With railway tracks extending endless affection and alumni gathering to reminisce about the past, the Establishment Ceremony of the Alumni Association of the School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering and the 30th Anniversary Development Symposium of the High-Speed Train Research Center was successfully held. To further unite alumni and social forces, better coordinate the integrated development of education, technology, and talent under new circumstances and requirements, and continuously enhance the level of discipline construction, the event was held on December 14, 2024, at the Auditorium of the Railway Campus of Central South University (CSU), under the guidance of the CSU Alumni Association and with the strong support of numerous alumni. Distinguished attendees included Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Professor Tian Hongqi, University Party Committee Deputy Secretary Professor Huang Jianling, former CSU Party Committee Deputy Secretary Professor Chen Zhiya, former CSU Vice President Professor Chen Chunyang, Alumni Association Secretary-General Yu Wenwu, and University Education Foundation Secretary-General Liu Xianjun, along with teacher representatives and over 300 alumni guests from across the country who gathered in Changsha to share their alma mater affection and spend a wonderful time together. The establishment ceremony was presided over by Yuan Shiping, Secretary of the School Party Committee.
On the morning of December 14, participating alumni visited the CSU New Campus History Museum and the High-Speed Train Research Center at the Railway Campus. They witnessed the rapid development and significant achievements of CSU since its merger and establishment 24 years ago, and observed the important contributions and key outcomes made by the university and school in serving major national needs. Alumni expressed that since the merger and establishment of CSU, it has coincided with a period of rapid national development. Generations of CSU members have taken up the baton and forged ahead, achieving remarkable results. As alumni, they feel sincere pride and honor for their alma mater whenever they see CSU gaining honors and accomplishments.
At 2:30 PM on December 14, the Establishment Ceremony of the Alumni Association of the School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering and the 30th Anniversary Development Symposium of the High-Speed Train Research Center officially commenced, opening solemnly with the national anthem. Yuan Shiping, Secretary of the School Party Committee and Executive Vice President of the Alumni Association, delivered a welcome address, extending a warm welcome to all attending alumni.
CSU Party Committee Deputy Secretary Huang Jianling delivered a speech on behalf of the university. In his address, he pointed out that the establishment of the alumni association will further unite and gather transportation alumni, building a platform for CSU transportation professionals worldwide to connect emotionally, exchange cooperation, and foster pride in their alma mater, jointly contributing to the high-quality development of the school and its disciplines. He expressed hope that the alumni association would not only serve as a ‘caring companion’ for alumni and a ‘bridge of connection’ linking alumni but also fully leverage its resource advantages, organizing alumni to explore new models for deep participation in industry-education integration, facilitating mutual empowerment between alumni and the alma mater to create brilliance together.
He Zhijun, former Secretary of the School Party Committee and Executive Vice President of the Alumni Association, presented a preparatory work report for the Alumni Association of the School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering. He provided a detailed report covering four aspects: the organizational structure and operational mechanisms of the alumni association, its responsibilities, the rights and obligations of members, and the management of association funds.
Liu Xianjun, Deputy Director of the CSU Education Development and Alumni Affairs Office and Secretary-General of the Education Foundation, announced the ‘Approval Document for the Establishment of the Alumni Association of the School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering and the List of Council Members.’ Yu Wenwu, Director of the CSU Education Development and Alumni Affairs Office and Secretary-General of the Alumni Association, presented appointment letters to representatives of the council members.
Huang Helai, Dean of the School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering and President of the Alumni Association, delivered a speech expressing his excitement over the establishment of the alumni association. He stated that under the leadership of the university and the Alumni Association, the school’s alumni association will fully promote high-quality discipline development and the cultivation of high-level talents. As a bridge for communication among teachers, students, and alumni, the alumni association will actively foster a healthy and upward ‘teacher-student-alumni’ community, ensuring that friendships are passed down through generations.
Shen Ruiyuan, Executive President of the CSU Beijing Alumni Association, extended sincere congratulations on the establishment of the Alumni Association of the School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, wishing it continued success. He expressed hope that the alumni association would unite alumni strength, promote alumni exchanges, further pool alumni resources, and advance the development of the university’s undertakings and disciplines.
Li Yuan, Deputy Secretary of the School Party Committee and Secretary-General of the Alumni Association, introduced the ‘Double First-Class’ construction project (fund) to all alumni. She called on everyone to pay attention to and support the development of their alma mater, contribute their share of love to the development of their home school, and continuously contribute to its educational teaching, scientific research, and other endeavors.
During the alumni blessing segment, the school received congratulatory messages from alumni across the country. They all expressed their congratulations on the establishment of the school’s alumni association and extended greetings to the leaders, teachers, and fellow alumni.
Centenarian teacher Chen Shandao from the School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering sent blessings and messages via video for the establishment of the alumni association.
