Last weekend, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) host the Seminar on Aesthetics Education of Southern University of Science and Technology (seminar) at the Faculty Cultural Activity Centre. This seminar is sponsored by the SUSTech Arts Center, which hosted more than 100 experts and scholars from universities and institutions across mainland China, the Greater Bay Area and Taiwan Province involved in art & science.
The seminar sought to explore new trends in art education at world-class universities, with deep discussions on perfecting the arts education curriculum, optimizing associated activities, improving artistic literacy and enhancing collaborative education opportunities. SUSTech University Council Vice Chairperson Li Fengliang and School of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean Chen Yuehong both attended the seminar.
SUSTech University Council Vice Chairperson Li Fengliang welcomed the experts, saying that SUSTech actively promotes arts education as part of its wide-ranging humanities education within its goal of cultivating top-notch innovative future leaders of science and technology. He pointed out that this seminar has far-reaching significance for further exploring new models, new paths and new development directions of arts education in the context of the new era. Li Fengliang hoped that all participants would thoroughly discuss and explore new paths of arts education in world-class universities.
Chen Yuehong gave a briefing into SUSTech’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences, pointing out that it is an avid adherent to general education and unique research, as it provides important support for society. Art education is a critical component of first-class humanities education, as it serves to edify the soul and inspire creative sparks for scientific and engineering talents within STEM universities. The School of Humanities and Social Sciences will continue to expand on its humanities disciplines to develop into a key center for the Greater Bay Area while supporting the incredible opportunities for Shenzhen following the State Council Statement.
Three sub-forums took place within the seminar: Arts Education at University, High Level Art Troupes & Campus Culture Development, and Arts & Science. Twenty guests from top universities gave presentations on different topics within the three sub-forums, inspiring considerable debate, ideas and opportunities on arts education in higher education.
Central Conservatory of Music Voice and Opera Department Professor Guo Shuzhen attended the seminar, says that art education is very important as it is a collection of truth, goodness and beauty. SUSTech Office of Research Deputy Director Gong Yi awarded Professor Guo Shuzhen with an honorary presidency of the Shenzhen Art and Science Association, in his capacity as Vice President of the Shenzhen Art and Science Association, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to national vocal and arts education.
SUSTech has attached significant importance to arts education as part of its quest to foster a high-quality innovative talent pipeline. The creation of the SUSTech Arts Center is part of this wider goal, which offers various educational courses along with opportunities for top artists to lecture or exhibit on campus.
To increase participation in arts education, the Arts Center is now offering classes in English within the broader internationalization goal of SUSTech. There has also been a dramatic increase in the number of high-level artistic exhibitions on campus, and more students are participating in off-campus artistic competitions. The Arts Center has introduced several high-end talents that are involved in promising interdisciplinary research.
Arts Center Director Bi Baoyi said that the development of the Greater Bay Area and the State Council support for Shenzhen means that there is enormous potential to promote emerging and innovative universities like SUSTech, while blending art with science to cultivate cutting-edge innovative talents for the benefit of society.
