Home
» City specials
» Hangzhou
Microblogging brings about change in styles of working
By Shi Xiaohan |
August 3, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SINCE microblog (or weibo, Chinese equivalent of Twitter) was introduced to China three years ago, it has changed many people's way of consuming information. But for some, it is even changing the way they work. An increasing number of college leaders, government departments and professionals in Hangzhou have found their work style has changed after they started using microblogs.
For Ye Gaoxiang, principal of Hangzhou Normal University, 10:30pm used to be the time to get ready for bed. But after he opened a microblog account in March, it has since become the time for him to start answering questions from his students online. It usually takes Ye around two hours to answer all the questions.
With his popularity and hard work, Ye's microblog soon attracted some 3,500 followers in the ensuing months. Ye's first microblog entry read: "The future of the students is the future of the university. I hope Hangzhou Normal University will become the most caring university for its students."
Many students then started replying to the entry by posing questions to the caring headmaster. Beyond Ye's anticipation, most of the questions are about dissatisfaction with the university's management.
"It was not my work to solve their problems one by one. But as the headmaster, I feel obliged to see to it that their problems be solved in the end. Small problems if not solved in time, could turn into big troubles in the future," said Ye.
Despite the exploding workload brought about by the microblog, Ye appreciates the efficiency of the microblog as his online office. "I get to know the current situation of my students and young colleagues just by a glance of my microblog homepage. It is so far the best way to keep me updated," Ye said.
For Ye, microblogging is not only an efficient way to solve problems and keep informed, but also a way to establish his students' trust in him. "Before educating my students, I have to make sure they trust me. Microblogging helped me out in some ways," Ye said.
After several entries urging his students to start physical exercise, Ye invited them using his microblog to participate in a night-run on campus. The entry attracted some 500 students to the playground. "I was leading the running group. It proved in action that I benefit from regular exercise in my life so my students could follow my example," Ye said.
To make Ye's efforts on his microblog sustainable, he plans to host a conference among the school management to improve his work efficiency. "Many departments of our university have microblogs, but it is not systemized yet. I want to unify these efforts to maximize the efficiency and better serve our students," Ye explained.
The systemization of management departments on microblogs has precedence in Hangzhou. In May, "Micro-Hangzhou," a circle of microblogs of government departments, media and education, and other public service providers went online. Hangzhou is the first city in China to give this new concept of "micro-city" a try.
Launched by Tencent Weibo, the circle is divided into six sections encompassing government, media, education and tourism. Until now, "Micro-Hangzhou" has 218 active members; within them, 110 are government departments at municipal and district levels.
Though "Micro-Hangzhou" is still under construction with increasing members joining the circle, it has already inspired other city governments to take initiatives. Governments of Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province; Xi'an, the capital city of Shaanxi Province and Nanjing, the capital city of Jiangsu Province, have all established their "micro-cities" online.
"There are many favorable pre-conditions for Hangzhou to take the lead in our 'micro-city' initiative," said He Guoshuai, editor in chief of Tencent News Center. "Hangzhou has got high Internet coverage and a great number of active microblog users. More importantly, government officials, university headmasters and tourist sights have long been active online," He added.
The efficiency of microblogging has not only inspired government officials and school leaders, but also professionals to change their way of work. Doctors are among the first group of professionals, to notice the convenience of microblogs.
Tu Zhenhua, a doctor in the No. 1 Hospital Affiliated of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, co-founded a microblog website called "Curing Together" in February. "For those who just want to keep informed of their health status rather than an accurate diagnosis, it is more efficient to just pose a question to a doctor online than going to the hospital," said Tu.
Today, more than 500 patients have uploaded their medical records onto the website so that they can be reviewed by the doctors if in need. The website has attracted 339 doctors from across China to register with real names. Most of the doctors were born in the 1970s and 1980s, and have a habit of using microblogs after work.
