Source: Human Resources Department, Publicity Department
Written by: Human Resources Department
Photo by: Cai Shanshan, Li Jinfeng
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On December 22-24, 2017, the Fifth International Young Scholars Forum and the 2017 International Young Scholars Shenzhen Forum of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) was held in Shenzhen. Through the plenary meeting, parallel sessions and sub-forums, the Forum brought together outstanding young scholars from home and abroad to focus on academic frontiers, learn more about SYSU and Shenzhen, and contribute their wisdom to building SYSU into a world-class university and serving the economic and social development of Shenzhen.
The plenary meeting was held on the morning of December 23. Mr. Ai Xuefeng, Vice Mayor of Shenzhen, Prof. Sun Dongbai, Executive Vice President of SYSU, Prof. Li Mengfeng, Vice President of SYSU, Prof. Zhao Yong, Assistant President of SYSU, young scholars from home and abroad, professors of SYSU’s schools, departments and affiliated hospitals, leaders of relevant bureaus of Shenzhen City, Futian District and Guangming New District attended the meeting.
Executive Vice President Sun Dongbai extended a warm welcome to the young scholars from around the globe, and expressed gratitude to Shenzhen City for its support for SYSU in recent years. He introduced the construction of SYSU Shenzhen Campus, saying that Shenzhen Campus is an important part of SYSU’s endeavor to build a world-class university. The Shenzhen Campus will focus on medical science and emerging engineering disciplines, as well as the integration of medical science and engineering in order to meet the needs of regional economic and social innovation and development, and become an important base for training high level innovation talents to support the economic and social development of Shenzhen, with an impact on Hong Kong and Macao, as well as the Asia-Pacific region. He expressed the hope that the young scholars could offer suggestions on the development of Shenzhen City and SYSU Shenzhen Campus, and participate in the great cause of building SYSU into a world-class university with Chinese characteristics.
Vice Mayor Ai Xuefeng delivered a welcome speech. He noted that Shenzhen is an innovative, enterprising and miracle-making city. At present, Shenzhen is implementing the innovation-driven strategy and talent strategy, introducing higher education resources, and promoting the leap-forward development of education. SYSU Shenzhen Campus is a beneficial exploration and practice of the close cooperation between Shenzhen City and SYSU to jointly build a world-class university. Shenzhen will provide good platforms and conditions to fully support the talents. He welcomed young scholars to join SYSU and Shenzhen to make contributions to SYSU’s construction of a world-class university and Shenzhen’s construction of a modern international innovation city.

Assistant President Zhao Yong gave a keynote report. He introduced the past, present and future of SYSU. He pointed out that founded by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a great leader of the 20th century, SYSU has developed into a modern comprehensive research-oriented university that enjoys a reputation as a top-tier university nationally and a renowned university internationally. With five campuses in the three cities of Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Shenzhen, SYSU has achieved new breakthroughs in teaching, research and disciplinary construction. With the development goals of entering the first-tier among universities nationwide and building a world-class university with Chinese characteristics, SYSU will unswervingly advance along the path of comprehensive, research-oriented, open and innovative development. He noted that SYSU is in need of talents who are ambitious, capable and broad-minded to realize its goal of becoming a world-class university. He sincerely invites scholars from around the globe to join SYSU and its Shenzhen Campus to participate in and witness the development of the University.

Representatives from schools and affiliated hospitals in SYSU Shenzhen Campus gave presentations respectively. Prof. He Yulong, President of The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of SYSU, introduced the construction and future planning of the hospital, which is planned to be the largest and most advanced hospital in Shenzhen. Prof. Chen Guihua, President of The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, introduced the history, present situation and development goals of the hospital, which is aimed to become a national top 100 hospital within five years. Prof. Chen Zengping, who is expected to join the School of Electronics and Communication Engineering, introduced his ideas on the development goals, disciplinary development, faculty development and talent cultivation of the school. Prof. Heng Yi from the School of Chemical Engineering and Technology shared his study experience, life and work at SYSU, expressing his hope to work together with the young scholars who will join SYSU.
On the afternoon of December 23, the Science and Engineering Forum and the Medical Science Forum were held, inviting 40 young scholars to share their academic researches. Over 30 schools and departments on SYSU’s Guangzhou Campus, Shenzhen Campus and Zhuhai Campus also held sub-forums recently.

More than 1,600 scholars from around the world registered for the Forum and about 400 were selected to attend the Forum. The participants came from renowned universities such as Harvard University, Purdue University, Stanford University, University of Tokyo, Waseda University, University of Liverpool, Delft University of Technology, National University of Singapore, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, University of Macau, Tsinghua University, Peking University, etc. Among them, 80% are from overseas, 80% are below the age of 35, and many have expressed their intention to join SYSU.