On July 16, 2016, a symposium titled “From Campus to Career” for SUSTech 2016 freshmen was held in Beijing National Day School. Lu Chun, Chief Operating Officer of SUSTech, Kathy O’Sullivan, Director of Language Education Center, Edward Guo, Director from Biomedicine and Bio-Engineering Research Center co-established by SUSTech and Columbia University, Chen Yuehong, Director of Humanities Center, Liu Ke, Chair Professor of Department of Chemistry & Academician of CAS, and Wang Duo, Professor of Department of Mathematics, had a close contact with 2016 freshmen and parents, in which questions were raised such as “how to adjust to the changes from a high school student to a college student”, “how to adapt to ‘all-in-English’ instruction mode”, and “how to cultivate innovation and entrepreneurship capability”.

During the symposium, Mr. Lu Chun introduced SUSTech’s enrollment policy, disciplinary development and instruction mode.

According to Kathy O’Sullivan, “Learning one language is like walking down the corridor; if you learn one more language, you would feel that doors alongside the corridor are open for you. So never resist learning English.” Mrs. Sullivan also shared ways to learn a language and methods for smooth communication and critical thinking.

From the perspective of international education, Professor Edward Guo shared three most important things in college–to acquire knowledge, to find one’s own way of learning, and to be a decent person.

“A world-class university of science and engineering must be equipped with first-class humanistic education”, said Chen Yuehong, who told the audience why he chose SUSTech from the point of the development of China’s higher education. Besides, he introduced the development plan of Humanities Center, encouraging students to complain less and make more down-to-earth efforts, and more importantly, to build a better SUSTech and fulfill their dreams.

On how to study in a top notch university, Professor Wang Duo stressed the importance of critical thinking and self-study, as well as the importance to learn to make choices and to be independent.

“IQ only accounts for 20% on determining how far a person can go, while EQ accounts for 80%”, said Mr. Liu Ke, who took Shenzhen as an example to introduce entrepreneurship of SUSTech with cases, indicating ways to cultivate innovation and entrepreneurship. The splendid speeches of the professors were received with rounds of applause.

The freshmen had a chance to directly consult experts. They asked questions such as “is there an interdisciplinary subject between arts and science”, “will ‘2+2’ model weaken the acquisition of knowledge on a specific major”, “can I sit in on classes for Mathematics students if I am a Physics major”, “does ‘4+1’ joint education system with Columbia University guarantee diplomas from both universities”, and “can students engage in the informatization construction of SUSTech”.

Experts also answered questions posed by parents, for example, “should a student pursue a Ph.D. before starting his or her business” and “how Innovation and Entrepreneurship College guide students in starting business”.

This symposium left new comers a deeper understanding of SUSTech, and a greater expectation for college life.