"These young doctors have a strong voluntary spirit. It is difficult for them to see patients lining up all the time in front of the hospital just for a three-minute talk with their doctors. They want to make a change with this new way of interaction," said Richard Liang, developer and manager of the website "Curing Together."
For Ye Gaoxiang, principal of Hangzhou Normal University, 10:30pm used to be the time to get ready for bed. But after he opened a microblog account in March, it has since become the time for him to start answering questions from his students online. It usually takes Ye around two hours to answer all the questions.
With his popularity and hard work, Ye's microblog soon attracted some 3,500 followers in the ensuing months. Ye's first microblog entry read: "The future of the students is the future of the university. I hope Hangzhou Normal University will become the most caring university for its students."
Many students then started replying to the entry by posing questions to the caring headmaster. Beyond Ye's anticipation, most of the questions are about dissatisfaction with the university's management.
"It was not my work to solve their problems one by one. But as the headmaster, I feel obliged to see to it that their problems be solved in the end. Small problems if not solved in time, could turn into big troubles in the future," said Ye.
Despite the exploding workload brought about by the microblog, Ye appreciates the efficiency of the microblog as his online office. "I get to know the current situation of my students and young colleagues just by a glance of my microblog homepage. It is so far the best way to keep me updated," Ye said.
For Ye, microblogging is not only an efficient way to solve problems and keep informed, but also a way to establish his students' trust in him. "Before educating my students, I have to make sure they trust me. Microblogging helped me out in some ways," Ye said.
After several entries urging his students to start physical exercise, Ye invited them using his microblog to participate in a night-run on campus. The entry attracted some 500 students to the playground. "I was leading the running group. It proved in action that I benefit from regular exercise in my life so my students could follow my example," Ye said.
To make Ye's efforts on his microblog sustainable, he plans to host a conference among the school management to improve his work efficiency. "Many departments of our university have microblogs, but it is not systemized yet. I want to unify these efforts to maximize the efficiency and better serve our students," Ye explained.
The systemization of management departments on microblogs has precedence in Hangzhou. In May, "Micro-Hangzhou," a circle of microblogs of government departments, media and education, and other public service providers went online. Hangzhou is the first city in China to give this new concept of "micro-city" a try.
Launched by Tencent Weibo, the circle is divided into six sections encompassing government, media, education and tourism. Until now, "Micro-Hangzhou" has 218 active members; within them, 110 are government departments at municipal and district levels.
Though "Micro-Hangzhou" is still under construction with increasing members joining the circle, it has already inspired other city governments to take initiatives. Governments of Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province; Xi'an, the capital city of Shaanxi Province and Nanjing, the capital city of Jiangsu Province, have all established their "micro-cities" online.
"There are many favorable pre-conditions for Hangzhou to take the lead in our 'micro-city' initiative," said He Guoshuai, editor in chief of Tencent News Center. "Hangzhou has got high Internet coverage and a great number of active microblog users. More importantly, government officials, university headmasters and tourist sights have long been active online," He added.
The efficiency of microblogging has not only inspired government officials and school leaders, but also professionals to change their way of work. Doctors are among the first group of professionals, to notice the convenience of microblogs.
Tu Zhenhua, a doctor in the No. 1 Hospital Affiliated of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, co-founded a microblog website called "Curing Together" in February. "For those who just want to keep informed of their health status rather than an accurate diagnosis, it is more efficient to just pose a question to a doctor online than going to the hospital," said Tu.
Today, more than 500 patients have uploaded their medical records onto the website so that they can be reviewed by the doctors if in need. The website has attracted 339 doctors from across China to register with real names. Most of the doctors were born in the 1970s and 1980s, and have a habit of using microblogs after work.
"These young doctors have a strong voluntary spirit. It is difficult for them to see patients lining up all the time in front of the hospital just for a three-minute talk with their doctors. They want to make a change with this new way of interaction," said Richard Liang, developer and manager of the website "Curing Together."
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
