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In the days leading up to the new academic year, Luo Qingming, CAS member and HNU president, finds himself exceptionally busy. Besides managing the day-to-day operations of the university, he actively participates in various industry-university-research (IUR) integration events in Hainan, including the recently-concluded 9th National Biomedical Engineering Innovation Design Competition, which drew nearly 10,000 contestants and over 3,000 projects from 250 universities nationwide. To ensure its success, Luo personally participated in and presided over the event.
“One’s fate is always intertwined with the tide of the times. We must stand firm with a vision for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and become aware of the unprecedented changes in the world. We should keep the nation’s priorities in mind and heed the call of the times.” Luo often encourages students in this way. Over the years, he hasn’t just talked the talk—he’s walked the walk. Despite the demanding nature of his position, Luo has remained deeply involved in teaching and research, dedicating himself to nurturing talent and contributing to the development of Hainan.
From Humble Origins to Distinguished Scientist
Born in 1966 into a rural family in Qichun County, Hubei Province, Luo Qingming developed a resilient spirit and a determination to excel. Qichun’s rich cultural heritage subtly influenced Luo during his formative years, helping him grow into an avid reader and a science enthusiast.
In 1982, Luo, aged 16, was admitted to the Department of Technical Physics at Northwest Institute of Telecommunications Engineering (currently known as Xidian University) for his outstanding academic performance. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree, he furthered his studies at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), where he earned a master’s degree in optics and later a Ph.D. in physical electronics and optoelectronics. It was in those years that Luo developed a deep connection with HUST, which inspired his full devotion to the pioneering research in optoelectronics.
After obtaining his Ph.D., Luo worked as a postdoctoral research fellow abroad. During that period, he was deeply impressed by the cutting-edge research in the interdisciplinary field of information optoelectronics and biomedical sciences. This experience sparked his keen interest in biomedical photonics, a field he decided to devote himself to for the rest of his career. In 1997, Luo returned to HUST as a faculty member.
In the following years, Luo rose from a lecturer to a full professor, assuming successively the positions of the Director of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dean of the College of Life Science and Technology, and later Vice President of HUST. His research primarily focused on using biomedical photonics to reveal the mysteries of the brain.
Luo’s unwavering commitment and determination have been pivotal in transforming a little-known interdisciplinary research group into a world-renowned one. Over the past 20 plus years, his team has achieved multiple leading advances in brain science and technology domestically and internationally.
Reflecting on his journey, Luo acknowledges the countless challenges and setbacks he has encountered. “The brain’s texture is as soft as tofu, making it extremely challenging to fix brain samples and label the nerves and blood vessels within them. It took us three years just to prepare a standard brain sample,” he said.
Luo’s perseverance has yielded significant results, earning him the National Technological Invention Award (Second Prize) and the National Natural Science Award (Second Prize).
Solidifying the Foundation for Development Through Talent Acquisition
In 2018, China’s central government decided to support Hainan to grow into a Free Trade Zone. To push forward the development of Hainan University, Hainan provincial government launched a global search for top talent, and Luo Qingming was among those invited. After careful consideration, he embraced the challenge, taking up the position of the President of Hainan University.
“Once you join Hainan University, you become a Hainanese,” said Luo, who had seldom travelled to Hainan before, immersed himself fully in the university’s educational and administrative work. Colleagues describe him as a “workaholic”, constantly seen at a meeting, in the office or the laboratory.
Luo understands that a world-class faculty is essential for a great university to produce outstanding talent. Since the day he joined Hainan University, he has been committed to talent acquisition and education reform.
Recognizing the need to bolster high-caliber talent recruitment, Luo aimed to position HNU as a talent pool for the Hainan FTP. Since 2018, HNU has recruited 1,602 high-level professionals with doctoral degrees, increasing the number of full-time faculty members to 2,967—a 50% increase from 2017. The number of faculty with doctoral degrees has tripled, and the number of national-level talents, including academicians, has grown from 4 to 68. New recruits now constitute more than half of the full-time faculty, which has remarkably invigorated the university’s research and innovation capabilities. In 2023, HNU secured the funding for 271 National Natural Science Foundation projects.
One noteworthy example is Wang Xianpeng, who joined Hainan University as a faculty member after completing his postdoctoral studies at Singapore Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in 2016. Within just eight years, Wang rose from an ordinary teacher to the Dean of the School of Information and Communication Engineering. Reflecting on his experience, Wang noted, “Hainan University has formulated a host of talent recruitment policies. Initially, there weren’t many high-level professionals, but with personalized and tailored recruitment strategies, the university has become a talent magnet.”
Wang is particularly impressed by the HNU’s “professor governance” system, which empowers research experts to play an active role in education and management. “Hainan University provides a broad platform for those eager to contribute, converting their passion for learning and work into a powerful drive for overcoming challenges and achieving success,” noted Wang.
Additionally, Hainan University has implemented a mechanism under which research team leaders mentor new faculty members, providing them with expert guidance and a solid research platform from Day 1. “This talent nurturing model helps new teachers start their research immediately, significantly shortening the time frame required for their professional development,” said Professor Tian Xinlong, Deputy Dean of the School of Marine Science and Engineering.
“Each student is unique as a result of different backgrounds, experiences, and interests. Personalization is the top priority of higher education,” Luo asserted. To this end, he advocates for innovative reforms in talent training, such as the modern residential college system, which features specialized mentorship, diverse dormitory functions, and enriched extracurricular activities. Zheng Xiangyu, a 2024 graduate of International Economics and Trade, is one of the beneficiaries of this reform. He and his like-minded peers from different disciplines regularly participate in various study and research activities organized by the residential college, particularly field studies, which have greatly enhanced his practical skills.
Distinctive Education Models that Meet the Demands of Hainan FTP
A university flourishes because of the city, and a city thrives because of the university. Luo Qingming believes that to fully support the development of the Hainan FTP, HNU must address the pressing sci-tech challenges facing the national strategy implementation and local economic and social development. Only in this way can Hainan maximize its advantages in natural conditions, geographical location, favorable policies and application scenarios.
HNU has established seven collaborative innovation centers focusing on the areas such as seed breeding and high-yield tropical agriculture, marine science and technology, free trade port development and institutional innovation, and culture and tourism.
As President, Luo has set up a few research institutes that serve the needs of local socio-economic development. To promote their fast growth, he is actively involved in the organization and operation of high-impact projects and events.
“Today, Hainan University’s research system spans island-wide in support of the construction of Hainan FTP. For instance, we have established research platforms in Sanya focusing on seed breeding and biomedical sciences, a research institute in Ding’an focusing on food and materials science, and another in Wenchang on green aquaculture. Besides, Hainan University has set up a few “science and technology backyards” across the province”, said the Head of School of Breeding and Multiplication of HNU (Sanya Institute of Breeding and Multiplication).
With the establishment of numerous “large teams” and “large platforms,” as well as the undertaking of “large projects”, Hainan University is steadily producing “impactful outcomes”, providing innovation momentum for the development of the Hainan FTP.
“Looking ahead, under the strong leadership of the CPC HNU Committee, Hainan University will adhere to the development philosophy of ‘seeking platform-driven growth, highlighting special characteristics, attracting top talent, opening up and making innovations.’ Through three major reforms, namely ‘complete credit system, collaborative innovation center and residential college,’ we will strive to build Hainan University into a world-class institution of higher education,” Luo stated.
