On January 14, 2019, the Third Session of the Second Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) University Council (Council) meeting took place at the Shenzhen Civic Center. The meeting was presided over by Wang Lixin, the Vice Mayor of Shenzhen. Mayor of Shenzhen Chen Rugui, acting in his capacity as Director General of the Council, commissioned Vice Mayor Wang Lixin to act on his behalf.

At the meeting, the Council discussed and passed both the 2018 work report and 2019 work plan. They also discussed the development programs for the College of Humanities, SUSTech-HKUST Joint School of Microelectronics, SUSTech Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and the Affiliated Hospitals. The final 2018 financial position and 2019 departmental budgets were also approved. Elections were held for Council Vice Director-Generals.

Council Chairperson Guo Yurong announced changes to the makeup of the Council. The meeting discussed and approved the nominations of Wang Lixin and Xing Feng, the Deputy Director-General of the Education Department of Guangdong, as new Council vice Director-Generals.

The Council considered the establishment of the Standing Committee of the Council and voted to adopt the establishment plan.

President Chen Shiyi submitted several reports to the SUSTech University Council Meeting. These reports included SUSTech’s 2018 Work Summary and 2019 Work Plan, and construction programs for the College of Humanities, SUSTech-HKUST Joint School of Microelectronics, SUSTech Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies and the SUSTech Affiliated Hospital.

President Chen Shiyi reported on the progress of SUSTech in 2018. He said under the guidance and support of the Ministry of Education, the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Shenzhen Municipal Government, SUSTech closely focused on the goal of building a world-class university rooted in China and the notions of research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In 2018, the influence of SUSTech continued to increase rapidly, and its international influence has reached a new high. The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings released the ”2018-2019 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.” SUSTech was ranked eighth among Chinese mainland universities. In the New Year, SUSTech will continue to follow the decisions of the board of directors to accelerate its development.

President Chen made a comprehensive report on the focus of work in 2019, including the development of “a high-level university in Guangdong Province”, the College of Humanities, the SUSTech-HKUST Joint School of Microelectronics, the Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and the construction of the affiliated hospital.

In the following report, Guo Yurong expressed her gratitude for the support of the Council. She said that SUSTech can attract so many outstanding talents and realize such remarkable achievements. It benefits from the cultivation, leadership and support of the Shenzhen municipal government and party committee. In the future, SUSTech will take advantage of the good opportunity of the construction of the Greater Bay Area, and make full use of the growth advantages in world-class city groups to strive to become a world-class university.

As a new vice Director-General of the Council, Xing Feng congratulated everyone for the smooth running of the meeting on behalf of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education. He said that SUSTech would play a more important role in building a modernized and innovative Shenzhen, under the leadership of the Board of Directors. The Ministry of Education, Guangdong Province and the City of Shenzhen would continue to provide strong support for SUSTech.

In his closing remarks, Wang Lixin affirmed SUSTech’s achievements in 2018 in teaching, scientific research, team building, personnel training, international education and campus development. He expressed his thanks for the Board of Directors for their work and congratulated the senior leaders, faculty members and students of SUSTech for their work throughout 2018.

He pointed out that SUSTech plays a leading role in urban development, and hopes that it will work with Shenzhen in seizing major opportunities in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. SUSTech shoulders an important historical mission of implementing the new strategic positioning of Shenzhen in the development, innovation and reform of higher education, as SUSTech strives to become a world-class university, rooted in China.

Wang Lixin also pointed out that the Shenzhen Municipal Government and Municipal Party Committee will fully support SUSTech’s development and coordinate its relevant departments to ensure SUSTech’s rapid and effective development.

2018 was an important year for SUSTech to enhance its development as an international high-level research university. SUSTech will implement the decisions of the Council and continue its reformist journey. Innovation at SUSTech will not stop, as it highlights the characteristics of a university that continues to strengthen and grow in all aspects.

2019 will be critical for the development of key universities across Guangdong Province, particularly for its high-level universities. SUSTech takes this meeting as an opportunity to implement the resolutions of the Board of Directors and further improve its development plans.

These suggestions and comments will assist SUSTech in planning for a new future with a new vision, thereby continuously improving the level and quality of education and research in order to lay a solid foundation for the development of a world-class international high-level research university.