To further advance the school’s internationalization efforts, strengthen communication and exchange between the school and its international students, and foster a warm, harmonious, open, and inclusive educational environment, the School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering, Central South University held a New Year gathering for international students in Room 119 of the Transportation Building on the afternoon of February 2, 2026. School leaders, faculty representatives, and international student representatives from different countries gathered together to celebrate the New Year and discuss future development. Those attending the event included Yuan Shiping, Party Secretary of the School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering; Helai Huang, Dean of the School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering; Xiang Xueyong, Vice Dean of the International Education School; Li Yuan, Deputy Party Secretary of the School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering; Peng Yong, Vice Dean of the School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering; Chen Weiya, Vice Dean of the School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering; and representatives of the school’s young faculty members.Young faculty member Chen Xiaodong announced the meeting agenda, and the event began in a relaxed and lively atmosphere.
First, Dean Helai Huang delivered a New Year address, warmly welcoming the international students and extending sincere New Year greetings to all of them. Focusing on three major topics—living in China, studying at Central South University, and future development planning—Dean Huang noted that international students are an important part of the school’s internationalization efforts and also an important force in promoting cultural exchange and academic mutual learning between China and other countries. He emphasized that the school has always attached great importance to the education of international students, continuously optimized its teaching management and service support systems, and worked to provide them with a favorable environment for study, research, and daily life. He expressed the hope that during their time at Central South University, international students would not only strengthen their professional foundation and improve their research capabilities, but also actively engage with Chinese culture and campus life, broaden their international horizons, and strive to grow into high-level transportation engineering professionals with global competitiveness.
Afterward, student representatives Wei Anning from Indonesia and Yuan Chengyi from Zambia shared their personal experiences of studying and living at the School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering. Drawing on their experiences in classroom learning, research training, academic supervision, and campus life, they spoke about their gains and development in professional competence, research thinking, and cross-cultural communication skills, and expressed heartfelt gratitude for the patient guidance and continued care provided by the school’s faculty. At the same time, the student representatives also offered constructive suggestions on curriculum arrangements, access to research platforms, the expansion of practical opportunities, and daily service support, while expressing their hopes for academic progress, research breakthroughs, and personal development in the coming year. Their sincere and engaging remarks fully reflected the positive and energetic spirit of the school’s international students.
During the session for remarks by young faculty representatives, Zhang Shile shared reflections and observations drawn from practical experience in teaching, research cooperation, and academic exchange involving international students. Zhou Hanchu noted that the diverse cultural backgrounds of international students have brought new vitality to classroom teaching and research teams, while also placing higher demands on faculty members. Looking ahead, they stated that they would further innovate teaching methods, strengthen academic guidance and research collaboration, help international students better adapt to the pace of study and integrate into research teams, and continuously improve the quality of international talent cultivation and the school’s research standards.
During the subsequent question-and-answer and exchange session, international students actively raised questions based on their own experiences in study and research. Their questions focused on such topics as learning models for courses, pathways for research training, the use of experimental platforms, requirements for academic paper writing, and future development planning, covering multiple aspects of study, research, and personal growth.
The school’s leaders and faculty representatives carefully listened to the concerns raised by the international students and responded to each question patiently and in detail in light of the school’s actual circumstances. The atmosphere on site was warm and harmonious, fully reflecting the school’s student-centered educational philosophy and its open and inclusive academic environment.
Xiang Xueyong, Vice Dean of the International Education School, gave detailed answers to issues of common concern to international students, including the training program, teaching management, and learning support. He listened carefully to the students’opinions and requests and, in light of the university’s policies and actual practices regarding international student education, responded to their questions one by one, further helping them clarify their academic direction and enhancing their confidence in the university’s learning and living environment.
At the end of the meeting, Yuan Shiping, Party Secretary of the School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering, extended New Year wishes to all international students, wishing them smooth progress in their studies and research, good health, and a happy life in the coming year. The international students expressed that they would devote themselves to future study and research with even greater enthusiasm, continuously improve their own capabilities, and contribute to the international development of the school and the university.
This New Year gathering for international students not only enhanced mutual understanding and emotional connection between faculty members, students, and international students, but also further strengthened the international students’sense of identity with and belonging to the School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering. It also laid a solid foundation for the school to continue advancing international education and improving the quality of international student cultivation.
the School of Traffic & Transportation Engineering, Central South University, were officially collected by the Changsha Party History Museum.
On September 22, 2025, a representative of the Changsha History Museum of the Communist Party of China traveled specially to Central South University’s Tianxin Campus to receive nearly 100 items of physical evidence of Japanese aggression against China donated by Mao Chenghui. After expert appraisal, 103 of the donated items were identified as state-owned cultural relics, and one item was classified as archival material.
The collection includes valuable objects such as a Western-style fork engraved with the words“Commemoration of Entering Wuhan.”These items were collected with great effort by Mao Chenghui during his overseas academic visits and travels. The donation ceremony was held on January 27, 2026.
Speaking about his original intention in making the donation, Mao said,“My purpose is to make it possible for these cultural relics to be exhibited and seen by the public as much as possible, so as to present the true history to the public and carry forward the national spirit of cherishing peace.”
In December 2025, following appraisal by provincial and municipal cultural relics experts, 103 of the 104 items were identified as state-owned cultural relics, while one item was classified as archival material. Peng Ya’ou, Deputy Director of the Changsha Party History Museum, said,“As a next step, we plan to establish archival records for these state-owned cultural relics and further uncover their identities and the stories behind them.”
The Changsha Party History Museum completed the formal procedures for the donor and presented him with a certificate of honor. Peng Ya’ou emphasized,“The greatest significance of cultural relics lies in how they are brought to life and fully utilized to bring out their historical value. The museum will launch related exhibitions and exchange activities in the future so that these relics can meet the public as much as possible.”
This donation is not only an important example of a faculty member of the school participating in the preservation of history and serving society through concrete action, but also provides valuable physical materials for patriotic education and for strengthening historical memory. The school will continue to support its faculty and students in actively contributing to causes that benefit national development and social progress.