Source from Economic Daily
Translated by Han Yunsheng
Proofread by Kuang Xiaowen, Yang Jie
To build world-class disciplinesTo develop HNU into a first-class university in China and even in the world
Serve the needs of national strategies and to contribute to Hainan FTP developmentFocus on seven major research fieldsGive full play to Hainan's advantages in natural resources, policies and application scenarios
To take the leading role through our irreplaceable contributions, our distinctiveness,our high threshold, and our adherence to opening up and innovation
In the days leading up to the new academic year, Luo Qingming, CAS member and HNU president, finds himself exceptionally busy. Besides managing the day-to-day operations of the university, he actively participates in various industry-university-research (IUR) integration events in Hainan, including the recently-concluded 9th National Biomedical Engineering Innovation Design Competition, which drew nearly 10,000 contestants and over 3,000 projects from 250 universities nationwide. To ensure its success, Luo personally participated in and presided over the event.
“One’s fate is always intertwined with the tide of the times. We must stand firm with a vision for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and become aware of the unprecedented changes in the world. We should keep the nation’s priorities in mind and heed the call of the times.” Luo often encourages students in this way. Over the years, he hasn’t just talked the talk—he’s walked the walk. Despite the demanding nature of his position, Luo has remained deeply involved in teaching and research, dedicating himself to nurturing talent and contributing to the development of Hainan.
From Humble Origins to Distinguished Scientist
Born in 1966 into a rural family in Qichun County, Hubei Province, Luo Qingming developed a resilient spirit and a determination to excel. Qichun’s rich cultural heritage subtly influenced Luo during his formative years, helping him grow into an avid reader and a science enthusiast.
In 1982, Luo, aged 16, was admitted to the Department of Technical Physics at Northwest Institute of Telecommunications Engineering (currently known as Xidian University) for his outstanding academic performance. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree, he furthered his studies at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), where he earned a master’s degree in optics and later a Ph.D. in physical electronics and optoelectronics. It was in those years that Luo developed a deep connection with HUST, which inspired his full devotion to the pioneering research in optoelectronics.
After obtaining his Ph.D., Luo worked as a postdoctoral research fellow abroad. During that period, he was deeply impressed by the cutting-edge research in the interdisciplinary field of information optoelectronics and biomedical sciences. This experience sparked his keen interest in biomedical photonics, a field he decided to devote himself to for the rest of his career. In 1997, Luo returned to HUST as a faculty member.
In the following years, Luo rose from a lecturer to a full professor, assuming successively the positions of the Director of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dean of the College of Life Science and Technology, and later Vice President of HUST. His research primarily focused on using biomedical photonics to reveal the mysteries of the brain.
Luo’s unwavering commitment and determination have been pivotal in transforming a little-known interdisciplinary research group into a world-renowned one. Over the past 20 plus years, his team has achieved multiple leading advances in brain science and technology domestically and internationally.
Reflecting on his journey, Luo acknowledges the countless challenges and setbacks he has encountered. “The brain’s texture is as soft as tofu, making it extremely challenging to fix brain samples and label the nerves and blood vessels within them. It took us three years just to prepare a standard brain sample,” he said.
Luo’s perseverance has yielded significant results, earning him the National Technological Invention Award (Second Prize) and the National Natural Science Award (Second Prize).
Solidifying the Foundation for Development Through Talent Acquisition
In 2018, China’s central government decided to support Hainan to grow into a Free Trade Zone. To push forward the development of Hainan University, Hainan provincial government launched a global search for top talent, and Luo Qingming was among those invited. After careful consideration, he embraced the challenge, taking up the position of the President of Hainan University.
“Once you join Hainan University, you become a Hainanese,” said Luo, who had seldom travelled to Hainan before, immersed himself fully in the university’s educational and administrative work. Colleagues describe him as a “workaholic”, constantly seen at a meeting, in the office or the laboratory.
Luo understands that a world-class faculty is essential for a great university to produce outstanding talent. Since the day he joined Hainan University, he has been committed to talent acquisition and education reform.
Recognizing the need to bolster high-caliber talent recruitment, Luo aimed to position HNU as a talent pool for the Hainan FTP. Since 2018, HNU has recruited 1,602 high-level professionals with doctoral degrees, increasing the number of full-time faculty members to 2,967—a 50% increase from 2017. The number of faculty with doctoral degrees has tripled, and the number of national-level talents, including academicians, has grown from 4 to 68. New recruits now constitute more than half of the full-time faculty, which has remarkably invigorated the university’s research and innovation capabilities. In 2023, HNU secured the funding for 271 National Natural Science Foundation projects.
One noteworthy example is Wang Xianpeng, who joined Hainan University as a faculty member after completing his postdoctoral studies at Singapore Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in 2016. Within just eight years, Wang rose from an ordinary teacher to the Dean of the School of Information and Communication Engineering. Reflecting on his experience, Wang noted, “Hainan University has formulated a host of talent recruitment policies. Initially, there weren’t many high-level professionals, but with personalized and tailored recruitment strategies, the university has become a talent magnet.”
Wang is particularly impressed by the HNU’s “professor governance” system, which empowers research experts to play an active role in education and management. “Hainan University provides a broad platform for those eager to contribute, converting their passion for learning and work into a powerful drive for overcoming challenges and achieving success,” noted Wang.
Additionally, Hainan University has implemented a mechanism under which research team leaders mentor new faculty members, providing them with expert guidance and a solid research platform from Day 1. “This talent nurturing model helps new teachers start their research immediately, significantly shortening the time frame required for their professional development,” said Professor Tian Xinlong, Deputy Dean of the School of Marine Science and Engineering.
“Each student is unique as a result of different backgrounds, experiences, and interests. Personalization is the top priority of higher education,” Luo asserted. To this end, he advocates for innovative reforms in talent training, such as the modern residential college system, which features specialized mentorship, diverse dormitory functions, and enriched extracurricular activities. Zheng Xiangyu, a 2024 graduate of International Economics and Trade, is one of the beneficiaries of this reform. He and his like-minded peers from different disciplines regularly participate in various study and research activities organized by the residential college, particularly field studies, which have greatly enhanced his practical skills.
Distinctive Education Models that Meet the Demands of Hainan FTP
A university flourishes because of the city, and a city thrives because of the university. Luo Qingming believes that to fully support the development of the Hainan FTP, HNU must address the pressing sci-tech challenges facing the national strategy implementation and local economic and social development. Only in this way can Hainan maximize its advantages in natural conditions, geographical location, favorable policies and application scenarios.
HNU has established seven collaborative innovation centers focusing on the areas such as seed breeding and high-yield tropical agriculture, marine science and technology, free trade port development and institutional innovation, and culture and tourism.
As President, Luo has set up a few research institutes that serve the needs of local socio-economic development. To promote their fast growth, he is actively involved in the organization and operation of high-impact projects and events.
“Today, Hainan University’s research system spans island-wide in support of the construction of Hainan FTP. For instance, we have established research platforms in Sanya focusing on seed breeding and biomedical sciences, a research institute in Ding’an focusing on food and materials science, and another in Wenchang on green aquaculture. Besides, Hainan University has set up a few “science and technology backyards” across the province”, said the Head of School of Breeding and Multiplication of HNU (Sanya Institute of Breeding and Multiplication).
