His reform concepts most likely came from his understanding of German universities. He himself said: "Having observed the systems of higher education in various European countries, I think that Germany had the best."
他的改革理念，應該主要來自對德國大學的體驗和觀察。他自己也說，「竊查歐洲各國高等教育之編制，以德意志為佳。」