Insisting on a combination of innovation and tradition is what helped Northeastern University gain recognition in the 2016-17 World University Rankings published by Times Higher Education last week, according to Zhao Ji, the university's president.

"A university is a community of scholars, an open system," Zhao said. "Therefore, as a university, we should open the door to the world to keep pace with the times.

"At the same time, a university is the best system for passing down cultural traditions. Every university is unique, with its own character, but should maintain a balance between innovation and inheritance. We can also show the charm of Chinese culture and absorb the essence of foreign culture through exchanges with different countries."