WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BRING TOP-NOTCH FACULTY TO SUSTech?

THIS SPECIAL REPORT SHARES THE METHODS IT USE TO HIRE GREAT TALENT.

On December 30, 2017, CCTV’s well-known news program “Face to Face” broadcast a special report “Chinese Gravitation Wave” of Deng Weiwei, a professor at the Department of Mechanics and Aerospace in SUSTech. He described the experience that saw him renounce his tenured position at an American university and return to SUSTech. The story of Deng Weiwei represents one of many global talents at SUSTech.

Talent is the world’s most valuable resource, while the most talented student and faculty are at our core. As a research university, SUSTech introduces top-notch talents with a global perspective and international standards. In 2017, the university received recognition for its initiatives and achievements in talent introduction and personnel training.

Chen Shiyi, president of SUSTech, once said: “Faculty plays an important role in building a first-class university, but the quality of faculty is more important than quantity, so we must select talents among the 7 billion people in the world.” The introduction of highly qualified personnel and the construction of high-level faculty always have been the center of SUSTech’s actions. Since establishment, the university has focused on the strategic goal of building an international high-level research university, made full use of the talent planning system at the central, provincial and municipal levels, closely integrated the development planning of schools and vigorously promoted the introduction of talents and teaching staff construction.

A big movement of top faculty to SUSTech: Talent Investment in Quality Teaching and Researching More Than Ever

In November 2017, due to exceptional achievements in the introduction of outstanding talents such as academicians, thousands of planning experts, the Local Talent (Peacock) team and others, SUSTech won the “Talent Scout Award” in Shenzhen with the first prize in the city. President Chen Shiyi became a “Talent Ambassador” for Shenzhen.

At the provincial level, SUSTech has introduced five leading personnel of Guangdong Province, 18 people for the Special Plan of Guangdong Province, 287 people for “Peacock Plan” in Shenzhen, 47 high-level personnel in Shenzhen, 17 people for Shenzhen Pengcheng scholars and so on. Over 90% of teachers have an overseas working background, and over 60% have experience of working or studying in the top 100 universities in the world, which has helped SUSTech build a high-level and internationalized teaching team.

The booming economy of China combines well with growing international influence and the rapid development of SUSTech to create a powerful force of attraction for world-class talents. Joining the “China Dream” and China’s education reform and technological innovation are many first-class talents.

Guo Yurong, the University Chairperson, said: “It is the dream of running a first-class university in China and bringing excellent people under the banner of this mission.” Xia Zhihong, chair of the department of mathematics, believes that SUSTech attracts talents with philosophy, provincialism and bright future. With the support of provincial and municipal governments, embracing “China’s opportunities” and selecting and reforming qualified personnel are the ideal and feelings of choosing to grow with SUSTech and create a bright future together.

Driving Competitive Advantage with Talent Management

After the introduction of talents, the University formulates and implements internationally accepted personnel training and evaluation systems, such as the project management system (PI system) and the innovation and entrepreneurial incentive mechanism, to create a first-rate entrepreneurial environment for qualified personnel.

In 2017, SUSTech received funding for 91 projects from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, with an average funding rate of 38.24%, 17.15% higher than the national average. In 2017, SUSTech invested various types of scientific research projects amounting to 600 million yuan, and professors in teaching and research series of per capita amounting to 2 million yuan, which fully demonstrates the research team’s scientific research vigor and rapid growth.

With the rapid accumulation of high-end talents, the SUSTech 2017 talent project has seen massive breakthroughs in the election of our talents to major national academies. The Academy of Science elected President Chen as an academician in Developing Countries, and Vice President Tang Tao became the first Shenzhen born academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Vice Chairperson Li Fengliang was selected to join the Leaders of Million People Planning for the Department of Philosophy and Social Sciences, while Professor Guo Hongwei (Department of Biology) and Vice Professor Li Chuangchuang (Department of Chemistry) were both selected to join the Department of Science and Technology Innovation. Vice Professor Liu Xinyuan (Department of Chemistry) received funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China from their “Green” Project. Another young scholar was Ren Fuzeng, Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, who was selected as a Young Scholar in Guangdong Province.

The talent team made several breakthroughs in science and research, winning all kinds of science awards. President Chen Shiyi won the “Excellence in Scientists Award” from the Hong Kong Institute of Science and Technology Foundation. The project “Technology and Application of Risk Prevention and Control of Heavy Metal Contamination in Water Environment of Watersheds”, led by professor Hu Qing (School of Environmental Science and Engineering), won second prize in the National Science and Technology Progress Award. Professor He Jiaqing won second prize at the Natural Science Award for Outstanding Achievement Award in Scientific Research of Higher Education (Science and Technology). Professor Liu Junguo (School of Environmental Science and Engineering) won the “Outstanding Achievement Award in Scientific Research in Higher Education (Science and Technology) prize”.

From 2012 to 2017, the total amount and level of talent research achievements have rapidly increased. Teachers published a total of 2414 essays, articles and ministries, including more than ten papers in authoritative journals such as “Science” and “Nature”, declared 555 patents and were granted 66 patents. SUSTech teachers also won 2 items of national awards, four items of provincial science and technology award, and two items for science and technology award in Shenzhen.

SUSTech hosts a wonderful atmosphere for talent innovation and entrepreneurship, with many innovative achievements. In July 2017, after five years of research and development, He Jiangkui, an associate professor of biology, launched the third-generation independently developed gene sequencer and became a model for innovation and entrepreneurship in Shenzhen and the whole country.

Benefiting from the rapid growth of personnel, the influence of SUSTech has increased rapidly. In the “Nature Index’s Mainland China University Ranking”, SUSTech ranked 55th in the country in 2015, ranked 44th in 2016; and ranked 28th in the nation in 2017.

Mr Mei Yiqi, the former president of Tsinghua University, said: “The great scholars are not only those with strong backgrounds but those with real knowledge.” Talents are the soul of the university. They climb the peak of science, promote the innovation and progress of scientific theories and technologies, and join the cultivation in the first-class training of innovative talents. With talent-based and science as the source, SUSTech selects first-class talents and grow together with them to create a better future.