Introduction of the Mixed Class
Program
The "Mixed Class" was established
in 1984. It is for talented students in Zhejiang University, which is
the first "Elite Education" in China, in order to cultivate a high quality
elite in engineering science and technology. Every year, about 100 students
are chosen by strict selection (high school GPA & Entrance Examination
scores and personal interview) from 2500 freshmen to make up the "Mixed
Class".
The guiding ideology of the "Mixed
Class" program is: Let the future engineering talent accept science training,
let science and engineering interact together, and let the students possess
a pioneering spirit and creative ability.
Features of the program are listed
in the following:
I. A special curriculum is carried
out. It offers courses mainly in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer
Science, English, and Electricity, etc. Their textbooks and references
are in original English, and some courses are taught in English such as
"Physics" and "Material Science and Engineering", etc. It is to control
the whole teaching process the principle of "high starting point, new
learning content, fast teaching pace and emphasis on ability training".
II. A highly competitive environment
is also created. At the end of every semester, the faculty committee will
evaluate each student's performance and grades. About thirty to forty
percent students will be "eliminated" from the Mixed Class.
III. A stable group of excellent teachers
with special dispositions are selected to the program. All of them are
of rich teaching experiences, erudition, active thinking, and full of
warmth and responsibility for the elite education.
The "Mixed Class" program lasts for
two years. After completing the full program, the students who are "survived"
return to the different departments on the basis of aspiration and need,
then the departments will continue to carry out differential treatment
by employing the "Director System". The students will be engaged in scientific
research earlier than planned.
According to the feedback information
from different departments, the students of the "Mixed Class" are regarded
to have a solid foundation in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry, a wide
range of knowledge, quick and profound thinking, and a good command of
English, Computers, and ability of research and self-learning. Meanwhile,
they have strong intentions of being outstanding and creative.
Section for the Elite Education
The Mixed Class Program
Zhejiang University
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