Aiming to directly acquire knowledge and learn the experience of graduate education and administration in top International Universities, strengthen the international features of graduate education administrators in XMU, and promote the cooperation of graduate education between Xiamen University and McGill University in Canada, graduate school invited Prof. Xiang-Jiao Yang from McGill University to give a special lecture: Graduate Education and Administration in McGill University. Dean (vice dean) in charge of graduate work in every college/school or graduate school as well as secretary of graduates attended the lecture. Executive dean of graduate school Tao Tao chaired the lecture.

Prof. Xiang-Jiao Yang introduced graduate admission and education in McGill University in detail. At the beginning he pointed out the aim of graduate education in a world-wide view, that was, to help people with research talents. Guided by this aim, McGill University regulated the administration measures in graduate admission and education. What these measures included were listed in the following: the apply-verify system requiring full interaction and understanding between professors and appliers, seeking excellent student source with research interests and potential, continuing selecting PhD students directly from distinguished postgraduates (at least 50% for BD- PhD admission rate), and extending 4-7 year education for PhD students; strictly administrating education process, requiring students in every major to attend PhD qualification test but only to take 3-6 courses (depending on their background), and distribution being inconsistent with PhD students; requiring every student to do regular report about research progress to the directed committee, the directed committee verifying students’ achievement and giving suggestions; encouraging students to rotate in different laboratories to fulfill what they are interested in; consolidating the research-oriented education system for PhD students and only allowing professors with research projects (funds) and acceptable research fruits to enroll students in order to ensure education quality. Prof. Xiang-Jiao Yang stressed that student source with research potential and strict education process were key to excellent students.

Mr. Tao Tao showed warm welcome to Prof. Xiang-Jiao Yang and thanked him for such a wonderful lecture which inspired the teachers present and engaged them to know the experience of graduate education and administration in top International Universities without going abroad. He said, the reason that McGill University renowned as one of the top international universities was not only having elite supervisors and student source, but also owing to a comprehensive and scientific administrating system for graduate education as guarantee. In recent years, graduate school in XMU made great effort to regulate the administration of graduate education process, regulated and implemented international standard education program for academic graduates, and conducted mid-term test for PhD students in grade 2014 around XMU, combining requirements of top universities and XMU’s reality to educate graduates. In 2013, Xiamen University had officially signed cooperation memorandum with McGill University to promote internationalization of graduate education. Recommended by graduate school of XMU, there are 5 excellent students studying doctoral degree in McGill University through this program at present.