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
