to build a modern university,it is necessary to attach importance to improving disciplines and to strengthen curriculum construction.