Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) has long imbued its students with a spirit of volunteerism and social practice. This was rewarded with SUSTech receiving the title of “Excellent Unit of Social Practice” for its work in rural areas over the student’s summer holidays in 2018.

The specific work was archaeological work, conducted across three rural areas, under the leadership of the Guangdong Provincial Committee and the Guangdong Federation of Scholars. Two SUSTech student teams were acknowledged for their efforts, and six students received awards as Outstanding Individuals in Social Practice Activities. Those students were Zhong Yuzhen, Cheng Xuesen, Cao Zhenqi, Chen Mengge, Yang Fengyu and Qin Chenfang.

In the summer of 2018, SUSTech set up 131 volunteer teams, with nearly one thousand faculty members, teachers and students taking part in some voluntary activity over their summer vacation. They were spread out over 21 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Province. Some also traveled overseas, to countries like the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Nepal and Japan.

During the 2019 winter vacation, more than 40 teams have signed up to go across China. SUSTech has achieved excellent results in developing its volunteer and social practice teams, which have resulted in a variety of innovative practices.