Source: Human Resources Department, SYSU News Center
Written by: Human Resources Department, SYSU News Center
Proofread by: Ian Heuer
Photo by: Liu Jia
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On June 18-19, 2016, the Second International Young Scholars Zhuhai Forum was held in Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU). Through the plenary meeting, sub-forums of various disciplines, and talent negotiations, the forum was aimed to promote academic cooperation and exchanges between young scholars and attract outstanding talents from at home and abroad.

On the morning of June 18, the plenary meeting of the forum was held in the International Academic Exchange Center on SYSU’s Zhuhai Campus. Prof. Chen Chunsheng, Secretary of SYSU Party Committee; Ms. Long Guangyan, Vice Mayor of Zhuhai; Prof. Zhang Peizhen, Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Professor of SYSU’s School of Earth Science and Geological Engineering; Prof. Chen Deliang, Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and Professor of the University of Gothenburg, as well as over 200 young scholars from around the world attended the meeting. The meeting was presided over by Prof. Wei Minghai, Vice President of SYSU.

Vice Mayor Long Guangyan extended a warm welcome to the young scholars, and introduced Zhuhai’s present and future developments. She said that with pleasant climate, beautiful natural environment, harmonious society, and the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Zhuhai will have more advantages in the region. At present, Zhuhai has formulated favorable talent policies in order to implement the innovation-driven development strategy and promote the development of high-end industries. Meanwhile, Zhuhai places a high value on the cooperation with SYSU, and has signed a new type of strategic cooperation agreement with SYSU. She expressed that Zhuhai will provide full support in the planning and construction of SYSU’s Zhuhai Campus, as well as the construction of important municipal supporting facilities.

Secretary Chen Chunsheng expressed sincere gratitude to the CPC Zhuhai Municipal Committee and Zhuhai Municipal Government for their strong support for SYSU. He extended a warm welcome to the young scholars on behalf of the SYSU community and President Luo Jun. Secretary Chen gave a keynote speech entitled “SYSU and the future development of its Zhuhai Campus”. He said that SYSU has been constantly pursuing innovation and development and adopting an open system of institutional management with international vision. The University’s guiding principle is the “three orientations”: oriented to academic frontiers, oriented to national major strategic needs, and oriented to national and regional economic and social development; the University’s development roadmap is the “three big constructions”: construction of big platforms, big research teams and big projects; and the University’s goal of talent cultivation is to nurture students who have both ability and moral integrity, able to cultivate charisma and eager serve their country. The University is striving to substantially increase its standing among major indicators of academic management outcomes, thereby raising the overall level of disciplinary construction and talent cultivation, and making adequate preparation for its long term development.

Secretary Chen Chunsheng pointed out that SYSU has 18 disciplines placed among the global top 1% according to ESI, tied for second among universities nationwide. SYSU is maintaining a momentum of steady increase in the international university rankings such as QS, ARWU, THE, and USNews. At present, the University is presented with new opportunities as the country is pushing forward the construction of world-class universities and world-class disciplines, and implementing the innovation-driven development strategy and the “Belt and Road” initiatives. is The University is located in the Pearl River Delta region, adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao, and at the starting point of the “Maritime Silk Road”. The principal development goal of the University is to foster an academic environment where all disciplines develop distinctively yet systematically, thus allowing the University to blossom into an institution with influence and impact on a global scale. The University is striving to enter the first tier among universities nationwide, building five campuses in three cities and promoting the “three big constructions”.

Secretary Chen Chunsheng said that Zhuhai Campus will keep the traditions of SYSU and develop into a modern coastal campus with a comprehensive disciplinary profile and talent training apparatus, with top level institutional management and wide-ranging global impact. At present, the main tasks of Zhuhai Campus construction are to accelerate the construction of schools and departments based in Zhuhai, implement a high-level talent development scheme, put more efforts into campus planning and construction, and create a good development environment. He specially pointed out that Zhuhai Campus has attracted high-level talents as academic leaders, including three academicians and nearly 50 distinguished professors. By 2020, the number of faculty and researchers on Zhuhai Campus will increase significantly. Adhering to the principle of “harmonious but different with unity in both form and spirit”, Zhuhai Campus will add nearly 1 million additional square meters of building area. The attached kindergarten, primary school and middle school are under construction, and the affiliated hospital has been upgraded to provide support for talent introduction.

Secretary Chen Chunsheng emphasized that over the course of its long history, SYSU has formed its own traditions that are now the root of the University. Located in Lingnan and deeply influenced by Lingnan Culture, the University’s culture, from a certain perspective, can be summarized as “open yet introspective, maintaining principles and tolerating differences”. With characteristics such as a relatively more modern university system, less hierarchy, and tolerance of cultural diversity, the SYSU community is able to move forward to a new level of development confidently and calmly. He expressed hope that more excellent young scholars will join SYSU to witness and play a role in its new development.

Vice President Wei Minghai introduced SYSU’s talent policies to the young scholars. He said that during the 13th Five Year Plan, the University will implement two main “doubling plans”, i.e., doubling the number of its big platforms, big research teams and big projects, and doubling the number of its faculty members and researchers. The University is constructing its high level talent system by building strong research teams consisting of research fellows and postdoctoral researchers, and a supporting system for faculty development.

Seven guests were invited to give reports at the meeting. Academician Zhang Peizhen talked about his experience of joining SYSU from four aspects, and he sincerely welcomed young scholars to take part in SYSU’s educational cause. Prof. Zhao Yong from the School of Life Sciences gave a report on his research and teaching experience in the past five years at SYSU from the aspects of constructing research teams, applying for funding and projects, conducting scientific research, and publishing papers. Dr. Zhang Yong from The University of Hong Kong, Dr. Sun Yingqiang from Georgia Institute of Technology, Ye Jinzhou from KU Leuven, Dr. Zhao Jun from Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, and Dr. Yu Yueyue from Florida State University respectively made a presentation about their research backgrounds and work plans at SYSU.

The attendees of the forum also included Mr. Zhong Yijun, Director of Zhuhai Education Bureau, Ms. Luo Teng, Assistant President of SYSU, Prof. Wang Xuehua, Assistant President of SYSU, as well as leaders of SYSU’s schools and departments.

More than 800 scholars from around the globe applied for the forum, and the organizing committee selected about 400 participants from well-known universities including Harvard University, The University of Oxford, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University, The University of Hong Kong, Tsinghua University, etc. Nearly 70% of them come from overseas, Hong Kong and Macao, and 70% are below the age of 35. In addition to the sub-forums, talent negotiations and interviews were also conducted in over thirty schools and departments at SYSU’s campuses in Guangzhou and Zhuhai.