From October 26 to 27, the Fourth ‘Xiangjiang Forum for International Young Scholars’ Transportation Engineering Sub-forum and the School’s First Innovation-Driven Talent Forum were held at the Railway Campus of Central South University. The ‘Xiangjiang Forum’ aims to establish a high-level platform for academic exchange and mutual development for outstanding young talents from various disciplines both domestically and internationally. The School selected 11 young scholars and experts from institutions including Imperial College London, National University of Singapore, Curtin University, University of Tokyo, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Southeast University to participate in the forum’s discussions and exchanges.
At 9:00 AM on October 26, the forum’s opening ceremony took place in the International Lecture Hall 201, Century Building C, Railway Campus. Nearly one hundred faculty members and students attended the academic forum, including Liu Huasen, Deputy Director of the University’s Personnel Department; Zhang Yinggui, Deputy Director of the Railway Campus Management Committee; Yuan Shiping, Party Committee Secretary of the School; Huang Helai, Dean of the School; Vice Deans Peng Yong and Chen Weiya; Yao Song, Director of the Professor Committee; representatives of department heads and Party branch secretaries; the School’s first cohort of Innovation-Driven Talents; and international young scholars. The opening ceremony was presided over by Yuan Shiping, Party Committee Secretary of the School.
Liu Huasen, Deputy Director of the Personnel Department, delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the university. He briefly introduced the founding history and characteristic discipline development of Central South University, elaborated on the purpose and goals of the university in hosting the Xiangjiang Forum, and conveyed the university’s relevant policies and strategic layout regarding ‘attracting, cultivating, utilizing, and retaining talent’ as part of its talent-strengthening strategy. He expressed hope that this forum would serve as an opportunity to sincerely invite outstanding young scholars from around the world to develop their careers at the university and jointly create a brilliant future.
Subsequently, the certificate-awarding ceremony for the School’s first cohort of Innovation-Driven Talents was officially launched. Dean Huang Helai and Deputy Director Zhang Yinggui presented certificates to the first group of selected individuals. By deeply integrating the Xiangjiang Forum for International Young Scholars with the School’s First Innovation-Driven Talent Forum and organizing academic sub-forums according to professional fields, the School has implemented another innovative measure demonstrating its emphasis on the cultivation and development of young faculty, strengthening academic exchanges, and building platforms to promote cooperation, mutual encouragement, and common development among young teachers.
Following the launch ceremony, Dean Huang Helai provided an introduction to the university, the School, and the discipline. Dean Huang emphasized the rapid development of the first-class discipline of Traffic and Transportation Engineering in recent years from aspects such as the School’s faculty team, Party building work, talent cultivation, disciplinary platforms, scientific research achievements, and international influence. Drawing from his own academic and professional experiences, he guided the international young scholars and young faculty members to choose their development platforms with a long-term perspective. He stressed the importance of integrating scientific research work with national and industrial needs and actively practicing the university motto of ‘Integrating Knowledge with Action, Applying Learning for Practical Benefit.’
After the opening ceremony, two high-level English keynote presentations were delivered by international young scholar representatives: Associate Researcher Li Tang from Imperial College London and Associate Professor Li Ye, Secretary of the School’s Faculty Party Branch. From the afternoon of October 26 to the morning of October 27, the forum was divided into two sub-forums based on professional fields: Transportation and Logistics, and Machinery and Transportation. Chaired by directors of the School’s departments and centers, these sub-forums organized 19 excellent academic presentations by international young scholars and the School’s young faculty members, showcasing their respective academic achievements. Participants freely expressed their views and actively engaged in discussions, creating a strong academic atmosphere. These academic presentations provided valuable academic references and intellectual inspiration for the attending faculty and students, injecting new vitality into the School’s academic development.
On the afternoon of October 27, the School organized a symposium on Talent Cultivation and Discipline Development in Meeting Room 119 of the Transportation Building. Attendees included Dean Huang Helai; Vice Dean Liu Hui; Department Heads Li Wei, Xie Suchao, Zhou Wenliang, and Professor Ji Bin; all international young scholars; and representatives of the School’s young faculty members. The meeting was chaired by Vice Dean Liu Hui and revolved around four main themes: International Exchange and Cooperation, Discipline Development, Talent Cultivation, and Joint Discipline Development Discussions. Dean Huang Helai delivered a speech, outlining the vision and planning for establishing a high-level university and first-class disciplines from perspectives such as first-class undergraduate teaching, a free, shared, inclusive, and open academic atmosphere, the relationship between teams and individuals, the connection and cooperation between university research and industry needs, and the improvement of hardware environments. During the meeting, participants successively raised questions and shared insights, to which the School’s leadership and department heads provided detailed responses and replies.
Thus concluded the two-day Fourth ‘Xiangjiang Forum’ Transportation Engineering Sub-forum and the School’s First Innovation-Driven Talent Forum at Central South University. This forum not only established a space and platform for exchanging academic ideas, sharing research experiences, and understanding academic frontiers but also provided valuable practical experience and new ideas for the School’s talent recruitment, cultivation of young faculty, and innovative development. Looking ahead, there is anticipation for everyone to work together to contribute more to the development of the university, the School, and the discipline of Traffic and Transportation Engineering.
First Review: Shangjun Wang Second Review: Xiaoli Tang Third Review: Yanghua Zhou
