Lucas, who is attending the first Chinese-Foreign University Presidents Forum, which opened in Beijing on July 22, said it was possible for Oxford to cooperate with Chinese universities in some fields.

Oxford has already cooperated with some Chinese institutions, such as Peking and Zhongshan universities, to build up a series of joint projects.

The Vice Chancellor said he shared the Oxford experience with his Chinese colleagues, stressing that long-term investment, first-class professors and teachers were essential to building a world-leading university.

He also advised choosing appropriate colleges and disciplines to invest in and teaching students "ways to make them think for themselves."

"Universities should work positively for their society and contribute to collective prosperity through these new commitments to research and new ways of delivering education," Lucas said.

"I'm very happy to attend the forum and I have learned from Chinese presidents how their universities work.

"We presidents can debate on the development of universities," said Lucas, who is also a French history academic.

The 10-day forum attracted 17 presidents and experts from world-leading universities and research institutes, along with about 80 presidents from the most prestigious Chinese universities.

A good student should have a "good mind", curiosity and should "really want to learn and try to understand everything he doesn't understand," he told Xinhua.

(People's Daily July 26, 2002)