With the establishment of numerous “large teams” and “large platforms,” as well as the undertaking of “large projects”, Hainan University is steadily producing “impactful outcomes”, providing innovation momentum for the development of the Hainan FTP.
“Looking ahead, under the strong leadership of the CPC HNU Committee, Hainan University will adhere to the development philosophy of ‘seeking platform-driven growth, highlighting special characteristics, attracting top talent, opening up and making innovations.’ Through three major reforms, namely ‘complete credit system, collaborative innovation center and residential college,’ we will strive to build Hainan University into a world-class institution of higher education,” Luo stated.
Source from Economic Daily
Translated by Han Yunsheng
Proofread by Kuang Xiaowen, Yang Jie
In the days leading up to the new academic year, Luo Qingming, CAS member and HNU president, finds himself exceptionally busy. Besides managing the day-to-day operations of the university, he actively participates in various industry-university-research (IUR) integration events in Hainan, including the recently-concluded 9th National Biomedical Engineering Innovation Design Competition, which drew nearly 10,000 contestants and over 3,000 projects from 250 universities nationwide. To ensure its success, Luo personally participated in and presided over the event.
“One’s fate is always intertwined with the tide of the times. We must stand firm with a vision for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and become aware of the unprecedented changes in the world. We should keep the nation’s priorities in mind and heed the call of the times.” Luo often encourages students in this way. Over the years, he hasn’t just talked the talk—he’s walked the walk. Despite the demanding nature of his position, Luo has remained deeply involved in teaching and research, dedicating himself to nurturing talent and contributing to the development of Hainan.
From Humble Origins to Distinguished Scientist
Born in 1966 into a rural family in Qichun County, Hubei Province, Luo Qingming developed a resilient spirit and a determination to excel. Qichun’s rich cultural heritage subtly influenced Luo during his formative years, helping him grow into an avid reader and a science enthusiast.
In 1982, Luo, aged 16, was admitted to the Department of Technical Physics at Northwest Institute of Telecommunications Engineering (currently known as Xidian University) for his outstanding academic performance. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree, he furthered his studies at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), where he earned a master’s degree in optics and later a Ph.D. in physical electronics and optoelectronics. It was in those years that Luo developed a deep connection with HUST, which inspired his full devotion to the pioneering research in optoelectronics.
After obtaining his Ph.D., Luo worked as a postdoctoral research fellow abroad. During that period, he was deeply impressed by the cutting-edge research in the interdisciplinary field of information optoelectronics and biomedical sciences. This experience sparked his keen interest in biomedical photonics, a field he decided to devote himself to for the rest of his career. In 1997, Luo returned to HUST as a faculty member.
In the following years, Luo rose from a lecturer to a full professor, assuming successively the positions of the Director of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dean of the College of Life Science and Technology, and later Vice President of HUST. His research primarily focused on using biomedical photonics to reveal the mysteries of the brain.
Luo’s unwavering commitment and determination have been pivotal in transforming a little-known interdisciplinary research group into a world-renowned one. Over the past 20 plus years, his team has achieved multiple leading advances in brain science and technology domestically and internationally.
Reflecting on his journey, Luo acknowledges the countless challenges and setbacks he has encountered. “The brain’s texture is as soft as tofu, making it extremely challenging to fix brain samples and label the nerves and blood vessels within them. It took us three years just to prepare a standard brain sample,” he said.
Luo’s perseverance has yielded significant results, earning him the National Technological Invention Award (Second Prize) and the National Natural Science Award (Second Prize).
Solidifying the Foundation for Development Through Talent Acquisition
In 2018, China’s central government decided to support Hainan to grow into a Free Trade Zone. To push forward the development of Hainan University, Hainan provincial government launched a global search for top talent, and Luo Qingming was among those invited. After careful consideration, he embraced the challenge, taking up the position of the President of Hainan University.
“Once you join Hainan University, you become a Hainanese,” said Luo, who had seldom travelled to Hainan before, immersed himself fully in the university’s educational and administrative work. Colleagues describe him as a “workaholic”, constantly seen at a meeting, in the office or the laboratory.
Luo understands that a world-class faculty is essential for a great university to produce outstanding talent. Since the day he joined Hainan University, he has been committed to talent acquisition and education reform.
Recognizing the need to bolster high-caliber talent recruitment, Luo aimed to position HNU as a talent pool for the Hainan FTP. Since 2018, HNU has recruited 1,602 high-level professionals with doctoral degrees, increasing the number of full-time faculty members to 2,967—a 50% increase from 2017. The number of faculty with doctoral degrees has tripled, and the number of national-level talents, including academicians, has grown from 4 to 68. New recruits now constitute more than half of the full-time faculty, which has remarkably invigorated the university’s research and innovation capabilities. In 2023, HNU secured the funding for 271 National Natural Science Foundation projects.
One noteworthy example is Wang Xianpeng, who joined Hainan University as a faculty member after completing his postdoctoral studies at Singapore Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in 2016. Within just eight years, Wang rose from an ordinary teacher to the Dean of the School of Information and Communication Engineering. Reflecting on his experience, Wang noted, “Hainan University has formulated a host of talent recruitment policies. Initially, there weren’t many high-level professionals, but with personalized and tailored recruitment strategies, the university has become a talent magnet.”
Wang is particularly impressed by the HNU’s “professor governance” system, which empowers research experts to play an active role in education and management. “Hainan University provides a broad platform for those eager to contribute, converting their passion for learning and work into a powerful drive for overcoming challenges and achieving success,” noted Wang.
Additionally, Hainan University has implemented a mechanism under which research team leaders mentor new faculty members, providing them with expert guidance and a solid research platform from Day 1. “This talent nurturing model helps new teachers start their research immediately, significantly shortening the time frame required for their professional development,” said Professor Tian Xinlong, Deputy Dean of the School of Marine Science and Engineering.
“Each student is unique as a result of different backgrounds, experiences, and interests. Personalization is the top priority of higher education,” Luo asserted. To this end, he advocates for innovative reforms in talent training, such as the modern residential college system, which features specialized mentorship, diverse dormitory functions, and enriched extracurricular activities. Zheng Xiangyu, a 2024 graduate of International Economics and Trade, is one of the beneficiaries of this reform. He and his like-minded peers from different disciplines regularly participate in various study and research activities organized by the residential college, particularly field studies, which have greatly enhanced his practical skills.
Distinctive Education Models that Meet the Demands of Hainan FTP
A university flourishes because of the city, and a city thrives because of the university. Luo Qingming believes that to fully support the development of the Hainan FTP, HNU must address the pressing sci-tech challenges facing the national strategy implementation and local economic and social development. Only in this way can Hainan maximize its advantages in natural conditions, geographical location, favorable policies and application scenarios.
HNU has established seven collaborative innovation centers focusing on the areas such as seed breeding and high-yield tropical agriculture, marine science and technology, free trade port development and institutional innovation, and culture and tourism.
As President, Luo has set up a few research institutes that serve the needs of local socio-economic development. To promote their fast growth, he is actively involved in the organization and operation of high-impact projects and events.
