Frederic Eckhard, former spokesman to UN Secretary-General Kofi
Annan, has been appointed guest professor of the School of
Humanities at Zhejiang University.
Eckhard was installed yesterday, making the renowned institution
in Hangzhou, capital city of East China's Zhejiang Province, a
spotlight for the local media.
Eckhard, 62, who was a spokesman to Kofi Annan for
eight-and-a-half years, is expected to bring an even higher
international profile to the university, which is considered one of
the nation's top universities.
"Recruiting him will help the university head for an
international-level and have more access to international
exchanges," said Pan Yunhe, president of Zhejiang University.
Eckhard is expected to teach two elective courses in Zhejiang
University. One is "the role of the spokesman," which will be
taught to communications students. The other is "the post-Cold War
United Nations," which will be open to all students at the
university.
"His excellent academic background, rich experience in news
releasing and global reputation indicate that his courses will
receive a warm welcome from our students," Pan said.
For the ex-UN spokesman, teaching in Hangzhou had been his
long-time dream since his last visit with Kofi Annan to Hangzhou in
2002.
"I was attracted by the beautiful scenery here, and told myself
it must be the most beautiful place in the world," Eckhard said at
yesterday's installation ceremony, adding that Zhejiang
University's big campus, fast growth and spirit of striving for
excellence also attracted him.
When talking about his life as a spokesman, Eckhard said: "It's
no life at all," and that he was running about so fast that most of
time he did not find time to think.
"Now I am beginning to think analytically about the historical
background to what I had been talking to the press about for all
these years and I want to share what I am learning about the UN
with students here."
The appointment of Eckhard in Zhejiang University inspires a
trend for college students to know more about the UN.
"It made us so excited the first time we heard the news that the
former UN spokesman will teach us," said Ye Fang, a postgraduate
student from the Humanities School of Zhejiang University. "It
seems that the UN will soon become so near that I can feel it, and
some of my classmates even want to apply for a job with the
organization."
Eckhard, who retired from the UN in June last year, had won a
revered reputation among journalists when he served as the
moderator at press conferences for the secretary-general.
(China Daily February 21, 2006)
