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Former UN spokesman teaching at China
By Shao Xiaoyi (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-02-21 06:05
HANGZHOU: 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 02/21/2006 page2)
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