On the afternoon of April 8, 2021, Weihe XIE, the Distinguished Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences at Tsinghua University, was invited to the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) to give a lecture on technological innovation. Qikun XUE, President of SUSTech, presided over the lecture and awarded Professor XIE with a commemorative certificate.

Professor XIE is the Deputy Director of the Council Committee and the former Vice President of Tsinghua Universities. He also serves as the Vice President of Chinese Society of Education, the Deputy Director of the academic committee of China Association of Higher Education, and the Director of Undergraduate Education and Education Committee of the Ministry of Education.

Weihe XIE explained the importance of technological development and innovation amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed his views on the values of innovation in science and technology and believes that the development and innovation of science and technology should become the bridge and link between mankind and nature.

Professor XIE believes that this kind of innovation in science and technology can be achieved through the cooperation of technology, humanities, and social sciences. He feels it is necessary to reshape the relationship between natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences, and find a suitable way to integrate them. At the same time, he noted that approaches such as social assessment and teaching methods along with other mechanisms can be used towards the development of scientific and technological innovation.

After his speech, Professor XIE held an in-depth discussion with faculty members and students in attendance and answered their questions in relation to his lecture. The event was organized by the Center for Higher Education Research (CHER) at SUSTech and the Office of Communications & Public Relations (CPR).