“Today, Hainan University’s research system spans island-wide in support of the construction of Hainan FTP. For instance, we have established research platforms in Sanya focusing on seed breeding and biomedical sciences, a research institute in Ding’an focusing on food and materials science, and another in Wenchang on green aquaculture. Besides, Hainan University has set up a few “science and technology backyards” across the province”, said the Head of School of Breeding and Multiplication of HNU (Sanya Institute of Breeding and Multiplication).
With the establishment of numerous “large teams” and “large platforms,” as well as the undertaking of “large projects”, Hainan University is steadily producing “impactful outcomes”, providing innovation momentum for the development of the Hainan FTP.
“Looking ahead, under the strong leadership of the CPC HNU Committee, Hainan University will adhere to the development philosophy of ‘seeking platform-driven growth, highlighting special characteristics, attracting top talent, opening up and making innovations.’ Through three major reforms, namely ‘complete credit system, collaborative innovation center and residential college,’ we will strive to build Hainan University into a world-class institution of higher education,” Luo stated.
Source from Economic Daily
Translated by Han Yunsheng
Proofread by Kuang Xiaowen, Yang Jie
Innovation: A Defining Feature of Hainan FTP
Luo Qingming
At present, the evolution of changes with a magnitude unseen in a century is accelerating across the world. A new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation featuring digitalization, networking, intelligence, and green development is advancing by leaps and bounds, ushering in an era of mega-science. In this context, Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, stressed that “developing new quality productive forces is the intrinsic requirement and an important focus of promoting high quality development, and it is necessary to continue to well leverage innovation to speed up the development of new quality productive forces” “Sci-tech innovation lies at the heart of developing new quality productive forces.” Xi, also Chinese president, made the remark at a group study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee.
On December 5, 2023, when speaking at the Hainan Provincial Science and Technology Award Ceremony, Feng Fei, Secretary of CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, noted that “the globally influential free trade ports (FTP) highlight both the flux economy such as foreign trade and innovation, with the latter as their defining feature.” Hainan, aiming at building itself into the globally most influential FTP with Chinese characteristics, needs to make innovation a high priority, advancing new quality productive forces with sci-tech innovation, a lasting driving force for the high-quality development of the FTP.
Innovation: a defining feature of globally influential FTP
As well-developed FTPs in the world, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Singapore and Dubai weigh much on education, science and technology, and talent. We might find out the inherent feature of FTP with these cases.
(1) Hong Kong SAR. A world financial center, an international shipping hub and a regional trading center, Hong Kong is also a pacesetter in scientific innovation, education and a magnet of talent. According to the QS World University Rankings 2024, five universities (the University of Hong Kong (HKU), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and the City University of Hong Kong (CityU)) in Hong Kong, a metropolis with a population of just over 7.3 million, are ranked among the world’s top 100, manifesting the power of Hong Kong’s higher education.
(2) Singapore. As a country with land area of about 700 square kilometers, Singapore has always been fixing its deficiency in natural conditions through innovation. Adhering to the principle of “developing the nation with talent cultivation”, Singapore has been highly valuing education, following a dual-track system of general education and vocational education, integrating mass education with elite education. According to the QS World University Rankings 2024, National University of Singapore (NUS) is ranked 1st in Asia and 8th in the world, while Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is ranked 3rd in Asia and 26th in the world (tied with HKU).
(3) Dubai. Rather than relying solely on its natural endowment of oil and gas resources for development, Dubai has always shaped its education with strategic perspective, with more than 30 internationally known universities having campus in Dubai, including Imperial College London, Dubai, and University of Rochester, Dubai. The Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), the largest free higher-education zone in the world, is home to campus of 27 universities from all over the world, with enrollment of more than 27,500 students from more than 150 countries.
Innovation entails high-quality development of Hainan FTP
(1) Sci-tech innovation lies at the heart of developing new quality productive forces in the new era. With the booming of new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation, science and technology has become the major driving force for economic and social development. When answering questions at a press conference during the Two Sessions (the yearly plenary meetings of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)) this year, Feng Fei indicated that developing new quality productive forces in Hainan needs to base on the local conditions and development rules while leveraging its unique natural environment and preferential policies, and the goal is to be a base to apply the new quality productive forces to practical operation. Currently, Hainan is mapping out a “4+3+3” modern industrial system. Sci-tech innovation is the engine of developing new quality productive forces and determines whether the modern industrial system can be built in a faster pace or not.
(2) Innovation is an inherent feature of Hainan FTP. The success of world-class FTPs owes to the synergy effect of education, science and technology, and talents. Hainan enjoys comparative strengths in seed industry, deep-sea exploration and aerospace sector even though it is not a scientifically developed province. Hainan is not among the top in terms of sci-tech innovation, but president Xi explicitly requires Hainan to speed up its institutional reform for science and technology. Therefore, Hainan should give full play to the role of its natural resources, geographic location, policy, and application scenarios so as to attract high-caliber minds in the field of science and technology to Hainan for their career development. With deepening the institutional reform of science and technology and releasing the potential of sci-tech innovation as a ladder, and supported by the development of emerging industries and future-oriented industries, Hainan will constantly improve new quality productive forces through sci-tech innovation.
(3) Innovation entails sustainable high-quality development of Hainan FTP. Rome was not built in a day. To build a world-class free trade port with Chinese characteristics requires decades-long timelines, which can not complete without the pillar role of a strong, modernized industrial system with new quality productive forces at its core. The fundamental approach to build Hainan FTP successfully is to advance reform and opening-up, and promote the development of new quality productive forces driven mainly by sci-tech innovation by following the new development philosophy. Hainan should continuously improve the sci-tech chain, innovation chain, industry chain and climate for innovation, reinforcing the foundation for high quality development with an innovation-driven strategy.
Synergy fostered by universities shores up innovation of Hainan FTP
(1) Building a service-oriented university for three engines of knowledge and innovation. Education, science and technology, and talent are three engines for knowledge and innovation. Economic development leans on science and technology, the progress in which counts on high-caliber talents, and the cultivation of which is based on education. Xi emphasized that the virtuous cycle of education, science and technology, and talents should be created in accordance with the requirements of developing new quality productive forces. As colleges and universities are places offering education, developing science and technology, and producing talents, they need to take it as their mission to advance new quality productivity forces and promote high quality development, enabling education to be a key contributor to economic and social development through talent cultivation and sci-tech innovation. As a “Double First-Class” (namely world-class universities and disciplines) university with tremendous support from People’s Government of Hainan Province, Hainan University (HNU) is striving to be a service-oriented university in the new era by furthering its reform in model of talent fostering, scientific research mechanism and new education paradigm. HNU will continue to make greater contributions to the development of new quality productive forces in Hainan and the construction of Hainan FTP by integrating teaching, application of scientific and technological advances, and recruitment of high-caliber talents, and improving its capacity to serve both the national and provincial economic and social development.
Firstly, we will cultivate high-caliber talents systematically. We will integrate the theoretical teaching with practice, applying research findings to cultivate talents, with a view to fostering sharpest minds. Based on the needs of national and social development, considering the trend of higher education and science and technology development, HNU will, with its favorable unique strength, revitalize agriculture-related programs, strengthen the development of engineering science, highlight science as basis, refine liberal arts, encourage development of medical science and enhance interdisciplinary integration, aiming to foster urgently needed high-level talents for our country.
