On June 3rd 2017, SUSTech held the 2017 Undergraduate Talent Training seminars, which included discussions on the way classes are taught as well as English. Vice-chairman Li Fengliang, Vice-president Wu Chuanyue, Associate Vice President Lu Chun, Professor Committee members, as well as various other university officials and department representatives were present for the general knowledge courses. There was a first seminar in the morning, and two more held in the afternoon by Wu Chuanyue and the Office of Teaching Affairs Director Huang Kefu who presided over the event.

Site of the seminars

Li Fengliang’s speech

Li Fengliang opened the event with the first speech. On behalf of the University Council, he congratulated the audience on their presence. He said that the quality of undergraduate training is one of the key indicators of the level of universities, and that the seminar’s role was to further enhance its quality, to co-ordinate the promotion of hierarchical teaching, English teaching level, innovation, individualized teaching, and various other ways of delivering education to the students.

Huang Ke followed with a speech on “2017 Classification teaching and English teaching – overall implementation of the program”. He first reviewed the three stages of the development of the personnel training program in SUSTech, and then introduced the results of the questionnaire on the students’ hierarchical teaching. He then went on to explain the implementation plan, principle and conditions for hierarchical teaching, and concluded with the development strategy and security conditions.

Participants were openly invited to discuss the subjects, and teachers and staff representatives from various faculties, and departments, as well as student representatives, had the opportunity to express their views.

Group discussion site

In the afternoon, the meeting was split up into groups for the discussion stage, and the participants formed three groups to discuss in depth on the topic of the seminar. The three group leaders then summed up their reports, and it was confirmed that the implementation of hierarchical teaching in SUSTech would take place and adhere to the need for English teaching. The groups also put forward feasible recommendations, including the classification, to strengthen all-round training, semester training, and enhancing the guiding role of mentors; to strengthen the relevant system construction and enhance the management level.

Chen Shiyi’s speech

At the end of the meeting, SUSTech President Chen Shiyi took to the stage to discuss how the “2 +2” training model, English teaching and “three systems” are characteristic of SUSTech, making it a pioneer in higher education, and he said it was important to continue to explore new paths. He also explained how, while emphasizing English teaching, it was important to also strengthen students’ writing and communication skills, pay attention to the guidance of personalized teaching, cultivate students with characteristics of SUSTech, and build the core of training around the spirit of “knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurship” to continue to develop outstanding graduates and talents.

Contributed by: Teaching Department

Edited by: Jeremy Welburn