Lessons learned: Reflections of a University President by William G. Bowen Princeton University Press HK$200
This illuminating book written by a former president of Princeton, one of the world's top-ranking universities, demands to be read by anyone interested in good leadership, academic or otherwise, and in higher education.
William G. Bowen, president of the university from 1972-88, has succeeded, through his frank and honest writing, in delineating the principles for leading a university effectively and respectably.
According to Bowen, one key duty of a university president is to regard fund-raising as a rewarding exercise, but at the same time have a bottom line, know it, and guard it. Contrary to the view that fund-raising is, at best, a necessary evil, Bowen writes that he draws satisfaction from helping sponsors use their resources better than they could on their own.
More importantly, he also cites examples in which a university needs to turn down certain donations with strings attached. A classic example is when a Saudi Arabian king offered a huge amount of support on the condition that an entire academic programme be named after him. Bowen's reply: 'Please understand, the university is not for sale - which is precisely why it is so strong and so worth supporting.'
Bowen is a shrewd economist, but one who also understands the importance of maintaining institutional integrity. A good university president must have a clear vision for the university's development, and should not agree to sett up programmes that serve only the purpose of pleasing donors.
A president should also possess good social skills, a 'human face', and the ability to unite university members. Moreover, he or she should work towards widespread acceptance of the university's governance policies by, for example, making key decision processes transparent and fostering rational dialogues, rather than taking the superficial, populist route of trying to please everybody.
