While education is the key to a high-quality university education, the educators operate at the front line of higher education. A university requires high-level talents as the embodiment of their scientific research and academic ability, as well as the key to improving their sustainable development and competitiveness.

Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) has worked hard through 2018 in developing its talent pipelines across all departments. Under the guidance of China’s national strategy for talent development, SUSTech has been committed to introducing talented people to its departments, along with training them to lead high-level academic teams within key innovative teams. SUSTech’s approach will ultimately lead to the development of optimized groups of talents within individual academic groups, improving the University as a whole.

SUSTech won first prize in Shenzhen’s Talent Scout Awards in 2018, for its outstanding achievements in introducing high-level talents. It was the third time SUSTech had won the prize.

Vice President Tang Tao was elected to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as the first locally trained academician, and SUSTech was awarded by the Shenzhen government in recognition of its training scheme.

High standards for talent teams

In 2018, the introduction and training of high-level talents in SUSTech was further strengthened. SUSTech has developed a wide range of training systems for its talent teams, in conjunction with its operational and development strategies. As a result of SUSTech’s orderly and planned approach to talent development, it has established a high-level talent team with excellent academic abilities, global outlook and reasonable structure.

SUSTech has also expanded and broadened its talent recruitment channels, to include high-level talent recruitment fairs, online channels, friends and colleagues. SUSTech has utilized a wide variety of channels to fully publicize its needs for talents, both at home and abroad. The further development of talent recruitment networks has ultimately resulted in high-level recruitment seminars at Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge. SUSTech was also in attendance at a high-level recruitment fair for Guangdong universities in Hong Kong.

SUSTech welcomed many distinguished faculty members in 2018. Academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering joined SUSTech this year, including Vice President Teng Jinguang. Numerous departments, research centers and administrative departments have also introduced high-level and high-quality talents to the teams, effectively promoting teaching and scientific research team integration.

By the end of 2018, SUSTech had over 600 full-time faculty members, including more than 300 tenure and tenure-track faculty, 26 domestic and 32 international academicians, 151 national specialists, 20 professionals specially appointed by the Ministry of Education, 22 Distinguished Young Scholars and 7 Excellent Young Scholars. Nearly 100% of our faculty members have worked overseas, while more than 60% have worked or studied in a top 100 university.

Global talent attraction and professional development program

The introduction and cultivation of talents at SUSTech requires a large number of young and middle-aged teachers to make up the backbone of the talent team.

2018 saw more professors from SUSTech elected into academies across the world. President Chen Shiyi was elected into the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) and Professor Wang Haijiang joined the Canadian Academy of Engineering. Professor Bai Yong became the first Chinese person to join Norway’s Academy for Technical Sciences and Professor Lu Zhouguang was elected into the Royal Society of Chemistry.

SUSTech staff and faculty members won a number of awards. Professor Hu Qing won 2nd prize in the National Science and Technology Progress Award of Qiushi Fund. Associate Professor Wan Minping won the Outstanding Youth Scholar Award. Professor Liu Junguo won the Outstanding Young Scholar award from the Ministry of Education. Professor Song Xuejun received the Robert G Addison Award from the American Academy of Pain Medicine. Professor He Jiaqing came 2nd in the Shenzhen Natural Science Award. Associate Professor Chen Shuming won the Shenzhen Youth Science and Technology Award. Professors Tang Jigen and Jing Zhichun won the Golden Tripod for archaeology while Professor Liu Yang won the Silver Medal at the 9th Nebula Chinese Science Fiction Awards.

By encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship among its faculty members, SUSTech is able to take advantage of numerous talent project programs. 

The development of high-level talents at SUSTech serves two purposes. It is not only for the betterment of science, but for training the future leaders of the new era. At SUSTech, young and middle-aged talents are advanced further in the reformist and innovative soil of Shenzhen, ultimately forming the main building blocks for scientific research and education across every department.

Professor Liu Qingsong was selected as a Yangtze River Scholar, and Professor Liu Xinyuan was selected as a Young Scholar under the same program. By the end of 2018, 78 young specialists were selected by SUSTech.

2018 saw the development of high-level talents

SUSTech has worked hard on additional training for its faculty members. The training sessions include lectures and external visits to places such as the 40th Anniversary Exhibition of Reform and Opening Up in Guangdong Province. A series of educational activities have further strengthened the cohesiveness of our high-level talent team.

In 2019, SUSTech will continue to cultivate high-level talents and create an improved situation for its team of talented academics. This approach will contribute to the realization of the enhanced operations of SUSTech, city’s urban and China’s development.