Secondly, we will conduct innovative scientific research systematically. With goal-based and problem-oriented philosophy, we will conduct research focusing on tough topics so as to solve the problems related to national strategies and the scientific and technological difficulties in developing Hainan FTP. HNU will continue to build platforms in the areas of “Development of Free Trade Port and Institutional Innovation”, “Eco-civilization”, “Culture and Tourism”, “Seed Breeding and Tropical and Efficient Agriculture”, “Marine Science”, “One Health” and “Information Technology” so as to attract professionals with more research outcomes, and enhance commercialization of sci-tech achievements, contributing to the development of new quality productive forces in Hainan.
Last but not least, we will serve Hainan’s economic and social development systematically. HNU is committed to serving Hainan’s social and economic development. Whenever a demand arises in Hainan, HNU can always step forward and get things done. HNU will play its role as an integration hub in basic research, commercialization of sci-tech achievements, integrating industry, academia, research and application. In addition, HNU sets up institutes together with the local government and improves the sci-tech park establishment, giving full play to its role in promoting the in-depth integration of sci-tech innovation and industrial development in Hainan to strengthen cross-regional synergy of sci-tech innovation and industrial innovation.
(2) Deepening the institutional reform of science and technology and building a new community integrating industry-academia-research. In his inspection trip to Hainan in April 2022, president Xi instructed Hainan to accelerate the institutional reform of science and technology, strengthen the infrastructure development for scientific research and innovation, scale up commercialization of sci-tech achievements and stimulate the vitality of innovation. Xi’s instruction has charted a clear development direction for Hainan. The relations of production need to be corresponding to the development stage of productive forces. Hainan needs to carry out comprehensive reform and develop new production relations based on local conditions so as to achieve green development and innovation, and finally to develop new quality productive force. Specifically, we need to deepen institutional reform of science and technology and spur vitality of innovation.
Firstly, we need to deepen the institutional reform of science and technology with dedication and resolve. It is necessary to bring the advantage of the reform and opening-up of Hainan FTP into full play, and transform the strengths in institution, policy and natural ecology into workable and concrete initiatives.
We will map out a scientific strategy for regional economic development, exploring the integration of innovation, industry, capital, and talent chains on trial basis so as to support continuous upgrading of industry.
Secondly, we will establish a new community integrating industry, academia and research on experimental basis. Synergy edge fostered by universities should be leveraged to build a science and innovation ecosystem featuring collaboration and common values and a community integrating industry, academia and research. We need to connect education and industry and thus establish an ecosystem in which education, science and technology, and talent enjoy synergic development in a coordinated manner. In the community, we will introduce policies to better the income distribution system by allowing the market to evaluate and award the contributions based on intensity of work, knowledge, technology, management, capital data, and other factors of production, creating a sound atmosphere that encourages innovation and tolerates failure.
Thirdly, we will carry out a talent strategy with greater comparative edges. Xi Jinping stressed the need to improve the mechanism for the cultivation, introduction, appointment and reasonable flow of talents. Whether it is the high-quality construction of Hainan FTP or the leapfrog development of HNU, greatest minds are always the name of the game. We should make the most of the openness and preferential policies of Hainan FTP to innovate and optimize the talent management.
(3) Setting up a high-level platform for sci-tech opening-up and cooperation. Opening-up is the bread and butter of Hainan FTP. Hainan should accelerate the pace to identify new ways for serving and integrating into the new development pattern, attract and allocate global resources in a better manner, especially global high-quality medical, educational, scientific and technological, and human resources, to build it into a world-class platform for opening-up and cooperation.
Firstly, we will develop our capacity with national strategic importance. We need to keep in mind “the top priorities of the country” and Xi’s idea of “the scientific and technological development must target the global scientific frontiers, serve the main economic battlefield, strive to fulfill the significant needs of the country and benefit people’s lives and health.” Additionally, we should take advantages of Hainan in climate, marine resources, geographic location and natural environment, and establish national-level scientific research platforms, funding scientific projects in areas with abovementioned edges to build a new pacesetter of sci-tech innovation casting a long shadow at home and/or abroad.
Secondly, we will target at the global application of sci-tech achievements at the forefront. We will focus on common global challenges in the areas of ecological development, climate change, food security, marine carbon sink, and one health. We will establish international mechanism for sci-tech innovation and cooperation so as to enhance the exchange in the area of sci-tech. We try to be a magnet for global first-class sci-tech achievements and commercialize them in Hainan FTP, serving the purpose of creating a benchmark scientific project, a medley of global sharpest minds.
Thirdly, we will explore the total-factor collaborative innovation pattern between local government and university. We need to play an active part in building the community integrating industry, academia, and research, exploring new thinking, novel concepts and innovative mechanisms for high quality development. We will create a “community model” characterized by deep integration, mutual promotion and co-existence, and win-win cooperation.
Innovation is a defining feature of Hainan FTP. Hainan should inject lasting impetus into the high quality development of the FTP by continuously developing innovation-driven new quality productive forces. In cultivating and developing new quality productive forces, innovation is the core factor while education is the basis and comes before innovation. Xi Jinping once pointed out that “the world’s first-class universities thrive on serving the development of their countries”. In the context of Hainan FTP construction and the development of innovation-driven new quality productive forces, HNU must seize the precious opportunities and play a leading role as a hub of education, science and technology, and talents, shouldering its responsibility for developing new quality productive forces in Hainan FTP with sci-tech innovation.
(About the author: Luo Qingming, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, vice chairman of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of Hainan University)
Translated by Han Yunsheng
Proofread by Chen Chuanxian, Yang Jie
Source from http://news.hndaily.cn/html/2024-04/03/content_58470_17213130.htm
Hainan University (HNU) is the only university in Hainan province on the list of Project 211 and “Double World-Class” program. In recent years, aligning with the national strategic priorities and the need for economic and social development of Hainan free trade port (FTP), HNU has established seven collaborative innovation centers of “FTP development and institutional innovation” “ecological civilization” “culture and tourism” “Nanfan tropical efficient agriculture” “marine science and technology” “one health” and “information technology”. Moreover, in the context of national key laboratories re-organization, HNU planned and applied for the establishment of national platforms, getting approval to jointly build National Key Laboratory for Biological Breeding of Tropical Crops and State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering.
Despite its location in the southern-most part of China, Hainan University has been always committed to its highest goals. For the discipline development, it makes revision to programs for all disciplines and majors by benchmarking against those of first-class both nationally and internationally, so as to bring the ranking of all disciplines to the top 20% among all Chinese universities. For scientific and technological achievements transformation, it proposes innovative ideas, concepts and mechanisms to foster high-quality collaborative innovation between regions and universities, aiming to establish a “community model” characterized by deep integration and mutual benefit.
HNU is currently in the process of building itself into a comprehensive, research-oriented, internationalized and “Double World-Class” university. In this context, how does HNU render its robust impetus and factor-related support for the high-quality development of FTP? In response to this question, Luo Qingming, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of Hainan University, says that HNU will continue to highlight the development of its signature disciplines related to “tropics, oceans, tourism and SEZ governance” based on Hainan’s modernized industrial system featuring openness, eco-friendliness and innovation. Following firmly the principle of “providing services for support and making contributions for development”, HNU is committed to cultivating high-quality talent urgently needed by the modern industrial system in Hainan, thereby contributing to the advancement of new quality productive forces and the construction of a high-level FTP.
