The third plenary meeting of the first international advisory board on Sichuan University’s development strategy convened on September 13th. Present at the meeting were Bingguo Dai(former State Council Member), Zhongying Huang(former chairman of Chengdu Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference), Professor Samuel C.C. Ting(Nobel Laureate in physics), university presidents, fellows of the U.S.A National Academy of Engineering, professors from Harvard University and business leaders. The board, with 19 members in total, carried out an in-depth discussion on Discipline Integration System at Comprehensive Universities in an attempt to make suggestions to Sichuan University regarding her construction of world first-class university. Chairman Jianguo Wang of the university council of Sichuan University, President Yanrong Li, and other university and college administrators also attended this meeting.
A new approach: Interdisciplinary integration and talent training featuring a new model of medicine + and Information +.
At the meeting, Chairman Yanrong Li of the advisory board warmly welcomes all the board directors and makes a keynote speech Promote Interdisciplinary Intergration and Accelerate the Construction of World First-Class University. His report consists of four aspects: thoughts regarding interdisciplinary integration, foundation and current situation, initial thinking and main problems in SCU’s project to promote interdisciplinary integration. President Yanyong Li indicates that interdisciplinary approach is the trend in modern science and technology. And this approach is highly needed in higher education and national development. With a complete set of academic subjects ranging from humanities, sciences, engineering and medicine, Sichuan University has a good basis for an interdisciplinary integration.
He further implores upon board directors to share their insights and make more good suggestions to Sichuan University.
In his speech, Bingguo Dai indicates that Sichuan University is a key research-oriented comprehensive university in West China. Sichuan University is expected to make good use of her strengths and regional advantages in order to make more contributions in the fields of research on different states and South Asia. In the current construction of world first-class university, faculties, staffs and students should work harder in exploration and innovation in hopes to build a first-class leadership and a first-class team of teachers. Sichuan University should keep up with her efforts from generation to generation and achieve the goal of a world first-class university with her own style.
Next, Professor Liangyin Chu and director of Sichuan University Science Research Institute makes a brief report Sichuan University Interdisciplinary Research and Education. He addresses three aspects: SCU’s traditional disciplinary system, development of interdisciplinary research and education, and development of interdisciplinary research and education in 2018.
In order to listen to the ideas of international experts and scholars, three board directors are invited to give a report respectively on interdisciplinary integration of comprehensive universities.
Talking about the experience ofTechnische Universität München, former Vice President ofTechnische Universität München Liqiu Meng shares his ideas of challenges, difficulties and opportunities in interdisciplinary integration at a comprehensive university.
Nicholas A Peppas, a fellow of National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, talks about the methods the University of Texas at Austin has used to promote interdisciplinary integration. He believes that the formation of multidisciplinary teams and the common physical office space-creator space is an important guarantee for the interdisciplinary integration.
In his speech Interdisciplinary Integration Mechanism of Comprehensive Universities, Professor Regis B. Kelly, executive director of the California Institute of Quantitative Biomedical Research, introduces the experience and methods of interdisciplinary integration at University of California.
Mr. Minjing Qiu, Dean ofSichuan University – Pittsburgh Institute (SCUPI),
Introduces the experience and methods of intedisciplinary integration at Pittsburgh University.
Advisory board directors discuss development plans: strengthen strategic design, blend discipline boundaries, start interdisciplinary research and education and promote the construction of first-class university
In the open discussion session in the afternoon, board directors and distinguished guests talk about issues such as blending discipline boundaries, how to promote interdisciplinary integration, the training of first-class talents, the construction of first-class academic subjects and first-class universities. A lot of constructive suggestions have been made. Compliments are given to Sichuan University for her accomplishments over the past year.
In his closing speech, President Yanrong Li addresses each individual suggestion, calling upon everybody to continue with their help and join hands with Sichuan University in her endeavor to build a world first-class university.
