On October 24, the International Forum on Cultivating Top-tier Innovative Talent in the New Era, hosted by Ocean University of China (OUC), convened in Qingdao. Leaders, experts, and scholars from over 50 universities at home and abroad gathered to explore new pathways for cultivating top-tier innovative talent in the new era. Chief Inspector Wang Hao of the Shandong Provincial Department of Education and Zhang Junfeng, President of OUC, addressed the forum. Liu Yong, Vice President of OUC, presided over the opening ceremony.
As one of the major academic events celebrating the university’s 100th anniversary, the forum was themed “Exploring Pathways for Cultivating Top-tier Innovative Talent in the New Era”. Focusing on the key elements of cultivating top-tier innovative talent, the forum centered on building mechanisms and models for talent development and integrating emerging disciplines. It aims to explore new pathways for cultivating talent driven by scientific advancement and national strategic needs, and inject strong momentum into the progress of Chinese modernization.
In his address, Wang Hao pointed out that OUC stands as a unique representative of higher education in Shandong. Over the past century, it has stood at the forefront of advancing national development through research and education, and promoting the building of a strong maritime country. It serves as a source of confidence and support for Shandong in accelerating its progress as a strong maritime province. On this historic occasion of the university’s centennial celebration, it is of profound significance to gather renowned experts from around the world to share the latest achievements in talent cultivation and to explore new pathways for cultivating top-tier innovative talent, to jointly advance the quality-oriented development of higher education in Shandong province.
In his remarks, Zhang Junfeng noted that in recent years, the university has engaged in effective practices, centering on independently cultivating top-tier marine talent. OUC is actively advancing reforms in talent cultivation models, taking a leading role in marine research and education, promoting the informatization of education and teaching, and fostering international exchange and cooperation. These efforts have yielded positive results in developing a unique talent cultivation model at OUC. At this new historical starting point, the university will unwaveringly fulfill its core mission of fostering talent. It will reinforce targeted talent cultivation, upgrade educational concepts, enhance educational resources, ensure quality, and deepen educational collaboration. With more efforts on comprehensive reforms in education, OUC will advance its first-class undergraduate education and excellence in graduate education initiatives, expand quality undergraduate education resources, improve discipline and program structures, broaden international academic exchanges and collaborations, and cultivate top-tier innovative talent with a global vision.
Professor Shi Hongda from the College of Engineering and Ding Lili, Director of the Office for Undergraduate Education, presided over the report session. Seven experts and scholars shared their practical experience in nurturing top-tier innovative talent. During the closing ceremony, the participating experts reached a consensus on cultivating top-tier talent: harnessing collective strength to foster top-tier innovative talent and build a leading country in education.
