Jack Ma continues to focus on agriculture, education as Alibaba undergoes sweeping changes
- Ma thanked the teachers for their contribution to developing education in China’s rural areas, and shared his experience in agriculture technology
- In recent months, the 58-year-old has returned to public life as an educator and researcher, taking on new titles at different schools around the world
Jack Ma, founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding, delivered a video speech to a group of rural teachers on Sunday, as the Chinese billionaire continues to focus on the agricultural and education sectors in his post-retirement life.
During an event hosted by the Jack Ma Foundation in Alibaba’s home city of Hangzhou on Sunday, Ma thanked the teachers for their contribution to developing education in China’s rural areas, and shared his experience in exploring agriculture technology.
“I can see that rural education and rural teachers are a huge force that can truly change the entire poor areas of China, as the sustainable development of our country is only possible through education reform,” Ma said, after listening to about 20 rural teachers describe how they plan to use funds from the foundation to improve rural education in various regions in China.
During his three minute video presentation, Ma said he has studied agriculture in different countries during the past years, and that he sees an important role for talent when it comes to developing rural areas.
“I found that a place that does well in agriculture is not necessarily a place with good resources, but a place with unique thinking, and people with imagination,” he said. “I especially hope that our rural schools will cultivate people who are full of imagination, unique thinking, and who dare to create the future.”
“The rural areas do need technology, while I think unique thinking and creativity are important as well,” he said.
The Rural Headmaster Initiative, which was launched by Ma’s foundation in 2016, a year after its first Rural Teacher Initiative, picks 20 rural school principals from across the country every year and provides each with financial support of 100,000 yuan (US$13,787).