As part of Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech)’s 2018 Convocation, University Chairperson Guo Yurong brought a unique start to the 1801 freshmen (including graduate students and international students) by hosting “the first class” immediately after the opening ceremony. This is the first time in the history of SUSTech that all freshmen have undertaken the same class at the same time.

The theme of the first lesson of the school is “Innovation Wins the Future.” Guo Yurong introduced the history and achievements of the reform and opening up of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone with the “Innovative City,” “Innovative University” and “Innovation and You.” The hardships and little-known stories of the founding process of SUSTech. There is ardent hope for the 2018 freshmen.

Innovative City

Combining her personal experience of working and living in Shenzhen in the past 30 years, Guo Yurong reviewed the wonderful history of Shenzhen’s rapid opening up, reform, and innovation through 40 years of reform and opening up with vivid pictures and detailed data.

Guo Yurong said that Shenzhen is a magical city. It took less than 40 years to develop from a border town with a population of over 30,000 to a modern metropolis with tens of millions of people. Shenzhen is a city with a mission and a dream, creating a miracle of economic and urban development. The success of Shenzhen is a wonderful epitome of China’s “standing up,” “riching up” and “strengthening up.” It also reflects the success of the socialist road with Chinese characteristics and the success of the great cause of reform and opening up under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. The development of Shenzhen has provided valuable experience and fresh models to the country in terms of roads, theory, systems, and culture.

Innovative University

SUSTech is a university with innovative genes in Shenzhen. It is responsible for cultivating top-notch innovative talents. Guo Yurong talked about the relationship between first-class universities and first-class cities, where she expounded on the background and development of Shenzhen’s preparation of SUSTech. She used six stories to tell the students about the power and passion of the rapid development of SUSTech.

She said that the development of SUSTech in recent years is gratifying, and innovation is one of the most important factors. First of all, the idea of creating SUSTech is innovative, reflecting the courage of Shenzhen. Secondly, in the process of running a school, we encounter various problems and solve them with innovative thinking and innovative methods, which reflects the mettle of Shenzhen. Dare to think, dare to do, and seek truth and pragmatism and strive for excellence at SUSTech.

Innovation and You

“The most important thing we should not live up to is this era.” Guo Yurong talked about China’s new four major inventions and the fourth industrial revolution from the growth of the millennial generation. From the alarm bells rung by academicians at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the alarm from the ZTE incident, she talked about the mission of SUSTech and the original intention of cultivating innovative talents.

She pointed out that at SUSTech, there are a group of good teachers and good students who worked hard and innovated and shared the stories of their struggle at SUSTech.

She said that as a youthful and energetic generation, the students are the powerful generations of “a great destiny.” She hoped that in each student’s new journey, the students would uphold and carry forward the spirit of Shenzhen, the spirit of the city, the spirit of innovation, and the spirit of the founding of SUSTech. She believed that every student would strive to become a new era college student with ideals, pursuits, skills, and responsibility. Chairperson Guo Yurong exhorted the students to become a new generation with innovative characters, so they can win the future with innovation!

Guo Yurong’s wonderful story won warm applause from the teachers and classmates.

The students listened carefully

This “first lesson” was a summer project led by Guo Yurong personally and aims to cultivate top-notch innovative talents with both ability and morality, finding them through both classroom and extracurricular activities. In addition to carrying out various activities such as teacher-student symposiums and reading the classics together, the school has also organized students to visit the 40-year exhibition of reform and opening up and went to the three northern shelter forests to participate in social practice activities, encouraging students to play a more important role in the wider world.