On October 25, the High-Quality Development Conference marking the 80th anniversary of Ocean University of China (OUC)’s disciplines of oceanography, fisheries, and geology was held at the stadium on the Laoshan Campus.
Members of national and international academies, distinguished researchers, representatives of peer universities, research institutes, and partner organizations that have long supported the development of oceanography, fisheries, and geology at OUC, alumni representatives, heads of relevant university units, and faculty and student representatives attended the conference.
Li Ming, Chairman of the OUC Council, extended sincere greetings to the university’s faculty, students, and alumni, and expressed heartfelt thanks to leaders and friends from all sectors who have supported its development. He noted that OUC has carried forward its revolutionary heritage, remained firmly rooted in China, and devoted itself to the ocean. It has remained at the forefront of efforts to advance national development through science and education and strengthen China’s marine sector. The university has established a comprehensive system of marine-oriented disciplines with distinctive characteristics, with oceanography and fisheries taking the lead and geology providing foundational support. The three disciplines support one another and advance in coordination, working in concert with the university’s other disciplines. Together, they have laid the foundation for the OUC spirit of standing at the forefront and serving the nation through ocean development. They have also achieved many firsts in the history of marine science and education in China, cultivated numerous leading professionals and key contributors in marine-related fields, produced a range of original scientific and technological advances, and provided strong support for strategic platforms such as Laoshan Laboratory. OUC ranks No.1 worldwide in Oceanography in ShanghaiRanking’s 2026 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects and in Marine and Freshwater Biology in the U.S. News Best Global Universities Subject Rankings.
Chairman Li Ming emphasized that, from this new starting point, he hoped that university officials, faculty members, and students would make unremitting efforts to enhance cohesion and forge the soul with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and conscientiously study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Party Building and the guiding principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches and reply letter. He called on them to uphold and strengthen the Party’s overall leadership, carry forward the OUC spirit, and use high-quality Party building to guide the university’s high-quality development. He also urged them to focus on fostering virtue through education, enhance the university’s capacity to cultivate talent independently, and nurture more outstanding marine professionals who embrace blue dreams and are capable of shouldering the responsibilities of the times. Finally, he encouraged them to scale new heights. Guided by advances in science and technology and national strategic needs, they should develop a system of top-tier academic disciplines for the new era, support China’s pursuit of greater marine strength along a path with Chinese characteristics, and make outstanding, pioneering contributions to boosting China’s strength in education and strengthening its marine sector.
Wang Houjie, Vice President of OUC, presented a report on the development of the three disciplines. He reviewed their history, highlighting key stages such as laying the foundations, pooling strengths, seizing opportunities, and moving to the forefront. He outlined their achievements in Party building, talent development, scientific research, social service, cultural inheritance and innovation, and international exchange and cooperation, showing how they had carried forward their traditions and risen to positions of leadership. He also set out the goals and pathways for developing the disciplines into world-leading centers of excellence and contributing to the strengthening of China’s education and marine sectors.
In his remarks, Timothy Raymond Naish, Chair of the Joint Scientific Committee of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), spoke highly of OUC’s outstanding contributions to marine science and education. He noted that WCRP looked forward to deepening joint research with OUC in ocean-climate variability, marine environmental change, sustainable fisheries, and other areas through the International Climate and Ocean: Variability, Predictability and Change (CLIVAR) Project Office.
At the conference, ceremonies were also held to release the Blue Book on Blue Carbon in China: 2026 and the first ten Shandong Maritime Cultural Symbols; unveil the OUC-Kasetsart University Blue Science and Technology Backyard; launch the “Future Ocean+” Joint College and the Virtual Teaching and Research Section under the Ministry of Education’s “101 Plan” for Marine Science; establish OUC’s Fund for the Development of Oceanography, Fisheries, and Geology; and launch strategic cooperation among marine-related institutions. Zhang Fuli, Executive Vice President of Fuyao University of Science and Technology, spoke on behalf of the institutions participating in the strategic cooperation. He said that they would leverage their respective strengths and work together to tackle key challenges arising from national strategic needs in the marine field, support the high-quality development of the marine economy, and further strengthen China’s marine sector.
At the conference, OUC, Shanghai Ocean University, Zhejiang Ocean University, Guangdong Ocean University, Dalian Ocean University, Jiangsu Ocean University, and Hainan Tropical Ocean University jointly issued the Joint Initiative on the Strategic Development of Ocean Universities. Zhang Junfeng, President of OUC, read out the initiative.
