On April 8, 2007, at the rally in New York in support of the 20 million people who have withdrawn from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the Future China Online University (FCOU) was officially opened. The opening attracted attention from many circles of society.
To mark this event, The Epoch Times interviewed Dr. Li Dayong, the founder of the Global Service Center for Quitting the CCP and the executive president for the Future China Online University. The following is a record of this interview:
Epoch Times: President Li, what kind of university is the Future China Online University? What sort of education will it offer?
President Li: The most important aspect is that this is the first university that no longer forces teachers and students in mainland China to absurdly insist on the “Four Basic Principles”; that no longer trains “successors of proletarian revolutionary cause”; that no longer imbues people with the CCP’s distorted history, deviated values and Party culture, and definitely no longer ridiculously pushes people to join the CCP to make up the numbers. On the contrary, our university takes it upon itself to restore traditional Chinese morality and culture, and to recover the high moral integrity of scholars of past dynasties. At the same time, we will try our best to spread all advanced cultures that exist in the countries around the world. This is a university that engages in teaching and research in the humanities.
It can be said that Future China Online University is a complete rejection of the CCP’s current education system and model. It is acting as the first pilot project and is carving out a way to reform the several thousand universities in China, which are currently full of the CCP’s culture.
Our university will train high-level humanities talents with virtue, ability, and courage, which are urgently needed for the future China. Graduates will be able to “shoulder the great responsibilities for the country, and report their fulfillment to the people [school motto].” They will replace those civil servants performing the tasks for the CCP, who still refuse to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations on the verge of the CCP’s collapse, en masse in the fields of culture, politics, economy, law, finance, news, and national defense.
Graduates will replace those professionals (especially teachers who push students to join the CCP or the Communist Youth League to earn bonuses for themselves), who still refuse to accept or believe in precious truth clarification materials, and follow the evil CCP to its imminent elimination. They will thus participate in administering and governing the future China as people who have awakened and prepared early. If we wait until the CCP collapses to think about and begin training these talents, it will be too late!
ET: Could you tell us about your university’s characteristics?
Li: We do have several characteristics. I will list them for you.
1. All university staff and students are people who have withdrawn from the CCP and its affiliated organizations. Employee numbers and student numbers will be the certification number for their “Party Withdrawal Certificate” or the identification number for their withdrawal statement.
2. Future China Online University caters mainly to young students in mainland China, but it is suitable for almost all people from all walks of life to listen to its lectures and learn how to adapt to the future China. Our training department welcomes all professionals, people with work experience, and unemployed people.
3. Books on the CCP’s forbidden list are generally most suitable for our university to use as teaching materials or references—for example, the “Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party,” “Disintegrate Party Culture,” “Which is the New China—Distinguishing between Right and Wrong in Modern Chinese History,” and “What Ancient Prophecies Tell Us of Today.”
4. “Public homework” is assigned especially for accelerating the disintegration of the CCP. It has extremely useful social practicality. For example, the homework titled “Hosting the Olympics by the CCP is a shame for mankind” is a resistance action by itself. Strictly speaking, it does not belong to any particular class, so it will be marked by the Dean’s Office.
ET: What is the direct cause and initiative for establishing this university?
Li: In the course of mass withdrawals from the CCP, especially when the number of people who had withdrawn from the party exceeded 10 million, many people raised questions like “What can we do without the CCP?” a thought which itself originates from the CCP’s distorted logic. These questions must be answered in order to overcome various obstacles hindering people from quitting the CCP. Last year, “Voices Inside the Army” proposed to set up a forum to discuss the disintegration of the CCP and transition measures required for after its disintegration. Following this idea, a group of overseas scholars set up the “Future China Forum.”
Many people, who have been inspired to prepare for the future China, finally have a platform not controlled by the CCP to communicate with each other and to others. On this platform, you can put your great talent and bold vision into full play and express your far-sighted opinions. Future China Online University is established based on a proposal from a forum friend named Shen Zhu. It is founded by all initiators of the Future China Forum and unites with the movement for the three withdrawals from the CCP. At present, the university resides within the Future China Forum. Our university has emerged at this historical moment.
ET: How many courses are currently available at FCOU?