Luo said, in recent years, with aims to addressing the national strategic needs and obstacles in science and technology in local economic and social development, Hainan University has established seven collaborative innovation centers based on Hainan’s unique natural conditions, geographical location, favorable policies and settings for application. Among the seven centers, five is on the field of natural sciences, focusing on agriculture, ocean, ecology, health and information, and other two is on the field of social sciences and humanities, focusing on culture and tourism sectors.
The first one is the Collaborative Innovation Center for Nanfan Tropical Efficient Agriculture. Hainan University establishes the School of Breeding and Multiplication in Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, participating in the establishment of national laboratories there, and endeavors to make the Center into a national science and technology base with strategic significance.
The second one is the Collaborative Innovation Center for Marine Science and Technology. With over 2 million square kilometers of sea territory surrounding the island, Hainan provides an exceptional environment for marine research at Hainan University. Hainan University has recruited more than 200 high-level talents specializing in the field of marine science and technology. By fully leveraging the State Key Laboratory of Marine Resources Utilization in South China Sea and other research platforms, Hainan University focuses its research on the protection and use of marine resources, including studies on extracting uranium and lithium from seawater, as well as developments in marine equipment and engineering.
The third one is the Collaborative Innovation Center for Ecological Civilization. As a separate island, Hainan needs to give priority to the research on how to rationally use land and marine resources, how to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, and how to protect environment.
The fourth one is the Collaborative Innovation Center for One Health. Hainan’s unique natural environment and climate provide unmatched advantages for conducting research on One Health which means studying humans, animals and the environment as a whole. In this context, Hainan University is engaged in distinctive research in areas such as drug research and development, as well as medical instrument.
The fifth one is the Collaborative Innovation Center for Information Technology. To successfully carry out independent customs operations in Hainan, the first step is to do it in electronic way, with information technology being the key factor. Hainan University therefore focuses on the area of information security, like cyber security, cryptography, etc. In addition, HNU conceives of drone development as one of its key research areas.
The sixth one is the Collaborative Innovation Center for FTP Development and Institutional Innovation. The Hainan FTP development is confronted with many challenges in terms of economy, policy and law. HNU is capable of addressing these challenges with its full coverage of disciplines in the area of humanities and social sciences and its strong faculty team, focusing its research on how to put the policies granted by the central government to Hainan into practice, and how to overcome difficulties arising from the implementation of the above-mentioned policies, etc.
The seventh one is the Collaborative Innovation Center for Culture and Tourism. As one of China’s premier institutions specializing in tourism, HNU’s School of International Tourism and Public Administration will conduct research on topics related to the cultural and tourism development in Hainan FTP, endeavoring to help Hainan FTP to become an international tourism and consumption destination.
Luo Qingming says that Hainan University will do what it can to contribute to the development of Hainan FTP. The establishment of the seven collaborative innovation centers is precisely predicated on the economic and social development needs of Hainan.
The data below serve as evidence of significant accomplishments HNU made in recent years, demonstrating its advancement in fostering the integrated development of education, science and technology, as well as talent cultivation.
Hainan University has achieved a record number of research projects over the past year. It has secured 270 projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, among which the projects approved during specified period rank approximately 36th among domestic universities. In addition, HNU has got approval for 23 projects funding by the National Social Science Fund of China, among which two projects are key ones.
HNU saw vigorous growth momentum in its R&D funding in the past five years. In 2018, Hainan University only got 1.8 billion yuan for its operation, while in 2023 its total budgetary revenue reached 5.34 billion yuan. Its R&D funding increased from 400 million yuan in 2021 to 700 million yuan in 2022, and surged to 1.4 billion yuan in 2023.
Over the past six years, Hainan University has seen a progressive increase in the number of national projects, funding, and the amount of funding received. In the area of natural science, there have been 1,107 national projects approved with approximately 613 million yuan in funding. In the area of humanities and social sciences, 197 national projects have been approved with over 42 million yuan in funding.
Since April 13, 2018 when General Secretary Xi Jinping gave his instruction that “we should support Hainan University in its efforts to develop world-class disciplines”, Hainan University has recruited over 1,500 new teaching staff. So far, there are 66 national talents in Hainan University, an increase of 61 since 2018. The number is supposed to be 100 according to the target set by Hainan provincial government.
Luo says that Hainan University has achieved significant strides in its development after years of dedicated efforts, as evidenced by core indicators such as its nationally recognized first-class undergraduate programs, involvement in pivotal national scientific research projects, number of national talents, and performance of newly admitted students and the employment for graduated students.
It is worth noting that Hainan University always gives priority to students’ virtue and upholds the idea of personalized education, promoting the three key comprehensive reforms, namely, college system reform, full credit system reform and establishment of collaborative innovation centers. According to Luo, “The essence of these reforms is to realize the personalized development of students. It is imperative for universities to acknowledge that students are in a continual state of growth and should not be assessed by fixed and rigid standards. Given the diverse backgrounds, life experiences, interests and personalities among students, it is incumbent upon higher education to prioritize their personalized growth.”
The college system reform, for instance, transcends the constraints of conventional management approaches. Bolstered by the full credit system, it facilitates students’ personal growth and enhances their integrated abilities. In addition, it provides students who are willing to learn with more opportunities for learning and helps those whose performance is poor to catch up. Moreover, it delineates more clearly the responsibilities and tasks that guidance counselors are expected to undertake in caring students and fostering their moral development.
Such change is brought not only to students, but to teaching faculty as well. Luo adds that a significant influx of distinguished professors and doctor degree holders from home and abroad have come to work in Hainan University, mainly for the bright future of FTP and the opportunities from them to apply their skills and expertise. “Currently, 82% of our undergraduate students come from provinces with comparatively superior basic education resources. Remarkably, about 50% of these graduates are willing to find jobs in Hainan, a percentage we anticipate will rise above 60%. In the future, Hainan University will continue to refine and adjust its disciplines and training programs to align with the national strategies and the evolving socioeconomic and industrial needs of Hainan.”
In retrospect, Luo says that Hainan University is a university designed to meet national strategic needs and its rapid development is attributed to China’s reform and opening up endeavor. As such, HNU needs to meet the major national strategic needs in its development. More than 60 years ago, in response to the embargo on natural rubber production by imperialist countries, the central government approved the establishment of the South China College of Tropical Crops (predecessor to Hainan University) in Hainan with rubber cultivation and tropical agriculture as its major areas. With profound patriotism and selfless dedication, the founders of the College created a miracle that rubber could be planted in large scale in the area of 18-24° north latitude, making China the fifth-largest rubber producer in the world.
Looking ahead, Luo emphasized the critical role of Hainan University in the development of FTP with Chinese characteristics, particularly in cultivating specialized professionals. Hainan University, leveraging Hainan’s climatic, geographical, latitudinal and ecological advantages, will provide intellectual supports to Hainan in establishing innovation hubs for seed industry, deep-sea exploration and aerospace development, and in speeding up the innovation in green technology.
Source from http://innovate.china.com.cn/szzg/web/kx/detail2_2024_03/12/4344174.html
Translated by Zhang Yu
Proofread by Chen Chuanxian, Yang Jie
By Wen Caifei, China Science Daily
As an expert in brain mapping, scientist Luo Qingming, also known as the "brain spatial informatician", has taken on the role of president at Hainan University. He is now drawing a blueprint for the University, exploring a leapfrog development path to drive a transformative reform.
