Innovation and reform have always been the driving force the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). SUSTech operates under the philosophy of building a world-class university, rooted in China.

In 2018, SUSTech stuck to the “undergraduate-oriented” talent training guidelines, by highlighting undergraduate education as its core mission. With a focus on top innovative talent training systems and undergraduate education models, SUSTech has comprehensively promoted teaching reform, revolving around student development. SUSTech has also encouraged a variety of cultural activities to stimulate a well-rounded mind. That’s why SUSTech has made gratifying progress in cultivating talents with global vision, comprehensive quality, and innovative ability.

”6+3+1” admission mode ensures high quality student recruitment

2018 saw SUSTech’s continuous use of the “6+3+1” comprehensive evaluation admission selection model to select outstanding candidates. This holistic approach to student evaluation encourages admissions officers to look for students that have a positive attitude to academia, an independent work ethic, curiosity, perseverance and teamwork.

SUSTech enrolled a total of 1030 freshmen for the 2018-19 academic intakes, reflecting a substantial leap forward based on previous years. Freshmen from some provinces were ranked in the top 1% in the science ranking of their provincial National College Entrance Examination (gaokao), and some students from Guangxi province even reached 0.98%.

A number of new students had exceptionally high scores in the gaokao, with the number of freshmen in their province’s top 1000 students increasing by 50% compared with last year. Some freshmen were ranked in the top 200 in their province. The number of applicants from local Shenzhen schools increased sharply in 2018, with 111 Shenzhen candidates representing 72% of admitted students in Guangdong. This shows that during the last seven years, SUSTech’s undergraduate enrollment model has created a well-known and recognized brand across Shenzhen.

In 2018, the quality of graduate students remained high and stable, and 756 graduate students were enrolled (304 doctoral students and 452 master students). Many new postgraduate students came from well-known universities at home and abroad. The students came from many areas around China, and the international students came from countries like the United States, Britain, Lebanon and Bulgaria.

More research guidance encourages more achievements

In 2018, SUSTech has used its resources to provide more guidance and support to students’ scientific research and promote the training of innovative talents. Undergraduate students have published many academic papers in internationally renowned academic journals.

• 2013 undergraduate Li Cequn in the Department of Physics published his first paper in Physical Review Letters (PRL).
•  2018 undergraduate Gong Huimin in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering was the first author of a published paper in IEEE Electron Device Letters.
• 2014 undergraduate Guan Yingdong in the Department of Physics published a paper as the first author in Applied Physics Letters (include in Nature Index).
• 2014 undergraduate Chen Yiyuan from the Department of Physics published a paper as the first author in PRL.
• Undergraduate Hu Qiu from the Department of Chemistry published two papers as the first author in Solar RRL and Catalysis Today in which he completed the main experiments for both papers.

SUSTech has continuously promoted the cultivation of innovative talents. Students have stood out in a variety of scientific and technological competitions in which it has achieved some excellent results, showing SUSTech’s positive and pioneering spirit. Students participated in the Guangdong University Student Programming Competition won the outstanding results of 1 gold medal, 1 silver medal, 4 bronze medals and a winner. Finance student Lu Quanlin finished 8th in the Munich Re College Actuarial Mathematics Competition, ranking first in Shenzhen. Students from the Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering won several awards in the 2018 China Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Competition. Computer Science and Engineering students He Qiyang, Zhu Honglin and Zhang Wenhao won gold medals at the 43rd ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (ACM-ICPC), representing the first gold medal for SUSTech students in this competition. At the end of November, Ye Qizhen, Yao Yanjie and Cao Jiaping, won the second gold medal in the ACM contest.

Lively Campus Culture

A first-class university is inseparable from its campus culture. SUSTech attaches great importance to the development of its culture, putting forward the “SUSTech Culture Cultivation Plan”, which systematically promotes the development of SUSTech. The convening of the “Opportunities and Challenges – The World-class Science and Technology University’s Liberal Arts Construction Summit Forum” also clarified SUSTech’s path in the creation of its liberal arts curriculum. SUSTech is aiming to cultivate innovative scientists and engineers with critical thinking and imagination through the strengthening of its liberal arts discipline.

2018 saw SUSTech open a highly popular writing and communication course for freshmen to solve problems in their writing style, logic and expression so that they are better equipped to write a variety of pieces.

In 2019, SUSTech will provide writing training for all new students, giving them guidance in research and academic writing. SUSTech will also add traditional cultural elements to students’ learning. An example of this includes calligraphy courses so that everyone can learn about traditional culture.

SUSTech is committed to cultivating versatile talents and actively guides students to participate in various extracurricular activities. Students achieved amazing results in various activities and show its spirit to all walks of life.

2016 undergraduate finance student Zhao Yanchu won the special prize of the 2018 National College English Contest, the first prize of the English Debate and the second prize of the English Speech Contest in the National Finals. SUSTech orienteer Hao Wei became national champion at the 2018 National Student Orientation Championship. Li Daifeng won the championship in the 2018 Guangdong University Student Wushu Routine Championship. Further to that, various student societies like the College Student Choir and the Dancing Team have won awards in 2018.

Developing and cultivating upstanding talents

In 2018, SUSTech has laid a solid foundation around talent cultivation, working with top-notch innovative talents to enhancing literary accomplishments of students through colorful cultural activities. All these actions play an important role in SUSTech’s overall development.

SUSTech held its Regional Cultural Festival, involving students from 5 countries and more than 20 provinces. The festival encourages students to display unique characteristics from different regions through their local cuisines and traditional customs. This annual event is a perfect display that helps demonstrate SUSTech’s cultural creativity and spiritual outlook.

In April, President Shan Jixiang of the Palace Museum gave an illuminating lecture to the faculty and students on “Establish Confidence in One’s Own Culture and Protect it.” In June, Dean Wang Xudong of Dunhuang Research Institute gave a wonderful report on “Examining Cultural Confidence through Dunhuang”.

In August, more than 130 teams and 752 teachers and students of our school participated in the summer volunteer program. The activities covered a wide range of areas providing students with rich practical opportunities.

In September, SUSTech launched a series of activities to create a positive cultural atmosphere through activities such as speech contests, themed exhibitions and thematic sharing sessions. In October, executive director Zhang Kai of the Qian Xuesen Library of Shanghai Jiaotong University made a report on “Outstanding Scientist Qian Xuesen”, in which he encouraged students to learn from Qian’s patriotism, dedication, truth-seeking, innovation and hard-working spirit at SUSTech.

In 2019, SUSTech will continue to strengthen its talent cultivation, while striving to cultivate future scientists and innovative entrepreneurs with cultural heritage and human spirit. Such an approach aims to help students become outstanding leaders with global vision, comprehensive quality and innovative ability.