On March 18^th 2017, SUSTech leading figures gathered for the First Session of SUSTech Board of Trustees Second Meeting.

Among other key figures attending the meeting were Xu Qin, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee, Mayor of Shenzhen Municipal Government and Chairman of SUSTech Board of Trustees. The meeting elected a new board of directors vice chairman, secretary general and deputy secretary general.

Board meeting in progress

Group photo of Board Members

The participants also discussed and reviewed the Report on the 2016 Work Plan, and projection for the 2017 Work Plan, as well as the Financial Report on the 2016 budget and the forecast of the 2017 Budget. The topic of the establishment of SUSTech Medical School was also updated to highlight the progress made on the construction, and more generally the meeting revolved around the subject of SUSTech’s development.

At the meeting, Vice-mayor of Shenzhen Mr Wu Yihuan announced the creation of a second council at SUSTech. Based on the statute of the board, which is already composed of the Mayor of Shenzhen, the Chairman of SUSTech, and the relevant heads of departments for the municipal government, as well as elected members (representatives of SUSTech management team, faculty representatives and professors), the new council will be composed of 26 members including 21 from the previous board and 5 new members elected by the director.

In accordance with the rules of the board, the meeting was overseen by Mr Xu Qin, who praised the significant contribution made after the first board meeting, and hoped that the new members of the board would support the development and ambitions of the school.

Subsequently, following the nomination by Mr Xu Qin, the board of directors was voted for by Vice Mayor Wu Yiquan, Provincial Department of Education Deputy Director Wei Zhonglin, SUSTech Council Chairperson Guo Yurong as Chairman of the Second board meeting, and municipal government secretary Li Tingzhong, to determine the new Secretary-General of the board, resulting in Li Tingzhong taking up the position, thus completing one of the key objectives of the board meeting.

The board went on to discuss and amend SUSTech’s charter and submitted the revisions for the consideration of each board member.

Audit and principle of the “SUSTech 2016 Annual Work Report and 2017 Annual Work Plan”

SUSTech President Chen Shiyi presented the 2016 and 2017 annual work plans for the university. He went on to thank the leadership of the government officials from the Ministry of Education, the Guangdong Provincial Government, and the Shenzhen Municipal Government, who’s support for SUSTech has allowed him to build it into a world-class institution based on the Chinese characteristics of innovation and entrepreneurship.

With such support, SUSTech managed to successfully reach it’s targets set the previous year, such as implementing a modern governance system, improving the management of the campus and the operations, develop top programs in it’s disciplines which are taught by some of the world’s most renowned faculty members, going from 119 to 300 full time professors in just one year and including 14 academic scholars. SUSTech maintains the vision of becoming an educational and research platform attracting the brightest minds from China and abroad, as well as engaging with it’s domestic and international counterparts. It also hopes to continue to play a major role in the development of the high-tech industry in Shenzhen.

SUSTech also should be a leader in developing quality students and talent, as well as scientific research and social and community service. All levels combined, the university carried out 197 science and technology projects, of which the Shenzhen Peacock Talent Program team successfully won 6. The enhanced personnel training will be critical to further unlock SUSTech students’ potential, and with upgraded campus facilities and high-end information security systems SUSTech will be on the path to becoming a world-class leader in higher education.

Prof. Chen detailed the main challenges that SUSTech was facing in the close future and identified 8 key areas which require attention. These areas are:

• Promotion of postgraduate degree applications

• Start the construction of the School of Medecine

• Continue to develop high-level undergraduate education

• Start the construction of the Schools of Science and of Engineering

• To build a First-level discipline and First-class University

• Focus on Shenzhen’s “Top 10 Action Plan” to lead the city’s modern, international urban development

• Upgrade campus infrastructure and facilities

• Further develop the human talent and resources of the university

• Develop international cooperation and exchange programs

• Focus on internationalization of the university

Appointed by President Chen Shiyi, SUSTech Chief Accountant Ye Keqin, reported to the board the “2016 Annual Financial Finals and the 2017 Annual Departmental Budget”. The board members reviewed these reports and intervened with a number of pertinent and constructive suggestions relating to the future of SUSTech.

Construction of SUSTech School of Medecine

SUSTech Vice-President Wu Chuanye presented to the board the “SUSTech School of Medecine Preparatory Report”, which details how in 2016 the SUSTech board of directors decided to go ahead with the creation of an international research-oriented medical school jointly managed with top international institutions such as the John Hopkins University. This will serve as a means to internationalize the Chinese medical education model and develop international medical researchers, as SUSTech strives to become the new standard for Chinese medical education.

The board meeting was the opportunity to share many useful suggestions and after a concrete presentation of the plans, it gave the green light for the next construction phase of the project.

The board meeting was concluded by Mr Xu Qin’s final speech in which he gave full recognition and support to SUSTech and it’s management, professors and students. He said the progress made in 2016 was excellent and was very satisfied with the significant efforts put in.

The board also identified 4 targets that the university should uphold.

• First, SUSTech should take full advantage of the opportunity and support to build a first-class university and courses, and focus on improving the six key areas of the university which are disciplines, talents, education and teaching, modern management, supporting security and social service in accordance with the quality and standards of Shenzhen, to guarantee that the university is world-class on every level and can develop into a top-tier international research center as soon as possible.

• Second, SUSTech should focus on building an international innovation center that is both industrial and technological, strengthening it’s educational courses to be relevant, innovative and looking towards the future. Efforts should be made on building close relationships with the technology and industrial sector to create a enterprises-university-research synergy which will greatly increase fundemental research and innovation.

• Third, SUSTech should be the symbol and the standard-bearer of a new system of higher education built on structural reforms. As an experimental institution it is a leader in the field and should continue to explore new operational systems and mechanisms with the goal of promoting entrepreneurship and innovation.

• Fourth and final point, the University should continue to be a postivie influence in the ideological and political sphere, guiding the students to develop “confidence in the four aspects” and to better understand the world surrounding them and how to become a leader in it.