Research On Foreign Scientific And Technological Talents In The Late Qing Dynasty Shipbuilding Industry

Faced with the aggression of Western powers,the Qing government launched the Westernization Movement for self-improvement in the 1860 s.Military industry,mining,smelting,manufacturing and other enterprises gradually developed,marking the beginning of China’s modernization.The shipbuilding industry is an important pillar of national economic development.Focusing on its development,we can see that the use of foreign scientific and technological talents became an effective way to solve the technical deficiencies of the time.Academic circles have done a lot of research on the development of enterprises in the westernization movement,but they have not thoroughly analysed the practice of employing foreign scientific and technological talents in enterprises.This thesis attempts to explore the specific practice of employing foreign scientific and technological talents and the impact of this measure from the perspective of the development of the shipbuilding industry in the late Qing Dynasty.First of all,the reasons of employing foreign scientific and technological talents in the shipbuilding industry in the late Qing Dynasty are discussed.Before 1840,the closed-door policy of the Qing Dynasty resulted in China’s technological level falling far behind that of Western countries.When China lost the Second Opium War and the Qing government was subjected to feudal rule,they realized the importance of learning from the West and began to implement the Westernization movement.A large number of new enterprises have developed,but the problem of a shortage of professionals has been exposed.The Chinese education system at that time did not pay much attention to the cultivation of modern scientific and technological knowledge,especially in shipbuilding and navigation technology.Faced with the covetousness of western powers,the Qing government drew lessons from the development of neighboring Japan and further advocated the hiring of foreign scientific and technological talents.Moreover,some foreign talents came to China with their personal purpose.The introduction of foreign scientific and technological talents became the most important problem for the Qing government at that time.Because Britain,France,Germany,Denmark and Japan had significant advantages in modern science and technology,these countries were selected as the main source countries for the introduction of talents by the Qing government.Secondly,from the specific practice of hiring foreign scientific and technological talents.In order to introduce and manage foreign scientific and technological talents better,the Qing government formulated specific recruitment channels and standard management policies.The Qing government strictly controlled the identity,rights and responsibilities,salary,rewards and punishments of foreign scientific and technological talents in China.Thirdly,as the westernization enterprise that introduced the most foreign talents at that time and had a great influence on the later generations,the contribution of foreign scientific and technological talents in Fuzhou Shipbuilding Bureau has important research value.From the establishment of shipbuilding plants to the establishment of ship administration schools,there are foreign scientific and technological talents everywhere.The arrival of foreign scientific and technological talents helped the Qing government to develop various new undertakings,especially the shipbuilding industry.Finally,this thesis evaluates the history of employing foreign scientific and technological talents in shipbuilding industry in late Qing Dynasty.Based on the analysis of the positive influence and limitation of the arrival of foreign scientific and technological talents on the shipbuilding industry in the late Qing Dynasty,this thesis explores the enlightenment effect of employing foreign scientific and technological talents on the development of modern shipbuilding industry.As an important resource of scientific and technological talents,foreign scientific and technological talents have an important impact on the development of the shipbuilding industry.It not only promoted the establishment of the Naval School,but also promoted the development of the shipbuilding industry in the late Qing Dynasty.Although there was a partial loss of sovereignty and resources,on the whole,the arrival of foreign scientific and technological talents promoted China’s modernization to take a big step forward.Therefore,an objective analysis of the practice of employing foreign scientific and technological talents in the shipbuilding industry in the late Qing Dynasty can explore the gains and losses of talent introduction,and provide historical reference for the recruitment of modern foreign scientific and technological talents and the development of the shipbuilding industry.