November 19th was the first day of the 2018 International Advisory Council (IAC) meeting of Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). 16 leading international academics of the world’s top universities have joined together to form a think tank for SUSTech’s future development.

Great importance has been attached to the event by the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government. Vice Mayor of Shenzhen Lixin Wang and Associate Counsel of Guangdong Provincial Department of Education Zicheng Wang attended the opening ceremony. Later that evening, Vice Mayor of Shenzhen Xuefeng Ai met with members of the International Advisory Council (IAC).

The IAC members present at the meeting included Henry T. Yang, Chancellor of the University of California at Santa Barbara, Xinhe Bao, President of the University of Science and Technology of China, Jianhua Lin, Former President of Peking University, Edward Byrne, President &Principal of King’s College London, Tony F. Chan, President of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Lino Guzzella, President of ETH Zurich, Peter Høj, President of the University of Queensland, David Leebron, President of Rice University, David Richardson, President of the University of East Anglia, Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, Mark Schlissel, President of University of Michigan, Choon Fong Shih, University Professor of National University of Singapore , Shin Sung Chul, President of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, and Samuel Stanley, President of Stony Brook University New York.

Wei Shyy, President of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Tan Eng Chye, President of the National University of Singapore are also the members of the IAC.

They have all made great achievements in the international academic and educational circles, have rich experience in running world-class universities, and have high prestige and influence in the global higher education sector. Henry T. Yang serves as Chair of International Advisory Council.

When meeting members of the International Advisory Council (IAC) of SUSTech, Lixin Wang introduced Shenzhen’s rapid development and the emphasis the city has placed on higher education. He hoped that all members would provide guidance for SUSTech’s development and internationalization, through their rich experience in running universities and strategic vision.

The Guangdong Provincial Government attaches importance to building more high-level universities in the region. It also supports the further development of SUSTech, said Zicheng Wang. He believed that the leading international academics present today would help SUSTech with a global vision, which will power Guangdong’s higher education in future.

During the meeting, SUSTech’s President Shiyi Chen reported on the “State of the University.” The report mainly covers four aspects. It responded to the 2017 report, covered the progress made this year, and showed the new initiatives and new opportunities available. He also spoke about the challenges faced by SUSTech. He reviewed SUSTech’s progress in areas like student enrollment, faculty, academic structure, and research. Shiyi Chen also highlighted the achievements of 2017, including obtaining the qualification to confer doctoral and master’s degrees in the shortest time, campus construction and the preparation of the School of Medicine.

He also introduced the new initiatives of building three academic institutes, including the Creative Design School, the SUSTech-HKUST Joint School of Microelectronics, and School of System Design and Intelligent Manufacturing. He pointed out that there are still some shortcomings when it comes to competing for talent pipeline and resources, but SUSTech is confident when it comes to seizing new opportunities.

Subsequently, Vice President Tao Tang talked about “New Initiatives: Undergraduate Education” and “New Progress: Graduate Education.” Vice President Jinguang Teng made a report on the “Development of Major Research Facilities at SUSTech.” Vice Provost for Global Strategies Chunmiao Zheng talked about SUSTech’s global strategic vision.

In compliance to Article Twenty-nine, Chapter Three of The Shenzhen Government Ordinance for the Southern University of Science and Technology (2011) , International Advisory Council of SUSTech was founded in 2017. On October 16, 2017 the SUSTech International Advisory Council (IAC) held the first Council meeting and approved the “SUSTech International Advisory Council Chapter.”

Later that day, the IAC members visited SUSTech Cryo-Electron Microscopy Research Center. Following that, they went to the students commons to learn about the lives of SUSTech students, where they had in-depth exchanges with the students.