Yu Lizhong: an educator with a social media wit

Yu Lizhong, the chancellor of New York University Shanghai, is one of the first university presidents who embrace the social media platforms Weibo in China. Now, he has more than 1.5 million followers. While some educators frown at social media for being a distraction for students, Yu Lizhong puts it high on his agenda. Find out why in this episode of "Deep Dive: Talks with Chinese Internationals".

Yu Lizhong, the chancellor of New York University Shanghai [Photo: provided to China Plus]

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A Man Who Believes in Education and Love

by Manling, host of China Plus

If you look up Yu Lizhong on Sina Weibo, or if you’re friends with him on WeChat, you will immediately see that the profile picture he’s chosen to represent his public image features his iconic broad smile, and you can't help becoming captivated by his sunny mood.

Yu Lizhong, the chancellor of New York University Shanghai [Photo: provided to China Plus]

Our conversation started with social media, since we were being live-streamed on Facebook. Knowing that publicity and exposure on the Internet is a double-edge sword, he was psychologically prepared when he was given the choice of whether to open an account so he could connect directly with his students and be available to the public. Many other university presidents deal with student affairs through their administrative staff. But Yu decided to embrace social media because it's the most effective, efficient, and direct way to communicate with his students. It's his duty to get to know his pupils, expound the school’s values and policies to them, and to build up trust and understanding between the students and the school’s management.

Before taking on his current role as the chancellor of New York University (NYU) Shanghai, Yu served as president of both Shanghai Normal University and East China Normal University. During his tenure, he kept in close contact with his students and faculty by spending time on the campus BBS social network, which was then the latest communication tool he could lay his hands on. His online presence quickly proved beneficial, when he stepped in to address concerns some people had raised about whether the school canteen was using gutter oil – illegally recycled cooking oil sold on the black market – to cook food for students. Someone was spotted doing something highly suspicious in a photo that caught the eye of social media users, but Yu was quick to assure people that nothing was amiss.

For most people, social media can easily become time consuming. This is especially true if you’re the head of a school. When asked how he manages to find time for social media in between juggling his other responsibilities, Yu said that he uses the spare fragments of his day to make himself available to students and faculty. But is technology replacing the art of conversation and the value of face-to-face contact? Are we pushing people away from a real social life, giving rise to more depression and loneliness? Contact on social media is instant, but it isn’t a deep interaction. Text and voice messages can be misinterpreted, which is why Yu uses a lot of emoji in his conversations on social media, and favors smiles, laughs, thank yous, and handshakes – all positive and encouraging symbols. I asked, "Do you ever use negative symbols?" "No, never!" he said. He also said social media should never replace in-person gatherings and meetings. He calls a meeting whenever there is a need to address an urgent situation, because they’re sometimes the best way to solve problems.

But at other times, keeping in touch with people, especially with students, is not about solving problems but about developing emotional bonds. Educators not only need to know what students are thinking and what they need; they should also care about the students in order to serve them better. Students are people, and all people need respect and care before they are ready to open up and interact with others. Modern technology has been a blessing for educators like Yu, because it has made it easier for them to build those important bonds.

If I didn’t share firm belief in the value of communication, it would be hard to see how his extraordinary investment of time and effort in social media could be justified. It’s this belief that led him to use his real name to open a verified Sina Weibo account – one of the first university presidents in China to do so. And he wouldn't be so eager to add more friends to his WeChat contacts list. Many of his peers are still clumsy when it comes to social media applications, and others have given up on social media altogether. But Yu has persevered in his efforts to keep up with times.