SCUT Holds Conference on Constructing and Developing the National Outstanding Engineers School
Conference Photo
On November 12th, South China University of Technology (SCUT) held the Conference on Constructing and Developing the National Outstanding Engineers School of SCUT at the Guangzhou International Campus (GZIC). Attendees included Secretary of the CPC SCUT Committee, Zhang Xichun, President of SCUT, Zhang Liqun, Director-General of Department of Degree Management and Postgraduate Education of Ministry of Education, Ren Youqun, Deputy Director-General of Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Feng Wei, Vice President of SCUT Xu Xiangmin, Vice President of SCUT and Dean of National Outstanding Engineers School Xu Yong, academician representatives, Li Licheng and Chen Xiaoqi. CPC Committee Member and Vice President of China Southern Power Grid, He Xiaobo, CPC Committee Secretary and Board Chairman of Dongfang Electric Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd, Wang Weidong, Vice President of China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation, Zheng Hua, CPC Committee Secretary and Board Chairman of Guangzhou Radio Group, Huang Yuezhen, Vice President of Guangzhou Automobile Group, Xia Xianqing, Vice President of Guangzhou Industrial Investment Holdings Group, Yuan Xiaojing, and CPC Committee Member and Deputy Director of Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission, Li Hulai.
Speech by Secretary of the CPC SCUT Committee, Zhang Xichun
In his address, Zhang Xichun welcomed the guests and provided an overview of the University's century-long history with the strategies of saving the country by engaging in industry, serving the country through engineering, rejuvenating the country by developing industries and invigorating the country through science and education. He emphasized that establishing National Outstanding Engineers School is a crucial step for SCUT to accelerate its path to world-class status and keep fostering talents through its own efforts. The university will strive to enhance the quality of independent training for outstanding engineers, promote in-depth integration of industry and education, and lead paradigm shift through innovative mechanisms. SCUT is committed to advancing the high-quality development of National Outstanding Engineers School, effectively shouldering the responsibility of training high-level outstanding engineers for the country. SCUT is willing to work together with all parties, join hands, and collectively dedicate efforts to deepen the reform of the outstanding engineer training model. SCUT aims to become a pioneer in the cultivation of engineering masters and doctors in key fields, hoisting the flag for the construction of National Outstanding Engineers School in the Greater Bay Area. The University strives to contribute to the construction of a strong China in higher education and to the development of the Greater Bay Area.
Video Remarks by Director-General of Department of Degree Management and Postgraduate of Ministry of Education, Ren Youqun
Ren Youqun delivered a congratulatory speech through video, emphasizing that the prosperity of talents leads to national development, and strong talents contribute to a strong nation. He acknowledged the longstanding contributions of SCUT to the rapid development of strategic emerging industries and the transformation of manufacturing in China, particularly in the Greater Bay Area. He expressed hope that the establishment ofNational Outstanding Engineers School would be a new opportunity for SCUT to collaborate closely with leading enterprises, high-level research institutions, industrial parks, and the Innovation Research Institute of Outstanding Engineers from key regions such as Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration, Yangtze River Delta, and the Greater Bay Area. The goal is to set a good example and demonstrate best practices in strengthening synergies, gathering innovation resources, forming a powerful collective force, and establishing a solid community of talent training with integration between industry and education, which will strongly support the building of talent centers and innovation hubs of global importance.
Speech by Deputy Director-General of Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Feng Wei
Feng Wei expressed that SCUT has consistently played a leading role in the development of higher education in Guangdong. With the recent approval for the construction ofNational Outstanding Engineers School, SCUT shoulders the crucial mission of nurturing outstanding engineers for the nation and the Greater Bay Area, along with the significant task of pioneering the improvement of the quality of fostering talents through its own efforts in Guangdong. He hopes that SCUT seize this opportunity to enhance collaboration with the Members of the School Council to accelerate organizational and innovative mechanisms, effectively utilize the superior resources of universities and enterprises, deepen reforms in training models, further strengthen breakthroughs in technologies and cultivation of talents, and systematically advance the construction of the standard system for nurturing outstanding engineers. The goal is to take on a greater role in leading the reform of engineering education in Guangdong, demonstrate new achievements, and contribute more “wisdom of SCUT” and “strength of SCUT” to construct Guangdong as an educationally-strong province.
Speech by Zheng Hua on behalf of the Members of the School Council
Representing the Member of the School Council, Zheng Hua extended congratulations on the convening of the conference. He expressed that the construction of National Outstanding Engineers School has a profound impact on the development of higher education and innovative capabilities in key industries in China. As a Member of the School Council, China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation (CBPM) will collaborate closely with SCUT by carefully selecting the most outstanding technical experts to participate in the joint training of outstanding engineers. CBPM also plans to invest more research and industry resources, engage in deeper collaborative research, and further enhance the technical expertise in anti-counterfeiting materials. This aims to advance China's capabilities for high-level independent control of papermaking raw materials and the self-sufficiency of the key processes of core equipment in the papermaking industry.
Unveiling Ceremony
The conference included the Unveiling Ceremony for National Outstanding Engineers School of SCUT and the Awarding Ceremony for the Members of the School Council. Zhang Xichun, Zhang Liqun, Feng Wei, He Xiaobai, and Li Licheng jointly unveiled the School.
Zhang Xichun, Zhang Liqun, and Xu Yong respectively awarded Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd. the Chair of the School Council, China Poly Group Corporation Limited, Greater Bay Area National Center of Technology Innovation and Guangzhou Lab the Vice Chair of the School Council, and other 13 Units, including Dongfang Electric Corporation the Members of the School Council.
Discussion
In the Conference, Xu Yong introduced the construction plan for National Outstanding Engineers School of SCUT. Vice Dean of National Outstanding Engineers School of Tsinghua University, Xiao Xi, Vice Dean of National Outstanding Engineers School of Zhejiang University, Jin Sheng, and Vice Director of Dongguan Science and Technology Bureau and leader of Dongguan Innovation Research Institute of Outstanding Engineers, Zhong Jingping shared their experience in cultivating outstanding engineering talents respectively.
As outstanding Engineers are strategic talent forces, establishing National Outstanding Engineers School is a continued effort under the Ministry of Education's Outstanding Engineer Education and Training Program. The primary goal is to cultivate a group of high-level outstanding engineers urgently needed for national major strategies. Closely focusing on the national strategic priorities and economic and social development needs, SCUT has leveraged its strengths in engineering disciplines to promote collaborative education across the Greater Bay Area + Industries + Universities systems. SCUT has actively explored a distinctive path for the cultivation of outstanding engineers, scientific research, and the transformation of achievements with a focus on its unique characteristics. In September 2023, the University successfully obtained approval to establish National Outstanding Engineers School.
Attendees included representatives from Department of Education of Guangdong Province, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, National Graduate Education Steering Committee for Professional Engineering Degree, 17 Members of the School Council, 23 National Outstanding Engineers Schools of China’s Universities, including Tsinghua University, as well as Directors or representatives of relevant Offices, Units and Schools, and some faculty members and students of SCUT.
Translator: Yaxin Zhang
Initial Proofreader: Sheng Gao
Final Proofreader: Zhaosheng Wu
Office of Global Affairs, GZIC