The opening ceremony for the 2018 Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) Communications and Public Relations Training Course took place on November 12^th. University Council Chairperson Guo Yurong and Vice Chairperson Li Fengliang attended the ceremony along with publicity and communications staff from every department and office. Director Zhang Ling of the Office of Communications and Public Relations presided over the ceremony. Li Fengliang gave the first lesson of the training session.

Guo Yurong spoke at the opening ceremony. She talked about SUSTech’s achievements, the unity of the University’s administrative team, and the importance of the Communications and Public Relations staff in unifying the University. Guo Yurong spoke about how the young team of the Office of Communications and Public Relations had done an excellent job and maintained an active attitude in promoting SUSTech. She hoped that the trainees would cherish the opportunity to learn and apply their new knowledge in practical ways while promoting the SUSTech brand.

Li Fengliang gave the first lesson of the training. He talked about “Strengthening Communications Work and Building a World-Class Research University,” and shared his thoughts about university branding and communications. Li Fengliang hoped that the publicity and communications staff would continue to strengthen their standards and procedures, by building new fronts of communication with multi-channel, cross-media, full coverage of SUSTech news. The promotion of SUSTech news through multiple avenues would enhance our culture and reputation, covering our academics, our culture, and our research outcomes.

Zhang Ling said that the opening ceremony marked not only the official launch of learning and training activities but also an important meeting of the school’s publicity and communications systems. As communications and publicity workers in higher education institutions, it is important for them to strive to open a new era of communications work in the new era.

The University Communications and Public Relations team was established in 2016. This year, every department, research institute, and administrative unit had publicity units embedded into them to clarify the work done across campus. In order to improve the work of departmental publicity units, the Office of Communications and Public Relations organized this training course. The course consists of 8 sessions, including lectures and practical experience.