Over the weekend, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) worked with its Center for Higher Education Research (CHER) to hold the First Forum on Building World-class Research Universities (Forum). More than 100 experts and scholars of higher education research around China came to SUSTech to discuss the development of higher education with Chinese characteristics in pioneering demonstration areas. They focused on the development of higher education within specific regions for world-class research universities, management of higher education institutions and the development of the Greater Bay Area. CHER Director Shen Hong presided over the opening ceremony.

University Council Vice Chairperson Li Fengliang welcomed the experts to the Forum and summarized the construction of SUSTech. He pointed out that the development of SUSTech as a pioneering demonstration zone has placed elevated requirements on higher education in Shenzhen.

Strategic Planning & Coordination Department Deputy Director Cao Saixian pointed out that the recent announcement of Shenzhen being a pioneering demonstration zone echoed the development of the Greater Bay Area, so the historic unprecedented opportunities that have arisen will drive numerous prospects for the new era. She detailed the actions of the Shenzhen municipal government in the development of the Greater Bay Area and the pioneering demonstration zone of Shenzhen.

Shenzhen Municipal Education Bureau Deputy Director Xu Jianling interpreted the needs of higher education for the Greater Bay Area and highlighted Shenzhen’s accelerated establishment of higher education, in order to promote the city as a destination of higher education.

National Education Advisory Committee (NEDC) Secretary General Zhang Li (former MoE National Center for Education Development Research Director) gave a keynote speech about the major situation and policy points of the development of higher education in China in the new era. He comprehensively demonstrated the problems and challenges faced by the connotative development of higher education in the new era. Zhang Li also put forward various policy suggestions on further promoting the collaborative innovation of industry-university research.