HUTB Holds Student Representative Symposium for Second Half of 2024

2024-11-29

United in purpose and striving for high-quality development, we work together to create a new chapter of youth. On November 28, HUTB held the student representative symposium for the second half of 2024 at the Zhizhi Lecture Hall on the sixth floor of Xiangjiang Building. Chen Xiaohong, Secretary of the CPC HUTB Committee, Director of Xiangjiang Laboratory, and an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Zhang Ling, Vice President of HUTB, and Yi Mianyang, Deputy Secretary of the CPC HUTB Committee, attended the symposium. The event was attended by relevant functional department heads, deputy secretaries of the CPC Committees from various secondary schools, and faculty and student representatives. Deputy Secretary Yi Mianyang presided over the symposium.

The theme of this symposium was "Growing and Thriving in HUTB's High-Quality Development." At the symposium, outstanding student representatives from various areas such as academic competitions, scientific research, innovation and entrepreneurship, acts of courage, excellent dormitories, and creative practice shared their experiences. They talked about their personal growth, progress, and achievements, expressing gratitude for the university's careful guidance and the positive learning and living environment it has created. They pledged to root themselves in the university, grow upwards, and strive to become high-quality talents with a global perspective, a sense of national pride, professional competence, and a compassionate heart. The student representatives also put forward a series of suggestions to the university around the theme of growth and development.

In her speech, Secretary Chen Xiaohong pointed out that high-quality development is an unwavering pursuit of HUTB. Throughout its 75 years of history, the university has always remained steadfast in its original mission. Especially in the past decade since 2014, the university has surpassed the "HUTB height," achieved the "HUTB speed," and created the "HUTB warmth." The Xiangjiang Laboratory, led by the university, has become a model for the "4+4 Sci-Tech Innovation Project" in Hunan Province, and the results of talent cultivation have increasingly become more prominent. This year, outstanding individuals such as Chen Yanbo, who saved a young girl on a train by performing an act of courage, and Liu Zhu, who donated blood 10 times during his studies and flew back from Saudi Arabia to donate hematopoietic stem cells after graduation, have emerged at the university. Their inspiring stories have been reported by mainstream media outlets, including CCTV News, People's Daily, and Hunan Today, and have been widely spread across the country. Currently, the university is formulating the "Rooting Downwards and Growing Upwards — A Teaching Plan for HUTB's Specialized Ideological and Political Courses." The plan will focus on the "4+8" theme-based education. The "4" refers to four core themes: ideal beliefs, cultural literacy, love for and pride in the university, and hands-on labor education. The "8" refers to eight expansion themes: safety education, life education, resilience education, happiness education, ordinary life education, marriage and love education, gratitude education, and conservation education. At the same time, the university is actively advocating for and vigorously promoting the construction of a "two-type campus" (an ecological and resource-efficient campus). The university hopes to further implement the fundamental task of cultivating virtue and fostering talent through this initiative, guiding students to establish lofty ideals and beliefs, deeply cultivate a love for the Party, the country, and the university, and enhance their sense of social responsibility and mission.

"On the new journey of the university's efforts to build an innovative first-class institution, the growth and success of our students are the continuous and powerful driving forces behind the university's development. Let us reform and innovate toward new development goals, strive for progress, and work hard to build a university that makes significant contributions and satisfies the people." Party Secretary Chen Xiaohong has expressed three earnest expectations for the students of HUTB: First, maintain control of the "master switch" by firmly upholding ideals and beliefs, adhering to the principles of human justice and moral law, cultivating a pure and self-disciplined character, establishing and adhering to the correct views on history, ethnicity, the nation, and culture, and continuously strengthening the determination, confidence, and courage of being Chinese. Let the story of one's life always resonate with the main themes of patriotism, self-improvement, and dedication. Second, make good use of the "golden key" to demonstrate the meaning of life, maintain an unwavering mindset in the face of challenges, adopt a determined and resilient attitude, and dare to confront difficulties. Through the enhancement of innovation and creativity, continuously expand the boundaries of life, discover broader opportunities in uncharted territories, pursue the realization of dreams and shining brilliance, and strive for a lifetime of excellence. Third, strengthen the "source of motivation" to support joyful growth. Use art to illuminate life and sports to strengthen the body. Enrich the inner self and enrich oneself through the small moments, growing into young individuals who possess both knowledge and passion, both ability and warmth. On the new journey of the new era, inject powerful spiritual strength into the construction of a strong nation.

In response to the suggestions put forward by the students, Secretary Chen Xiaohong requested that the relevant functional departments carefully review them, hold special working meetings for discussion, and address the students' thoughts, concerns, and expectations as soon as possible, in order to create a better learning and living environment and conditions for students' growth and success.

Secretary Chen Xiaohong presented the student representatives with books including Study on the Construction of Ecological Civilization Institution, the Digital Intelligence Era series, and New Quality Productive Forces. She encouraged the students to immerse themselves in the ocean of knowledge in the digital economy era, stay at the forefront of technological innovation and development, and continuously enrich their knowledge structure and enhance their innovative capabilities. The student representatives presented Secretary Chen Xiaohong with a 3D-printed model — the "XuanYuan" smart mascot of the Xiangjiang Laboratory, and wished the university and the Xiangjiang Laboratory even greater achievements in the future.

At the event, a poster of a "growth tree" with the slogan "Rooted Downward, Growing Upward" caught the attention of teachers and students. The student representatives eagerly stepped forward to solemnly sign their names on the poster. This was not only a deep commemoration of their own youth journey, but also a beautiful expression of their hopes for growing and succeeding in the high-quality development of HUTB.

(Written by Zhang Gaoyang and Yang Shuilin and photo by Tu Hua, Jiang Hongrui, Liu Yiying, Xiang Mingjie and Bi Zixuan)