Emmanuel College, a theological college of Victoria University in Toronto, has inaugurated its first professorship in Chinese Buddhist Studies, the Shi Wu De Professorship in Chinese Buddhist Studies. The professorship was made possible with a US$1.1 million grant from Buddhist Youth Alliance International to Victoria University. It is named after the late teacher of Reverend Jian Zong, who is the current president of Buddhist Youth Alliance International.
From left: Paul W. Gooch, Mark Toulouse, Rev. Jian Zong, Rev. Jian Hong, and Rev. Jian Yuan
The gift agreement for this landmark professorship in Chinese Buddhist Studies was signed at Victoria University on 4 May. The Shi Wu De Professor will be appointed in the 2015–16 academic year, and will “lead the new Buddhist stream in the Master of Pastoral Studies program,” according to Victoria University’s press release announcing the professorship. Other duties of the Shi Wu De professor include teaching courses in Buddhism that serve to provide a broad understanding of the various Buddhist traditions. For this purpose, Emmanuel College has formed a Buddhist Advisory Committee, which will assist the professor and college in designing Buddhist Studies programs and in connecting the professor and school with Toronto’s Buddhist communities.
“The Canadian Buddhist community looks forward to this new connection with Emanuel College. It is important for us to have Buddhist education programs established here in Canada that will integrate academic studies with practice and service. Through the establishment of this endowed professorship in Chinese Buddhist Studies in honour of my late teacher, the Venerable Rev. Wu De, we will be part of a community of leaders, scholars, teachers, researchers, social activists, students and alumni/ae at Emmanuel College,” said Rev. Jian Zong, according to Victoria University’s press release. “In the spirit of Canadian multiculturalism, as leaders of our diverse Canadian community of Buddhists, we support the College in creating the kind of educational programs that we believe will reflect and serve the needs and aspirations of our Buddhist community.”
“The fact that the study of Buddhism now joins Muslim Studies and our historical Christian areas as a distinct professional stream at Emmanuel College is an exciting development,” said Emmanuel’s principal, Mark Toulouse. “This program naturally emerges out of the College’s vision which recognizes that concepts of justice, goodness and love are larger than any one particular religion or tradition can fully define by itself. We are profoundly grateful to Buddhist Youth Alliance International for generously endowing this professorship.”
“Buddhist Youth Alliance International’s donation will help secure an exemplary faculty member who, as both a teacher and a researcher, will serve as the academic leader for the study of Chinese Buddhism at Emmanuel,” said Victoria University president Paul Gooch. “Students will enter Emmanuel College knowing that they will learn from the best. The benefit of this very generous gift to Emmanuel students today will be immeasurable for the College’s future.”