Li: We are currently opening classrooms on an as-needs basis. The subjects which are already under planning include “Network Security,” “Divine Culture,” “Recognizing and disintegrating Party Culture,” “World-wide Political System Comparisons,” “Political Party Management,” “Non-violent Philosophies and Practice,” “Parliamentary Systems Around the World,” “International Politics and Foreign Relations,” “Republic of China (Taiwan) and Democracy in Asia,” “Concise History of Ideologies of the World,” “History of the Republic of China,” “History of Chinese Literature,” “News Media Studies,” “Global Economics,” “World Finance,” “Wealth Management and Taxes,” “Chinese Economy,” “Resources and Environments,” “Audit and Anti-Corruption,” “New Sources of Energy,” “Legal Laws,” “Constitutions,” “Temporary Constitution,” “International Human Rights,” “Rights-Upholding Movement and Intellects,” “Macro Perspective and Decision-Making,” “Energy Policies,” “Industrial Management,” “Modern Administration Management,” “Public Relations,” “Science of Market,” and “National Defense and Military Control.”
A large portion is closely tied to society, and contains highly enriched knowledge. Students should benefit greatly from enrolling in these courses, and these benefits will last a lifetime.
ET: How would you study in this school? Then how would you put it into practice? How are classes conducted?
Li: FCOU works on the philosophy of “Actions follow the knowledge.” The ratio of learning knowledge from books versus actual usage in the society is 1:1. In other words, theories and practice are equally important. Take “Recognizing and Disintegrating Party Culture” as an example. Besides studying the designated textbooks of the “Nine Commentaries on The Communist Party” and “Disintegrate Party Culture,” students must put it to practical use by helping others to withdraw from the CCP, upholding their basic rights, and better understanding the CCP.
Since the courses are intended for people in China, being able to break through the Chinese authorities’ Internet censorship is a pre-requisite. For those who have no access to the Internet, they can probably form study groups and elect a group leader who will print various course materials and submit assignments on behalf of the group. This arrangement would work well for, say, retired army veterans of human rights defenders.
Classes are conducted like this: The lecturer will release an outline with detailed course materials, including reference readings and problems for completion. Students will download these for independent study, and then attend a large class a few days later. In the large classes, the lecturer will answer questions and lead discussions. Students will be evaluated based on what they say. Lecturers will also hold smaller classes to help graduate students with specific topics.
Students’s assignments are composed of general writing and essays. These are submitted by posting to designated areas online. If a student is not satisfied with the grade, he or she can rewrite the paper according to the lecturer’s point-form critique, and then teaching assistants will update the grade to arrive at a final mark.
ET: How will FCOU recruit students in the future? What are the acceptance requirements?
Li: There is no concept of school terms. We are accepting enrollments at ay time. Just submit a request in the Future China Forum.
During the two-month recruitment trial period, we were constantly looking for ways to make it easier to enroll, and we updated the enrollment instructions immediately. As for acceptance requirements, it’s a matter of the students choosing courses which are suitable for his or her level.
ET: Can you talk about the teachers? How do you become a teacher here?
Li: The teachers who have already joined, and those who have shown willingness to join us are mostly highly-respected individuals in their fields. This school is still little known right now, so we are aggressively inviting professors, but we also strongly welcome those who come to us via referrals. For the main lecturers, we do take time to evaluate their performance, and we will have the administration department communicate with them when necessary.
In order to be responsible to the students, we demand that the main lecturers meet these following requirements. They must have 1) completely denounced CCP control through the three withdrawals; 2) read “Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party” and “Disintegrate Party Culture” prior to penning course outlines and other teaching materials; 3) teach materials that are independent and original works; 4) the willingness to lead students and assist graduate students; and 5) the ability to design appropriate practical lessons to accompany the theoretical.
ET: What about funding? Do you require financial support from the general public?
Li: We mainly raise our funding through the Future China Foundation, which is registered in the U.S. This university has only taken its first steps, so financially it’s in a worse shape than most would imagine.
Yes, we are a civilian organization. But we are here at such a crucial time when the CCP could dissolve at any time, and we are here to serve as an alarm to awaken people from their illusions of a “peaceful era,” and make them aware that China will be better without the CCP. You can imagine the hardship. The difficulties we are facing can be relieved somewhat through generous donations. Weighing the return against the investment, this is the best deal in human history. The cost we are paying to push a radical social reform of an ancient oriental country is so little, it’s even less than the cost of some small-scale conflicts.
To all the good-hearted wealthy people, “You may have enjoyed success in every investment up until now, but this is the opportunity for you to harvest the greatest joy from your return on investment, and this investment will earn you unprecedented respect.” And to every good-willed scholar, “If you love China, and hope for a bright future for this country, then please give your love to this university.”
Here is where to send your donations:
Future China Foundation, U.S. Registration No.: 77-0672425 Bank Account No.: 503202305 3133176160 Bank Name: Washington Mutual
To make donations online: foundation.futurechinaforum.org
