University Opens

On October 18, 1900, the first entrance examination for the Australian National University, which had already become widely known through publicity, officially began.

Because of the nature of the Australian National University in cultivating talent needed by Australia, this entrance examination content was related to five majors. There were five papers, one for each major, and admission was based on merit, focusing solely on ability and nothing else.

This approach would effectively screen students with talent in each major, unlike later times when it seemed like everything was taught, but nothing was truly learned.

Australia currently needed professionals in specific fields, not so-called university students who dabbled in everything but mastered nothing.

Arthur had not seen the exam questions jointly created by the teachers, but from the students' moods and conversations over the two days of the exam, he could tell that this professional examination was far from simple.

Due to the enormous volume of exam papers, Arthur urgently mobilized a group of teachers and educated officials to work overtime for grading. After more than ten days, all the papers were graded, and the results were compiled.

November 2nd, Sydney, outside the Australian National University.

Thousands of examinees were gathered anxiously outside the university gate. Some might have been excited, others restless, but all looked toward the entrance with great anticipation.

For them, there was no dilemma of choosing a major. After passing the professional examination, each major would admit students based on their scores.

However, it was precisely because of this that if they performed poorly in the majors they were good at, their performance in the weaker majors could be imagined.

Soon, the university teachers emerged carrying a notice board filled with names and placed it in the most conspicuous spot at the entrance.

"Everyone, the admission list for each major of the Australian National University is here. You can check carefully to see if your name is on it. However, no rushing or shouting is allowed at the entrance. All admitted students will officially enroll in three days. Do not be discouraged if you are not admitted; next September is the next enrollment period, and you can apply then."

After a brief introduction, the university teachers returned to the campus. The examinees eagerly rushed toward the notice board, trying to find their names.

Time passed quickly, and three days were gone in the blink of an eye.

The successfully admitted students were already eagerly waiting at the entrance, eager to enter the campus they had dreamed of for so long.

Those not admitted returned dejectedly that same day. After all, the free accommodation Arthur provided for these examinees was only until the end of the exam; after that, they would have to pay for their stay in Sydney.

Before long, the university gate opened successfully, and a total of eight hundred new university students officially stepped onto the campus of the Australian National University amidst cheers.

Arthur was on the tallest building on campus at that moment, looking at these vibrant young students, and he smiled with satisfaction.

Arthur would cover all expenses for these eight hundred-plus new university students, including food, accommodation, and all tuition and miscellaneous fees.

As long as a few ideological education courses were added at the university, Arthur could guarantee that these university students would become his loyal followers and his most devoted core team.

Another advantage of these young people was their relatively progressive thinking; they could accept and support any reforms Arthur implemented in Australia.

Moreover, young people were often passionate and could influence their families and hometowns.

With the graduation of enthusiastic university students year after year, the grassroots and middle-tier elites of Australia in the future would all be under Arthur's control.

The start of the semester naturally called for an opening ceremony, especially for the first cohort of students at Australia's first university.

Arthur attached great importance to this opening ceremony, even deploying the Guard Army to handle the ceremonial aspects.

The purpose was to fill these university students, who had just entered the university, with passion, so they would wholeheartedly devote their spirit and thoughts to loyalty to the country and Arthur.

The opening ceremony began with Arthur's speech, where he reviewed Australia's history from its colonial days to becoming an independent nation, incidentally promoting his achievements and reiterating his goal of making Australia rise.

He then focused on encouraging these young people and officially announced the establishment of scholarships.

Under this barrage of measures, these university students, who had just entered the school, were like new brides alighting from their sedan chairs, completely at the mercy of others.

Following that were speeches by the university principal and the deans of each major. However, Arthur had no interest in listening to these old fellows drone on and left early.

Although Arthur only participated in the opening ceremony for less than an hour, the sensation it caused was immense.

All Australians remembered the reforms and policies Arthur had implemented in Australia. This was especially true for the young men and women who were eighteen or nineteen years old. Lacking social experience, they were easily influenced by public opinion, developing blind admiration or animosity towards individuals.

Driven by the media controlled by Arthur, Arthur had become a perfect monarch in the hearts of these young people, a savior who rescued Australia from dire straits.

Given Arthur's encouragement, the passion and impulsiveness these young university students could unleash were, naturally, to be expected.

It was precisely because of this that the university's semi-military management ran very smoothly. Although they studied for nearly eleven hours a day, from seven in the morning to eight in the evening, with only breaks for meals and rest, not a single student complained. Everyone was immersed in the grand endeavor of learning.

To ensure these valuable university students acquired sufficient practical skills rather than just theoretical knowledge.

Arthur specifically allowed each major to have one field trip per week and required various departments to cooperate with the students' practical training.

This was a tough assignment for students in Mechanical Engineering and Architecture. Australia's industry was still under construction, and there was a lot of heavy labor and equipment transportation that no one wanted to do. These students, with even a little bit of experience, were perfect candidates.

Although it was somewhat akin to being laborers, they could learn a great deal through practical experience. Therefore, none of these university students objected; on the contrary, they looked forward to the weekly practical activities.

Arthur was happy with this arrangement, and the Ministry of Industry was also eager to have these students with a basic foundation replace workers without any foundation. Thus, the matter was settled.

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