On September 15, the opening ceremony and orientation activities for the 2025 cohort of new students at the Central South University National Graduate College For Elite Engineers were grandly held in Conference Room 505, Science and Education South Building. Academician Zhao Zhongwei of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Director of the Central South University Academic Degrees Committee and Dean of the National Graduate College For Elite Engineers; Cheng Qiongwen, Secretary of the Party Committee of the college; Chen Ailiang and Liu Fangyang, Vice Deans; graduate supervisors Chen Qifeng, Xu Xiaodong, Chen Yongming, and Sun Fenglong; and 74 master's and doctoral students of the 2025 cohort participated in the activities. The event was chaired by Zhu Zhongping, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the college.
Dean Zhao Zhongwei, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, delivered an address at the ceremony. Drawing from his own experiences in academic pursuit and scientific research, he encouraged students to use interdisciplinary integration as their wings, spark innovative thinking, read extensively and learn from diverse strengths, and strive to become outstanding engineers with patriotism and outstanding engineering innovation capabilities, contributing youthful wisdom and strength to serving national strategic needs.
Secretary Cheng Qiongwen delivered an address at the ceremony, putting forward three expectations for the new students: First, anchor to national strategic needs, closely integrate professional interests with breakthroughs in national key technologies, and maximize life value in serving the overall situation; second, practice the unity of knowledge and action, break through laboratory boundaries, let research achievements take root in the motherland, and write papers in the practice of modernization construction; third, maintain a spirit of innovation forever, confront technical challenges with the courage of self-reform, forge core competitiveness in solving bottleneck problems, and become technological pioneers of the new era.
Vice Dean Chen Ailiang, with the theme of "Deep Integration of Science/Education and Industry/Education, Cultivating Outstanding Engineers Capable of Shouldering Great Responsibilities," introduced the basic situation of the college to the attending faculty and students. She mentioned that the college builds new development advantages and supports the construction of a high-level National Graduate College For Elite Engineers by constructing the "disciplinary chain, industrial chain, and cultural chain."
Vice Dean Liu Fangyang introduced the college's student cultivation and degree conferral work. He pointed out that the college is committed to cultivating leading talents in the cross-integration and innovation of engineering technology and academia, who possess solid foundational theories and broad professional knowledge in multidisciplinary intersection, have strong capabilities in engineering technology innovation and creation, are adept at solving complex engineering technical problems, have good professional quality, international vision, and a high sense of social responsibility, and can lead the development of relevant industries in the field of intelligent science and technology.
Yang Haoyu, a 2025 doctoral student, spoke as a representative of the new students. He stated that all new students will strive to practice the university motto of "Unity of Knowledge and Action, Application for the Benefit of Society," inherit the scientific research spirit and life character of predecessors, integrate personal ideals into the magnificent journey of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through practical actions, and bravely undertake the mission of the era.Associate Professor Sun Fenglong, representing the graduate supervisors, pointed out in his speech that the National Graduate College For Elite Engineers always faces the major strategic development needs of the country and is committed to cultivating high-level engineering talents who are "good at both thinking and doing." He advised students to maintain a normal mindset on the path of scientific research, respond to the ups and downs and challenges in the process with a positive and stable attitude, and actively maintain communication with supervisors, continuously broadening cognitive boundaries through in-depth exchanges and intellectual collisions.
During the orientation session, Deputy Secretary Zhu Zhongping conducted academic planning, career planning, and safety education for new students with the theme of "Outstanding Setting Sail, Craftsmanship Building Dreams." He pointed out that he hopes students will quickly complete the identity transformation, change from passively acquiring knowledge to actively exploring the unknown, face major national needs, and shape unique competitiveness. At the meeting, Deputy Secretary Zhu Zhongping also conducted the "Not a Single One Missing" integrity education lecture for the 2025 new students with the theme of "Buttoning the First Button Correctly."
The successful holding of this opening ceremony marks the official beginning of the new journey of outstanding engineer cultivation for the 2025 cohort. The college will continue to practice the university motto of "Unity of Knowledge and Action, Application for the Benefit of Society," be guided by national strategic needs, cultivate more engineering leading talents with innovative spirit and practical capabilities, and inject Central South power into the construction of a manufacturing powerhouse.
