In order to implement the spirit of President Xi Jinping's important address on July 1 and the content of Shenzhen University's work conference for the new semester and advance the high-quality development of the Center for Special Economic Zone Research (CCSEZR) of Shenzhen University (SZU), on September 8, CCSEZR held a work conference for the new semester. All members of CCSEZR attended the conference with Prof. Tao Yitao, Director of the CCSEZR, being the moderator.
Director Tao Yitao presides over the work conference and delivers a speech
Director Tao Yitao first reviewed the main work of CCSEZR in the last semester. She spoke highly of the successful hosting of the 2021 World Special Economic Zone (Shenzhen) Forum. She said that thanks to the joint effort of all members of the CCSEZR, under the requirements for normalized prevention and control of the pandemic, the Forum adopted the "online + offline" mode for the first time, achieving not only great effects but also an extensive influence as usual. The Forum invited the consuls-general and officials of the Guangzhou-based consulates-general of Russia, Vietnam, Pakistan, Indonesia, and other countries to participate, and universities or government think tanks from Russia, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Brazil, etc. also participated online. The Forum was covered by media including China National Radio, the International Channel of Guangzhou TV, etc. Director Tao Yitao thanked all colleagues for preparing for the Forum, saying that the Forum is an academic brand of CCSEZR and that the selfless dedication and professional work of every teacher are the lifeline of this forum.
Director Tao Yitao also communicated the inspection opinion and feedback of the inspection group of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and explained the potential issues mentioned by the group regarding the use of the donated Wu Yuzhang Building. Director Tao Yitao said that although the use of donated items is determined by the donor and we are only the recipient of a donated item, with regard to the use of the Wu Yuzhang Building, CCSEZR has strictly followed the arrangement of the administrative department of SZU's CPC Committee.
Director Tao Yitao made arrangements on several key jobs for the new semester: first, we shall properly carry out the management work for graduate students in Theoretical Economics on the Yuehai Campus. As the College of Economics has relocated to the Lihu Campus, some master's and doctoral students in Theoretical Economics followed the principle of "Following the Tutor" to stay on the Yuehai Campus, so the student work is under the autonomous management of CCSEZR. Student management is a crucial task that affects the stability of the university and college. CCSEZR, however, didn't have special personnel or a team to take charge of student management in the past, so CCSEZR has decided that Director Gao Xingmin will communicate with the university to form a management team and young teachers at the CCSEZR are encouraged to actively assume the work of head teachers. Second, Prof. Tao Yitao explained the opening date of the Wu Yuzhang Building and measures to resolve the severe shortage of office space at CCSEZR. As the buildings surrounding the Wu Yuzhang Building are still in the foundation excavation and construction stage, there is no road to guarantee the decoration of the Wu Yuzhang Building, and as a result, there will still be some time before the Wu Yuzhang Building can be put into use. At present, CSEZR is consulting the university on how to deal with the severe shortage of office space, and it is believed that the university will consider the actual situation of CCSEZR to meet the basic office space needs of faculty and postdoctoral students. Third, Prof. Tao mentioned the planned World Special Economic Zone (Laos) Forum. She said this forum was proposed by Saysettha Development Zone in Laos in 2019 but has not yet been held due to the pandemic. CCSEZR will take the pandemic control situation into account before discussing specific matters of this forum, including how it will be held, with Laos. Fourth, Prof. Tao emphasized that CCSEZR shall strengthen academic team building to make contributions to the university's development as a high-caliber university. She stressed that the scientific research strength is very important for research centers as think tanks, because it is not only an indicator of academic strength but also an embodiment of development momentum. In recent years, CCSEZR has brought in a batch of young scholars and provided the space and atmosphere for them who seek self-improvement through growth and development. Prof. Tao said currently CCSEZR is planning a sustainable high-quality "CCSEZR academic salon", which will be held on a monthly basis, featuring online and offline workshops and dialogs, to inspire thinking and promote team-style research so as to boost the high-quality development and improvement of the research level.
Deputy director Yuan Yiming introduced the university's study of the important address by President Xi Jinping on July 1, the content of the university's work conference for the new semester, and CCSEZR's scientific research incentive measures. He mainly pointed out the need to deepen the learning and education of the CPC history and strengthen party building and ideological and political work, adding that SZU is still in a new development stage, in which it maintains a positive development trend but also faces a new environment and challenge; the university will strive to create high-quality discipline programs, cultivate high-caliber innovative and entrepreneurial professionals, and accelerate the pace to become a first-rate innovative university in the world. CCSEZR, as a key research base of humanities and social science under the Ministry of Education and as SZU's first college think tank to own a doctoral program, should play a bigger role and provide more fruitful results.
Deputy Director Yuan Yiming delivers a speech
Prof. Tao added with emphasis that CCSEZR will follow the university's new development goal to continue strengthening its distinctive research on special economic zones and free trade zones, adhere to the ideas of "conducting international research and going global", increase the number of international doctoral students, and accomplish greater results and higher-quality achievements in discipline development, talent cultivation, scientific research, social service, and other aspects.
Deputy director Gao Xingmin elaborated on student management and how to resolve the current shortage of office space. He mentioned the need to strengthen the building of the counselor team and properly implement student management. He added that CCSEZR is actively communicating with the university on how to make improvements on the shortage of office space for teachers and postdoctors, the scattered locations of offices, and other issues as soon as possible.
Deputy Director Gao Xingmin delivers a speech
In addition, Prof. Tao Yitao announced new personnel appointments: Prof. Li Fan was appointed deputy director of CCSEZR, Associate Prof. Zhang Ping appointed director assistant of CCSEZR, and Tian Shuang appointed deputy director of CCSEZR office. After the work conference came to an end, all faculty members attending the conference took the first group photo for the new semester.
Group photo of CCSEZR teachers
