On May 23, the Guizhou University High-Quality Development Forum, as part of the ““Academicians’ Trip to Guizhou2023”” event, was held at Guizhou Universality (GZU).

The forum was graced by the presence of five Academicians from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, who visited GZU to offer guidance. The distinguished Academicians included Ouyang Xiaoping, the Dean of the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Xiangtan University; Mao Jingwen, a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences; Hu Peisong, the Director of the China National Rice Research Institute; Wu Yiqiang, the President of Central South University of Forestry and Technology; and Professor Qiao Shiyan from China Agricultural University.

The event was also attended by leaders and experts from Guizhou Province, including An Shouhai, Deputy Director of the Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology; Ren Yuan, Researcher at the Department of International Cooperation of the Provincial Department of Science and Technology; Song Bao’an, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and President of Guizhou University; and Vice President Wu Pan. The forum was chaired by Vice President Zhang Dalin.

During the forum, GZU President Song extended a warm welcome and heartfelt gratitude to the academicians, experts, and leaders for their presence. He provided a brief introduction to Guizhou University and its recent accomplishments. Song emphasized that in recent years, Guizhou University has been dedicated to high-quality development and has achieved significant breakthroughs and accomplishments in various areas, including national talent recruitment, National Natural Science Foundation projects, establishment of national key laboratories, recognition for scientific and technological achievements, and extensive collaboration with enterprises. The university's overall strength has placed it at the forefront of universities in Southwest China, and its comprehensive capabilities have secured its position among the top 100 universities in the country.

However, Song Bao’’an acknowledged that despite the university's focus on cultivating and developing distinctive and advantageous disciplines, there are still areas that require improvement and face challenges. Therefore, he expressed his hope that the academicians and experts could offer valuable suggestions, care, and support to facilitate the high-quality development of Guizhou University. Their contributions would greatly assist the university in making new and significant contributions to the advancement of higher education and the economic and social development of Guizhou.

An Shouhai, Deputy Director of the Guizhou Provincial Department of Science and Technology, highlighted that in recent years, Guizhou University has made significant progress under the strong leadership of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government. The university has accelerated the construction of "Double First-Class" universities, leveraged its comprehensive advantages, and focused on enhancing its scientific and technological innovation capabilities to achieve its high-quality development. These efforts have provided robust scientific, technological, and talent support to drive the economic and social development of Guizhou. An Shouhai emphasized that the Provincial Department has been actively exploring the integration of science and technology with Guizhou's overall development. It is committed to promoting high-quality development throughout the province through scientific and technological advancements and plays a leading role in fostering scientific and technological innovation.

To achieve self-reliance in science and technology across the province, An Shouhai emphasized that GZU should take a leading role in serving the overall development of Guizhou. The Provincial Department of Science and Technology will continue to provide strong support for the high-quality development of Guizhou University. This support will be facilitated through the collaborative model of "university + enterprise + academicians," encompassing science and technology, funding, experts, and talent. An Shouhai expressed the hope that the academicians could provide valuable guidance and assistance to GZU and contribute to talent cultivation, talent introduction, technical support, and platform construction. Their expertise and support will greatly contribute to the promotion of high-quality development at GZU and higher education in Guizhou.

The attending academicians praised GZU’s achievements and provided valuable suggestions to further enhance its high-quality development. Firstly, they emphasized that talent acquisition and cultivation are vital for achieving excellence. Special emphasis should be placed on identifying, attracting, and nurturing individuals with "directional leadership" and a strong integration of academia, concepts, and practical applications. The academicians recommended the establishment of tailored training systems based on the identification of "demand + problems" and highlighted the importance of talent team development to improve overall quality.Secondly, the academicians emphasized the significance of benchmarking awareness for high-quality development. They emphasized the need to benchmark against top universities nationwide, acknowledge existing gaps, and explore unique advantages. Continuous improvement in various disciplines was encouraged, with a focus on striking a balance between discipline and professional development, optimizing the growth of specialties, and promoting the integration of different disciplines. The academicians also underscored the importance of capitalizing on strengths and enhancing the development of fields such as geology and new energy, while strengthening collaboration between the university and enterprises.

Thirdly, the cultivation of young teachers should receive particular attention, emphasizing the importance of nurturing high-quality faculty, particularly those at the national level. The academicians pledged to utilize their respective strengths to provide sound guidance and comprehensive support for the high-quality development of Guizhou University.

Prior to the meeting, the academicians visited the Guizhou University History Museum, the National Key Laboratory for Green Pesticide, and the Academician Forest.

Editor: Pang Aizhong & Gao Xiujuan

Chief Editor: Li Xufeng

Senior Editor: Yang Nan

Translator: Nie Xiaoxia