Sun Yat-sen University Holds First International Young Scholars Forum at Zhuhai Campus

 

Mr. Zhao Jianguo delivers a speech.
 

Mr. Zhao Jianguo delivered a speech at the plenary meeting. He said that Zhuhai is now facing major historical opportunities for development such as the national “Belt and Road” economic and trade initiatives, the Pearl River Delta region’s inclusion in the national innovation demonstration zone, the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, the advanced equipment manufacturing industrial belt on the west bank of the Pearl River jointly built by Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the establishment of the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone in Zhuhai’s Hengqin Area. During the 13th Five-Year Plan, Zhuhai will implement an innovation driven strategy, develop high-end industries, gather high quality talents, create high quality of life, and build Zhuhai into “a new special economic zone of ecological civilization and a showcase city of scientific development”. Zhuhai sincerely welcomes young scholars to contribute to the developmental processes of both Zhuhai and Sun Yat-sen University as key elements of SYSU’s talent advantages and “the first resource” for Zhuhai’s development.

Prof. Luo Jun presents a report.
 

Prof. Luo Jun made a report from three aspects: the overall development planning of the University, the framework for the development of Zhuhai Campus, and the main tasks of Zhuhai Campus construction. He said that with a solid foundation for the disciplines in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, medical sciences and engineering, SYSU has been constantly pursuing academic innovations and adopting an open system of institutional management with international vision. With the characteristics of “comprehensive, innovative and open”, SYSU has become a first-class university in the country and a renowned university in the world. In the past ten years, SYSU has maintained momentum toward rapid development and has been presented with good opportunities for development. 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, and trying to increase and even double its standing among major indicators of academic management outcomes, thereby raising the overall level of disciplinary construction and talent cultivation. The guiding principle is to adhere to the “three orientations”: oriented to academic frontiers, oriented to national major strategic needs, and oriented to national and regional economic and social development. Through the “three big constructions”: constructing big platforms, big research teams, and big projects, we will gradually break through the ceiling that restricts the University’s development. Our main tasks are improving the quality of talent cultivation and nurturing talents who have both ability and moral integrity, able to cultivate charisma and eager serve their country; building up the Guangzhou Campuses (South Campus, North Campus and East Campus), Zhuhai Campus, and Shenzhen Campus; and promoting the construction of “123”: one national-level high-end think tank, two national major scientific projects (both based in Zhuhai Campus), and three major scientific platforms.

 
Discussing Zhuhai Campus, Prof. Luo Jun said that Zhuhai is a strategic port along the “Maritime Silk Road” and the starting port of the “Belt and Road” economic and trade initiatives. With the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the establishment of the China (Guangdong) Pilot Free Trade Zone in Zhuhai’s Hengqin Area, there is an urgent demand for such innovation elements as talent, knowledge, and technology in Zhuhai, thus creating a major development opportunity for Zhuhai Campus. 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, thus reaching the goal of having a complete set of disciplines which cover all of our areas of strength and rank among the top-tier nationwide. Zhuhai Campus is committed to serving the development of the South China Sea region and marine strategy, serving the “Belt and Road” economic and trade initiatives, and serving the national space science development strategy. As for the main tasks of Zhuhai Campus construction, Prof. Luo Jun pointed out that we will establish schools and departments based in Zhuhai, implement a high-level talent development scheme, put more effort into campus planning and construction, and create a good development environment.

Prof. Luo Jun pointed out that the coming five years will be a golden era for the development of Zhuhai Campus and a crucial period for SYSU’s drive to build a world-class university. Zhuhai Campus needs outstanding scholars from all over the world. On behalf of the University, he warmly welcomed the Forum participants to join Zhuhai Campus to take part in its development and witness the new glory of SYSU, a renowned university with a history of over a hundred years.

Prof. Wang Biao introduces the development of the Sino-French Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Technology.
 

Prof. Wang Biao, Chinese Dean of the Sino-French Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Technology (IFCEN), introduced the support IFCEN has received from Guangdong provincial government and Zhuhai municipal government. He talked about IFCEN’s construction process, educational philosophy, development goals, talent cultivation system, teaching style, student employment, scientific research, disciplinary construction, social services, development, and challenges.

Prof. Dong Wenjie introduces the planning for the School of Atmospheric Sciences.
 

Prof. Dong Wenjie, Dean of the School of Atmospheric Sciences, gave a presentation entitled “Oriented toward national needs, based on international frontiers and serving Zhuhai’s development”. He explained why and how to build the School of Atmospheric Sciences. The aim of establishing the School is to meet the national needs, and the School should implement SYSU’s development strategy and plan its actions accordingly. In the field of atmospheric sciences, the School will promote disciplinary construction according to relevant national needs and guided by frontier technologies.

Prof. Chen Jianhong gives a speech.
 

Prof. Chen Jianhong, Head of the Department of Philosophy (Zhuhai), said in his speech that a university with campuses in three cities, this blueprint and its implementation are of historic significance for SYSU, Zhuhai, and China’s higher education. SYSU’s new decision to establish schools based in Zhuhai Campus and its international development position coincide with his expectation and hope for a comprehensive university in a small city. He came to SYSU and Zhuhai because of this opportunity. He remarked that the coordinated and supplementary development of all campuses will enable SYSU to lead the trend on the new developmental path. The start of constructing new schools on Zhuhai Campus means the first wave of implementation of this strategic deployment. He also talked about his thoughts on how to build an innovative and charismatic philosophy department. He expressed his hope to carry out the enterprising spirit and build a unique philosophy department which has supplementary advantages to the Department of Philosophy on Guangzhou South Campus, thus enhancing the leading status of SYSU’s philosophy in the country and improving the international ranking of SYSU’s philosophy discipline. 

 

The plenary meeting of the Forum


The sub-forum on geology
 

Centering on nearly 20 disciplinary construction goals, the Forum has gathered outstanding young scholars in relevant fields from at home and abroad. Through lectures, seminars, exchanges, and discussions on academic frontiers and hot issues, the Forum has promoted communication and cooperation among young scholars, and has served as a platform for various disciplines to attract excellent talents to offer suggestions on the leap-forward development of SYSU and especially Zhuhai Campus.

The Forum received over 800 applications and selected about 400 participants from nearly 20 disciplinary fields. 23 schools and departments held sub-forums or talent exchange meetings.

Established in 2000, Zhuhai Campus is one of the main campuses of Sun Yat-sen University. Over the past 15 years, Zhuhai Campus has developed into a comprehensive and high-level university campus with disciplines in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, medical sciences, and engineering, several of which ranked among the top nationwide.   

Sun Yat-sen University Zhuhai Campus is now enjoying a period of rapid development and comprehensive upgrading, and talent introduction is a priority of the University’s development. The First International Young Scholars Forum is a platform for communication and exchange, providing intellectual support for the development of Zhuhai Campus, and the realization of the University’s strategic goal of entering the first tier among universities nationwide and building a world-class university.