Hainan University is currently undergoing comprehensive reforms, involving the implementation of a full credit-based system, establishment of collaborative innovation centers, and practice of a residential college system. However, implementing individual reform in Chinese universities is no easy task, and some institutions are hesitant to embark on any changes. What drives the coordinated implementation of these "three pillars" of reform? What impact does Luo’s bold thinking and actions have on the process?
"Sustainable growth is more important than the initial capabilities"
China Science Daily: In implementing these comprehensive reforms, what factor do you prioritize?
Luo Qingming: Talent development is the most important factor among other things.
Knowledge can be divided into two categories: explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge. Explicit knowledge can be expressed and disseminated through language, text, and charts, while tacit knowledge can only be perceived and cannot be explicitly transmitted. The latter is often manifested as ability of people. In the information-based era, the ways in which young students acquire knowledge are vastly different from previous generations. There are now numerous means and methods for acquiring explicit knowledge that may render traditional university education unnecessary. So why should students still attend university? What value does university education bring?
If we continue with traditional teaching modes, students are likely to become disengaged and lose interest. Talent development should adopt a problem-oriented approach and be tailored to national needs and the positioning of universities. This readjustment involves all aspects in education. How can teachers and students interact most effectively? How can we create an environment that promotes both in-class and extracurricular learning? Since the academic abilities of students vary when they are admitted, should capable students be allowed to pursue two or even three majors simultaneously? We did very careful analysis and concluded that personalized education is the most crucial factor for students to become professional talents.
In the past, large-class teaching was designed to meet the needs of majority of students while neglecting the fact that the same curriculum wasn't sufficient for top students, whereas those with relatively poor performance struggled to keep up. When I was in college, one of my fellow classmates failed to obtain a graduation certificate for his failure to pass necessary courses. But 10 or 20 years later, he won a national award in the field of science and technology. Wasn't he intelligent? The fact was that we started our university education with different educational backgrounds. Some provinces and regions were relatively weak in primary education, leading to significant disparities in performance in learning the same curriculum in university. However, this doesn't mean that one will not succeed. With decades of hard work, success is still achievable. This experience has inspired me greatly. We need to highlight the importance of personalized cultivation in university education. As long as a student has the potential for growth, they will become somebody someday. In comparison, ensuring sustained growth is more vital than solely focusing on their initial capabilities.
China Science Daily: Why did Hainan University choose to prioritize the full credit-based system, collaborative innovation centers and residential college system in its comprehensive reform?
Luo Qingming: One of the main goals of our comprehensive reform is to achieve personalized education. To accomplish this, we have implemented the full credit-based system, allowing students to choose core courses based on their own needs. By completing these core courses, students can obtain a degree in their chosen major. This enables them to engage in interdisciplinary studies across multiple majors.
If we continue with traditional class-based management, personalized learning will become challenging. Therefore, we have also established the residential colleges, where students from different majors live and interact together based on their interests. This fosters individuality and allows for students' ideological and political education, as well as non-curricular teaching, to be handled by the colleges. The focus is on cultivating tacit knowledge.
Furthermore, we have established collaborative innovation centers as a means to convert high-quality scientific research findings into teaching resources. These centers break down barriers between disciplines and between colleges, prioritizing problem-oriented scientific research and talent development.
Take the Collaborative Innovation Center for Ecological Civilization as an example, we integrate various disciplines, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, economics, and management, to address ecological issues. By breaking down disciplinary boundaries, we are able to achieve integration among the three reforms.
China Science Daily: In your opinion, what are the key elements of comprehensive reforms in higher education?
Luo Qingming: Comprehensive reforms in higher education involve two key aspects. First, it is important to enhance the ability and quality of talent cultivation. Second, universities must also serve national and regional economic and social development. These two aspects are interconnected. In the past, some universities focused solely on talent cultivation and neglected their roles in serving the broader society, which hindered their own development.
In addition to the psychological development of learners, higher education typically has two main functions: the pursuit of knowledge and service to society. Globally, many universities, local universities in particular, prioritize their function as serving economic and social development, as this is vital for their survival and growth.
University can be categorized into different types, and one type is known as a service-oriented university. In my understanding, improving the quality of talent cultivation requires the ability to serve national and regional economic and social development. It is essential to nurture high-quality talents while fully utilizing the scientific and educational resources of universities to provide direct social services.
How to achieve the full credit-based system effectively?
China Science Daily: It is still rare for domestic universities to implement the full credit-based system. How can its effectiveness be ensured?
Luo Qingming: The residential college system plays a crucial role in ensuring the effectiveness of the full credit-based system.
In the past, the curriculum for a major was almost the same for all students. However, in the residential college system, students have different schedules and they have time to access diverse courses. This allows for various course combinations, enabling students from different majors or even different grades to attend the same course. Graduation requirements are simplified, with students only needing to complete the core credits. Nevertheless, this poses higher requirements for teachers and facilities and management of universities.
The full credit-based system can greatly enhance flexibility in learning in terms of explicit knowledge. For example, once a student obtains credits for English, they are not necessarily required to take English courses exclusively at their own university. By introducing a winter mini-semester and taking advantage of Hainan's warm climate in January and February, the university provides the students with good opportunities to engage in additional courses. Meanwhile, we plan to establish a credit recognition mechanism with other universities, allowing students to take excellent courses offered by those institutions during their spare time. If they pass the exams, their home university will recognize the corresponding credits. In this case, students might complete their credits within three years.
China Science Daily: Universities commonly face the challenge of excessive credit requirements. Some students have to earn 150-170 credits. How to create extra room for educational reform?
Luo Qingming: If we base our calculation on class hours, 150-170 credits would be approximately equivalent to 2,600 class hours, which has already been reduced by half comparing with 4,000 class hours we had when I was in college. Even now, the current credit and class hour systems still provide sufficient self-study and internship opportunities for students. The time can be utilized not only for theoretical learning but also for social practice, scientific research, internships, and more. Therefore, there should not be a problem with tight study schedules. As long as young people are willing to learn, there will always be enough time available.
Integrating future education into the comprehensive reforms.
China Science Daily: How to achieve comprehensive reform in promoting personalized education?
Luo Qingming: There are some common problems in universities, such as teachers being burdened with teaching and research tasks unrelated to their main responsibilities, and counselors having to deal with non-student work. It has always been a major topic of internal governance in universities to allow teachers to focus on their main duties.
When the full credit-based system is implemented, the competition for courses will be intense. But with the residential college system, it is more helpful for teachers to focus on their main responsibilities. We have introduced the "Responsibility Professors System". The responsibility professors are responsible for discipline development and curriculum systems. The number of students choosing that major, employment rates, and admission rates will also be included in the assessment criteria. In the future, universities will make assessment of majors based on ranking, and those with lower rankings may be discontinued. In this way, responsibility professors have to make all possible efforts to develop their majors and disciplines so as to attract more students, and help students find better ways for their future.
In addition, we set different standards for different positions in universities. Counselors, while doing a good job in ideological and political work, should also guide students to engage in creative activities. Academic advisors should help students choose majors and achieve their goals, allowing students to focus their energy on their learning. All these efforts will help teachers focus on their main responsibilities, where each teacher knows their own area of expertise and does not encroach on other teachers' territory but instead cultivates their own.
