Source: Publicity Department

The sun shines on the Nine Lands, whilst the new spring comes to the Four Seas.

As 2020 is fast approaching, on behalf of the University, we would like to extend our most sincere New Year’s greetings to our students, current and retired faculty and staff, domestic and overseas alumni, and friends who have continuously supported us and joined our endeavors in the development of Sun Yat-sen University.

2019 has been the first year of fully implementing the spirit of the National Education Conference, a crucial year for the University to implement the Three-Step Development Strategy and build a world-class university with Chinese characteristics. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the University has carried out the education campaign on the theme of “staying true to our founding mission”, focused on intensive development, fostered virtue through education, adhered to the “Three Orientations”, improved the “Three Major Constructions”, and promoted the “Double First-Class” construction. Various causes of the University have made steady progress, showing a good momentum of continuous improvement.

In 2019, the University has continually strengthened primary-level Party building, improved the primary-level Party organization system, implemented the cultivation project for secretaries of Party branches of teachers to become leaders in both Party building and academic fields, built “Model Party Branch”, promoted professional ethics of teachers and education on the revolutionary traditions, improved the teachers’ ideological and political qualities; constructed the undergraduate class system which integrates the Party branch, the Communist Youth League branch and the class committee, and consolidated the basis of Party organization construction.

In 2019, centering on the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education and the goal of “nurturing talents who have both ability and moral integrity, possess leadership charisma, and are eager to serve their country”, the University has continually promoted the “Five Integrations” to make the talent cultivation system more scientific, complete and competitive, and implemented the concept of “fostering virtue through education” in all fields, all aspects and all links of the construction and management. The rate of SYSU undergraduates who further their studies after graduation as well as the applications for SYSU’s postgraduate programs have increased remarkably, and the academic atmosphere for “studying at SYSU and pursuing excellence” has been built.

In 2019, the University has adhered to the “Three Orientations”, reformed the research management system, promoted the “Three Major Constructions”, and the ability to undertake national research projects has been increased continuously. The number of projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China has ranked second among universities nationwide for three consecutive years. The total number of projects funded by the National Social Science Foundation of China and projects funded by the Ministry of Education Humanities and Social Sciences Program has ranked first nationwide for four consecutive years. The construction of major scientific research platforms including the TianQin Project, Marine Laboratory, Comprehensive Marine Research Fieldwork Vessel, Sunlight Spectrometer, National Supercomputer Center in Guangzhou, and Precision Medicine Science Center has made smooth progress and achieved remarkable results. In October, the construction of the 6000-ton Comprehensive Marine Research Fieldwork Vessel started; in November, for the first time in China, the laser ranging station of the TianQin Project received echo signals from all the five reflectors on the surface of the Moon, also achieving the highest precision for lunar laser ranging in the country; in December, the “TianQin-1” experimental satellite was successfully launched, marking a new milestone of the TianQin space-based gravitational wave mission.

In 2019, the University has implemented the strategy of strengthening the university with talents, pushed forward the introduction and nurturing of talents through innovative modes, and achieved remarkable results in building the talent pool. Professor Dai Yongjiu and Professor Song Erwei were elected as academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, indicating a major breakthrough for the University-nurtured talents to become academicians in nearly a decade. The University has continually perfected the personnel system, and formulated regulations on the appointment of faculty members, and classified evaluation and classified assessment of talents.

In 2019, the University has greatly promoted the construction of “five campuses in three cities”, optimized the disciplinary layout, established the disciplines of agriculture and art, and basically formed the comprehensive development of the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, medical sciences, engineering, agriculture and art. Shenzhen Campus has been under full-scale construction. The gymnasium on Guangzhou South Campus, the student dormitory building on Guangzhou North Campus, and the laser ranging station of the TianQin Project on Zhuhai Campus have been completed and put into use. A large number of construction projects have been basically completed and will be delivered for use successively. Other projects are also going smoothly. The completion of these projects will tremendously improve the current conditions, providing a solid foundation for the relocation of schools and departments among the campuses in 2020.

2020 is the last year of the 13th Five-Year Plan, and the year for formulating the 14th Five-Year Plan. The University is in the new development era of building a world-class university with Chinese characteristics. It is striving to realize the fundamental transformation from being excellent to outstanding, and from staying among the top to taking the lead. This is a glorious mission and sacred responsibility bestowed upon us by the times. Let us remain true to our original aspiration and keep our mission firmly in mind, unite and forge ahead, strive for the great blueprint of the new era, and usher in a better tomorrow for Sun Yat-sen University. Our goal will be realized, our goal will definitely come true!

Timely snow foretells a bumper harvest, and the wind heralds the arrival of early spring. The light is pure and warm, and the music is elegant and harmonious.

May the New Year bring health, happiness, and success to our faculty and staff, students, alumni, and friends!

CHEN Chunsheng   LUO Jun
December 31, 2019