The CSU Guangxi Alumni Association congratulated the establishment of the Alumni Association of the School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering and presented the national intangible cultural heritage ‘Zhuang Brocade’—titled ‘Transportation Connecting the World’.
Following the establishment ceremony, the thematic report session was presided over by Chen Weiya, Vice Dean of the School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering and Vice President of the Alumni Association. Representatives including Wang Jun, Chief Scientist of CRRC Group; Xie Ruhe, Executive Dean of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Smart Cold Chain Industry College; Huang Helai, Dean of the School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering and President of the Alumni Association; and Liang Xifeng, Director of the High-Speed Train Research Center of the School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, shared their professional knowledge and experiential insights in their respective fields, as well as their views on industrial development and innovation and entrepreneurship in related areas.
On the morning of December 15, the 30th Anniversary Development Symposium of the High-Speed Train Research Center and the ‘Narrating · CSU Stories’ thematic lecture activity were held at the CSU Railway Campus Student Science and Technology Culture Center. Attendees included Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Tian Hongqi, CSU Publicity Department Executive Deputy Minister Hu Yang, and other leaders, teacher representatives, and over a hundred alumni guests from across the country who gathered in Changsha. The event was presided over by Yuan Shiping, Secretary of the School Party Committee.
To deeply study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, further explore and promote the CSU spirit, and refine and narrate the shining stories of CSU teachers, students, and alumni, the university has created the ‘Narrating · CSU Stories’ thematic lecture series. This session was the tenth in the university’s thematic lecture series. At the beginning of the event, Hu Yang, Executive Deputy Minister of the Party Committee Publicity Department, presented appointment letters to the lecture team members.
During the thematic lecture and alumni sharing session, Huang Helai, Dean of the School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering and President of the Alumni Association; Ding Sansan, Deputy Chief Engineer of CRRC Qingdao Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co., Ltd. and CRRC Scientist; Bi Guanghong, President of Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems China; and Ge Yu, Senior Engineer of the Mechanical Power Design and Research Institute of China Railway Siyuan Survey and Design Group Co., Ltd., respectively delivered presentations titled ‘Bravely Taking the Lead as the Locomotive, Pioneers for a Strong Nation’, ‘Thirty Years of Perseverance Through Storms, Glorious Journey with China’s High-Speed Train Development’, ‘Journey of Growth: Enlightenment and Shaping from Studying at CSU’, and ‘Integrating Knowledge with Action, Thinking Deeply and Acting Earnestly—Railway Imprints on the Path of Growth’. They vividly recounted the long history of CSU’s rail transportation discipline and the striving spirit of CSU teachers, students, and alumni.
Subsequently, participants planted a commemorative tree and placed a commemorative stone for the 30th anniversary of the High-Speed Train Research Center.
Finally, the development symposium was held in the 3D conference room of the High-Speed Train Research Center. Alumni representatives engaged in lively discussions focusing on deepening key research directions, promoting interdisciplinary integration, cultivating high-quality entrepreneurial talents, establishing a regular release system for scientific research achievements and technical capabilities, as well as the organization and operational mechanisms of the alumni association.
Attendees of this alumni association establishment ceremony included: renowned mathematician Hou Zhenting; former Secretary of the CSU School of Traffic Engineering Party Committee Wen Zhenhua; former Dean of the CSU School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering Shi Feng; Chief Scientist of CRRC Group Wang Jun; former Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of China Railway Investment Group Company Xiong Wei; External Director of Nanchang Railway Bureau Group Company Peng Lei; former Deputy General Manager of CRRC Sifang Co., Ltd. Guan Yushan; former Director of the China State Railway Group Railway Safety Research Center Shen Ruiyuan; former General Manager of China Railway Communication Signal Group Co., Ltd. Xu Zongxiang; Deputy Chief Engineer of CRRC Qingdao Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock Co., Ltd. Ding Sansan; Member of the Party Committee of Central South University of Forestry and Technology Fang Xiaobin; Vice President of Fujian University of Technology Liu Guomai; Member of the Party Working Committee of the Hunan Provincial Education Department and Member of the Party Leadership Group of the Hunan Provincial Department of Education Yu Weiliang; Executive Vice President of Lanzhou Jiaotong University Nie Lei; Chairman of Guangzhou Railway Rolling Stock Co., Ltd. Zhou Yongsheng; Chairman of CRRC Guangdong Rail Transit Vehicles Co., Ltd. Yu Jiang; Member of the Party Committee and Deputy General Manager of Yunnan Publishing Group Yao Gang; Secretary of the CSU Railway Campus Party Working Committee Peng Manru; Director of the CSU Railway Campus Management Committee Cao Yaoqian; as well as council members and specially invited representatives from within and outside the university.
First Review: Yuanyuhao Wang Second Review: Shangjun Wang Third Review: Shiping Yuan