China Science Daily: How does comprehensive reforms relate to future education?
Luo Qingming: There are many possibilities for future education, but we will undoubtedly focus more on the development of each student and strengthen the application of digital and information technology. Taking the full credit-based system as an example, to achieve personalized learning for each student, there must be sufficient course and teachers, and the student-to-faculty ratio should not be too high. This poses much pressure on us, but compared with the past, we are making progress, approaching to the goals. It cannot be said that Hainan University has fully implemented the full credit-based system now; it is more like a goal guiding everyone to go in this direction.
Information and digital technology can also better support the implementation of the full credit-based system. HNU has five campuses in different locations. If a course at one campus is popular but inconvenient for students from other campus to travel back and forth, can we use digital technology to allow students to attend class wearing headsets and make them feel like they are in the same classroom? We can even have them wear headsets to study outdoors while experiencing the tropical scenery of Hainan University.
Moreover, there are many open online courses available, and many of them are not owned by Hainan University. But we encourage students to choose these courses from the internet for credits. The job of the university is to organize standardized exams and give corresponding credits to students who pass the exams. I believe this will be an important model for higher education in the future.
China Science Daily: The issue of "overspending" has always been a major controversy faced by universities in the establishment of residential colleges. What is your perspective on this?
Luo Qingming: Many people believe that establishing residential colleges requires a large investment, but I don't believe that is the real problem. Hainan is a beautiful place, and universities already have classrooms, libraries, and other public spaces. Instead of creating luxurious VIP rooms, why not create a comfortable environment where students can exchange their ideas with fellow students or teachers? There are various societies and seminars that require spaces for activities, so why is it not adequate for the establishment of residential colleges?
Strictly speaking, residential colleges have two main characteristics: a centralized physical location for students to organize various activities, and students from different grades and majors can get together in the same location. The main responsibility of the college chief is to organize activities for students outside class, allowing students from different grades and majors to interact with each other. The University has tens of thousands of students, while each residential college has just two to three thousand students, which is more advantageous in inviting professionals and alumni to exchange with students.
In my visit to a university in Hong Kong, I once asked the question, "What are the benefits of residential colleges?" I was told that the biggest benefit is that students in the same major often engage in excessive competition when they are together, while students from different majors have a better atmosphere for mutual assistance. Building connections across different majors provides students with an additional social circle. If this can be achieved, I believe the purpose of residential colleges has been largely accomplished.
Through organizing activities and caring for each student, the residential colleges can collect information about what students have in their minds with regard to ideological and political preference. Some universities often have eyes on the "top" students and “bottom” students- the high achievers and those who are struggling academically. The "average" students are left to manage themselves. However, these “average” students may be much energetic and strong in learning, so efforts should be made to guide them and provide them with sufficient development opportunities. It should not happen that students enter the university only to find that they fail to learn anything.
Addressing the real issue, "reaching the sky" and "being grounded" are not contradictory.
China Science Daily: Hainan University aims to build first-class disciplines and build itself into a first-class university by addressing the local needs. However, some universities may put serving major national strategies on top agenda, paying less attention to the service for local economic development. How do you think of this?
Luo Qingming: I used to teach at Huazhong University of Science and Technology. For a long time, the University achieved its survival and development by serving the local social and economic development. Now, the University's research has been improved significantly, and its influence in China is growing. It is not accurate to claim that to serve the local needs means the university is not qualified to serve national strategies.
When it comes to serving local economic and social development, as long as we address the real issues, we need not to worry about the failure to reach the national goals. "Reaching the sky" and "being grounded" are not contradictory. For example, in Hainan Province, there are still unresolved problems such as tropical fruit preservation and agricultural ecological environment protection. To solve these problems requires supports from significant scientific research.
Specifically, Hainan has many lagoons like inland seas, where fishermen like to breed fish. However, this has led to severe pollution. If we force the fishermen to stop breeding fish there, the rooted environmental pollution will not be addressed. We sent teachers to talk with the relevant government department, convincing them to fund a pollution control project and finally achieving a win-win situation. What we should do is to guide teachers to identify key scientific topics for research by solving practical problems.
If we categorize the problems into two types: major scientific problems and engineering technical challenges, we will realize that solving a scientific problem requires advancements in engineering technology. Without breakthrough in engineering technology development, even if the scientific problem is identified, it remains unresolved. Once the scientific difficulty is overcome, engineering technology problems will be solved easily. Alternatively, we can also solve engineering technology problems first and then deal with the scientific problems.
Sometimes, a change in mindset is necessary. It is similar to mountain climbing. While everyone starts climbing Mount Everest from the southern slope, is it possible for people to climb it from the northern slope? As a matter of fact, as long as we reach the summit, the route we take will become insignificant.
China Science Daily: Hainan University's comprehensive reforms are characterized by a problem-oriented approach. What role of the Collaborative Innovation Center plays in it?
Luo Qingming: Talent development in Hainan has unique features shaped by the "Law of the People's Republic of China on Hainan Free Trade Port". Hainan's economy differs from other provinces, and thus, the required talents also differ in some ways. Moreover, meeting the diverse demands of local economic and social development often requires collaboration across multiple disciplines.
With these demands in mind, HNU can provide a direction for talent development and opportunities for students to join research and innovation teams. This allows them to receive comprehensive training spanning basic research to industrial application, facilitating the integration of industry and education as well as the convergence of science and education.
Hainan University has established seven Collaborative Innovation Centers. All are dedicated to addressing major needs in Hainan. With demanding objectives, these centers are designed to tackle concrete issues. For instance, the process of converting durian into food involves a wide range of disciplines. Traditionally, crop science, plant protection, and soil research would be studied separately. However, the Collaborative Innovation Centers are designed to align with the industrial chain, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration. We classify demands as significant scientific problems or engineering challenges, and organize research teams to study and solve them. In doing so, we ensure that every link in the chain receives sufficient attention. If the existing team is unable to solve the problem, we can also address it through talent recruitment.
Through the Collaborative Innovation Centers, we have significantly enhanced the faculty's level of expertise. Local universities previously lacked a proper understanding of this. Recruiting more professional people alone does not necessarily solve the problem. A high-level faculty member can not only tackle research challenges but also substantially improve the quality of talent development. Over the past few years, Hainan University has recruited nearly 1,400 full-time teachers, equivalent to the faculty size of an average university. Among them, over 40% of them have studied or worked overseas.
More importantly, we need to retain talents by offering them career development opportunities only found in Hainan. Compared with other regions like the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta, Hainan does not offer competitive remuneration. However, there are many tasks that can only be accomplished or performed better in Hainan, such as research on island ecology and tropical agriculture. Talents who grow and feel a sense of accomplishment by addressing "real problems" are the ones who truly shine.
Whether the Collaborative Innovation Centers have achieved their goals depends not solely on the university but also on external evaluation. If the local government and enterprises do not grant projects or funding to the Centers, the Centers will be a failure. If the local government and enterprises seek to establish research institutes in cooperation with the university, or set up projects in the Centers with funding, and invite teachers to join the research, it can be regarded as a success. In recent years, the number of research projects of HNU keeps growing and the yearly funding granted is also on the rise. This demonstrates that HNU’s service for local economic and social development is widely recognized.
Translated by Chen Chuanxian
Reviewed by Yang Jie
Source from https://paper.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2023/12/513613.shtm
