On the morning of December 15, the tenth session of the ‘Telling CSU Stories’ themed lecture series was held in the Meiyuan Lecture Hall on the Railway Campus of Central South University. Attendees included Tian Hongqi, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, relevant heads from the University’s Publicity Department and the School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, as well as over 200 alumni, faculty, and student representatives from the School. The event was hosted by Yuan Shiping, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering at Central South University. At the event, Hu Yang, Executive Vice Minister of the University’s Publicity Department, presented appointment letters to the members of this session’s ‘Telling CSU Stories’ lecture team.

Boldly Leading the Charge as the Locomotive, Pioneering for a Strong Nation

‘The development of China’s railways, from non-existence to catching up, running alongside, and now leading the world, embodies the wisdom and dedication of generations of Central South railway professionals,’ said Dean Huang Helai. He began by focusing on the ‘locomotive spirit,’ recounting the inspiring stories of numerous transportation pioneers, such as former Dean Li Wenfang and Academician Zeng Qingyuan, who ‘feared no difficulty, dared to break through, excelled in research, and courageously took the lead.’ Working under rudimentary conditions, they relied on their passion and perseverance for the transportation industry, dedicating themselves day and night to researching new technologies and processes, and demonstrating the responsibility and dedication of transportation professionals through practical action. Finally, Huang Helai encouraged young students to actively engage in transportation innovation and practice, and to shoulder the responsibility of Central South University in building a transportation powerhouse.

The Dream-Chasing Journey of Central South Transportation Professionals, Glorious Alongside the Development of China’s High-Speed Trains

‘Wherever the nation’s transportation needs are, that is where our goal lies,’ said Ding Sansan, a CRRC scientist, Deputy Chief Engineer of CRRC Sifang Co., Ltd., and a 1997 alumnus. Integrating his personal experiences with the development of the country’s high-speed trains, he reviewed the arduous thirty-year journey of China’s high-speed train industry from its infancy to its rise. From the early challenges of technology, experience, and funding faced during research and development, to gradually overcoming core technical difficulties such as bogie stability through fundamental research, international cooperation, and independent innovation, he witnessed the leapfrog development of China’s high-speed trains from speeds of 200 km/h to the current world-leading level.

Deep Cultivation and Meticulous Work, Leaping Forward and Upgrading: Courageously Exploring the Frontiers of Transportation Technology

‘Uphold what your heart desires, delve deeply; do what you love, do what is beneficial, do what is professional. May we dare to stand at the forefront of the times and leap courageously; do what is cutting-edge, do what is transformative, do what is pioneering,’ said Bi Guanghong, President of Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems China. Using his own learning, work, and growth trajectory as the main thread, he recounted his struggle to ‘overcome key technical challenges in transportation and produce influential transportation research achievements.’ He advised faculty and students not only to rely on passion and conviction to achieve ‘deep cultivation,’ but also to decisively seize opportunities to realize leaps and upgrades. In this process, one must be brave enough to break through ‘bottleneck zones,’ overcome ‘retreat’ and ‘confusion,’ accumulate through deep cultivation, and sublimate through leaps.

Integrating Knowledge with Action, Thinking Well and Acting Earnestly – The Railway Imprint on the Path of Growth

Ge Yu, recipient of the Hubei May 1st Labor Medal and a 2017 alumna, affectionately reviewed her learning and practical journey at the Railway College of Central South University. From overcoming difficulties in building railway model experiments on campus to in-depth practical exploration after starting work, she elaborated in detail on how she consistently applied the philosophy of ‘integrating knowledge with action, thinking well and acting earnestly’ throughout her studies and career. She vividly demonstrated the profound imprint of her personal growth being closely linked to the railway industry, showcasing her determination to continuously explore and strive for progress in the railway field.

Through their brilliant narratives, the four speakers vividly demonstrated the outstanding effectiveness of the School of Traffic and Transportation Engineering at Central South University in fostering virtue and cultivating talent, the profound historical heritage of its disciplinary culture, and the fruitful results of its talent cultivation. The ‘Telling CSU Stories’ series of themed activities is based on the grand stage of Central South University, using vivid and lively examples to resonate with the audience, promoting the national spirit with patriotism at its core and the spirit of the times with reform and innovation at its core, forming an educational platform with broad dimensions, novel themes, high quality, and excellent results.

First Review: Mingxu Cai  Second Review: Shangjun Wang Third Review: Shiping Yuan