Despite campuses being encouraged to lift pandemic-related restrictions on public access more than a year ago, some universities still have limits in place while others have thrown their gates open to the public.

The different approaches to campus access have sparked fierce online debate, with many arguing that universities have a responsibility to interact with the public and share their facilities. However, other netizens believe some controls are necessary to ensure the smooth running and security of the institutions.

Xiong Bingqi, director of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, said a "suitable degree of openness" should be balanced with maintaining a healthy learning environment and the orderly operations of universities. "Unrestricted openness of universities can potentially affect the normal order of educational and teaching activities, increasing the management pressure on campus security and introducing potential safety risks."

Top higher learning institutions like Peking and Tsinghua universities face pressure to open to the public, however, their campuses could be inundated with an influx of curious visitors, he said.

"The facilities of universities located in busy urban areas might be stretched to meet demands if universities are fully opened to the community as local residents might flock to campuses for recreational activities," Xiong said.

Different degrees

Ma Liang, a researcher of the National Academy of Development and Strategy at Renmin University of China, last year conducted surveys on the openness of 147 higher education institution campuses nationwide.

The evaluation by his team, published in December, showed that 52.4 percent of the surveyed institutions had to varying degrees opened their campuses to the public. The majority stated that any member of the public could enter, while a small number said they only opened their campuses to limited groups such as high school students and parents.

In January last year, many universities started announcing their gradual reopening. The number reached a peak in July, when the Ministry of Education released a circular encouraging colleges to open for public visits during the summer vacation.

Local education authorities also released policies promoting the gradual opening of campuses, which accelerated the process in places such as Shanghai and Gansu province, Ma said.

Despite these measures, only 13 percent of the universities surveyed by Ma's team, such as Hunan University, have fully opened to the public. In addition, many universities are still placing conditions on outsiders entering their campuses such as checking ID cards, reserving visiting times and placing time limits on visits.

In December, a wave of online discussion about the issue erupted when an associate professor from Peking University said in an online post that he was chased by a campus security guard after he bypassed a checkpoint to avoid a facial recognition device over privacy concerns.

The public has also been calling for further openness because of limited daily entry quotas and requirements for checking ID cards.

Measured responses

In recent months, many prestigious universities in China have declared they will further open their campuses to the public in response to calls for a comprehensive lifting of the restrictions.

Since the start of the year, Tsinghua University has expanded campus accessibility to the public. The number of daily visitor registrations at weekends and on public holidays has increased by 50 percent to more than 12,000 people, according to a notice released by the university.

People from outside the university can be invited on campus to watch performances and attend activities. The public is also allowed broader access to exhibitions, lectures and sports events held at the university as part of efforts to open up more educational resources, the notice said.

Divided opinions

Although the majority of public opinion seems to support opening public access to university campuses, some people are worried about order and management issues. Concerns have also been raised that "scalpers" might turn limited entry into a "business", which could pose a threat to campus security.

Many supporters of fully reopening campuses often compare the situation in China with Western countries where most universities are depicted as having no walls or gates.

Xiong said although the public has free access to some universities in the United States and European countries, the degree of openness varies according to the circumstances.

While institutions allow visitors to enter their campuses, restrictions remain on getting into teaching buildings and facilities such as libraries and laboratories. An entry card is usually needed to gain access to these places, striking a balance between an open campus and maintaining orderly education.

"It is essential to adopt a tailored approach by formulating a plan based on opinions of the entire faculty, students and residents in the community," Xiong said.

For instance, opening the university's sports facilities to the public must not interfere with students' physical education classes and workouts, he added.

During the winter vacation, Peking University opened its museum of art and archaeology as well as the Weiming Lake ice rink to registered visitors. Six research paths on the campus were designated for students and social groups, while parts of the university canteen were also opened to the public, said the university's latest notice.

Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture rents ice skates and sleds to visitors wanting to use their facilities, while Beijing Sport University has opened its outdoor sports facilities to the public including the Yingdong athletic field.

Other higher education institutions such as Renmin University of China, Zhejiang University, and Tongji University in Shanghai have also opened their campuses to registered visitors.

While allowing visitors to enter their campuses, the universities also emphasize visitors' orderly behavior and urge them to follow management rules and avoid going into teaching or office buildings without permission.

Students' thoughts

Chen Bingzhe, a 21-year-old student at Tsinghua University, believes campuses should be open to the public with a daily limit on visitors to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for the faculty staff and students.

"For individuals outside universities, touring a campus is a good way to understand higher education institutions and experience the academic atmosphere, especially for young people. Universities are expected to provide a channel for external communication," Chen said.

However, during the pandemic shutdown students had more resources and space for activities, which improved the quality of school life and removed any security risks, he said. "The university should set a specified limit and give access to visitors without unduly affecting life on campus," Chen said.

Wang Chenyang, a student at Capital University of Economics and Business in Beijing, said blocking access to campuses results in a waste of resources, such as use of activity areas and cafeterias. "Most universities are equipped with activity areas and sports facilities. Properly opening them to the public can contribute to the promotion of nationwide fitness," the 22-year-old said.

"But opening them up should not cause chaos or disrupt students' normal academic and daily lives because campuses primarily serve students and are places where they study and live," he said.

Reasonable plans to open up campuses should be based on a university's capacity and improved management, Wang added.

Zhao Yingwen, a 60-year-old Beijing resident, said he used to take a walk after dinner in Beijing Normal University, which is located in his neighborhood. However, even before the imposition of the pandemic-related restrictions his access was stopped on the pretext of the university improving campus security.

"The closing of access to the campus had an impact on my daily exercise. I could no longer enter the campus without a faculty card or a meal ticket," Zhao said. The campus still remains closed to the public, he said.

Ma, the researcher, said university campuses could be opened in stages in a way that suits the requirements of different universities. "For instance, the process could begin by first allowing access to a university campus, followed by access to buildings such as libraries," Ma said.

Policies should also be developed to protect the rights of each university in the reopening process in case they encounter problems, he said.

Visitors should adhere to school orders and not damage the environment or interrupt campus management, he added.

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