On April 14, the 8th session of the “IAS X Interdisciplinary Academic Party,” organised by the IAS, was successfully held in the lobby of the Cultural Building. Minhong Yu, founder and chairman of New Oriental Education and Technology Group, served as the speaker, engaging in an in-depth dialogue with the host Professor Di Wang, Chair Professor of the Department of History of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and Associate Director of IAS. The event focused on personal growth, career development, and educational transformation, delivering an intellectual party to the on-site audience.
Minhong Yu shared his experience of balancing business management and academic research by drawing on his personal journey. He noted that key strategies included efficiently utilising time, maintaining focus on reading, and regularly exercising. During his journey as a scholar at Peking University, he dedicated himself to academia with a scholarly mindset. After taking charge of New Oriental, he achieved the balance between work and life through effective time management by integrating reading and exercise into daily life. He emphasised that incorporating reading and exercise into our lifestyle is essential for personal growth.
Addressing the employment pressure faced by young people in the current economic environment, Yu encouraged them to maintain ambition and seize opportunities in flexible employment and entrepreneurship. He pointed out that China’s economy still provides space for individuals, encouraging young people to actively enhance skills, explore emerging fields, and improve competitiveness through platforms like the internet. He also called for collaboration between the government and enterprises to create more job opportunities and to restore social confidence.
With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, Yu highlighted that language proficiency and innovative thinking remain irreplaceable core competencies. He proposed that education should shift toward cultivating critical thinking and interdisciplinary integration capabilities, moving beyond robotic knowledge. Liberal arts education, he argued, should strengthen creativity and practical application to help students tackle future challenges.
In response to students’ anxieties about career prospects, he suggested that liberal arts students should empower their majors with creativity, transforming humanistic literacy into practical value. He encouraged students to confront challenges with humanistic thinking and to seek breakthroughs and innovations in uncertainty.
During the Q&A session, Yu discussed entrepreneurial resources and cultural communication, stressing the importance of balancing reality with passion. He shared specific initiatives by New Oriental to support youth development, including providing training opportunities and promoting innovation, which resonated with the audience.
Yu shared pragmatic insights and perspectives with his humorous delivery, which received enthusiastic feedback. The IAS Interdisciplinary Academic Party continues to build a cross-border dialogue platform, fostering meaningful exchange among scholars, public figures, and young people as they explore pathways for future development together.
