Applying for a university is a serious and sometimes stressful venture, but Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) aims to provide tips and tricks at its Spring Open Day that inspire attendees to make the right decisions with the full enthusiasm they deserve.

As spring shone beautifully across SUSTech on Saturday, April 13, more than 5000 prospective students and their parents explored our beautiful campuses and excellent facilities. This year’s open day ran between 8:30 am and 12:30 pm.

Throughout the day, prospective students and their guardians examined the rapidly expanding campus and new courses. More than 2000 people listened to the Open Day Orientation ceremony in person, while more than 60,000 people watched the proceedings online. Vice Provost Huang Kefu presided over the ceremony.

The Spring Open Day at SUSTech is a chance for thousands of aspiring students, families and the broader community to experience SUSTech. Parents take this annual opportunity to help their children make good decisions and be happy with them. Attendees spoke to faculty and students on campus, as well as explored the teaching and research facilities.

Visitors filled the booths run by different departments at Green Pine Stadium. The most popular booth was the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, where visitors could print text and pictures onto bread using a 3D printer. The School of Medicine booth was also very popular, with many students and parents seeking more information.

SUSTech is a research-oriented public university in China’s innovation center hub, Shenzhen. Chairperson Guo Yurong addressed a warm and lively lecture hall full of parents and students. She said the development of SUSTech could not be separated from the opportunity brought by the wave of higher education reform in China, and the construction of The Great Bay Area. She hoped that the students would join SUSTech and work together to achieve the goal of building a world-class research university in China.

Vice Chairperson Li Fengliang introduced the advantages of SUSTech from the perspective of the relations between a university and its city. He stated that students and their parents could spend more time learning more about the faculty, facilities, training models and other resources when choosing a university. He hoped that the students who would like to apply for SUSTech should set an early goal and strive to become a future leader with global vision.

The admissions officers talked about the “631” enrollment model as part of their introduction to the recruitment and registration process of SUSTech. The “631” admission model refers to the college entrance examination results (60%), the school organizing ability test (30%,) high school academic performance (10%) in deciding on which outstanding students are admitted.

SUSTech is replete in educational resources, with an outstanding faculty. Chinese Academy of Sciences Academician and Head of the Department of Earth and Space Sciences Chen Xiaofei introduced the discipline construction and talent training.

Internationalization is an integral part of SUSTech’s education model. Dr. Li Xu, the Deputy Director of Global Engagement Office, introduced the essential features of international cooperation and international education within University.

2015 undergraduate Yao Yao from the School of Environmental Sciences and Engineering shared her experiences about her four years of study and life at SUSTech. She recounted exchanges with teachers, learning from her classmates, and the many opportunities to study abroad. Before she came to SUSTech, she looked forward to creating a colorful campus life. SUSTech lived up to her expectation. “In coming to SUSTech, I’ve met too many good teachers. They have given me plenty of advice and helped me at every intersection of my life. I can now get in touch with a different world.” Their mentoring allowed her to find her academic interests while studying. Yao Yao has to choose between completing a Ph.D. at the University of South Florida and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology with a full scholarship.

The open day activities were full of new experiences, with every glimpse showing a confident school running without concerns.

We hope to see you at our next open day!