SUSTech's First “National Excellence Program” Master Students Hold Opening Ceremony

On September 5, the opening ceremony of the first SUSTech "National Excellent Primary and Secondary School Teacher Training Program" (hereinafter referred to as the "National Excellence Program") 2025 master students was successfully held. As the school's first batch of "National Excellence Program" students, the addition of 2025 freshmen not only injects new vitality into the interdisciplinary training of SUSTech postgraduate education, but also marks a key step of great significance for the school in serving the construction of the national basic education teacher team and helping the high-quality development of Shenzhen education.

The leaders and guests attending the opening ceremony included Zhang Ling, deputy secretary of the school's party committee; Guo Yurong, former secretary of the school's party committee; Ye Fei, deputy dean of the school's graduate school; Wang Lixin, chair professor of the Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences; Lan Hai, secretary of the party committee; Zhao Jianhua, deputy director of the Future Education Research Center; all new students of the 2025 "National Excellence Program"; and faculty and staff representatives of the Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences. The opening ceremony was presided over by Zhao Jianhua, deputy director of the Future Education Research Center.

 

Hosted by Professor Zhao Jianhua

Deputy Secretary Zhang Ling extended a warm welcome to the new students on behalf of the school. He pointed out that since its establishment, SUSTech has always adhered to the core mission of "serving the national strategy and rooting Shenzhen's development". As one of the four major national projects undertaken by the school in 2024, the "National Excellence Plan" is not only a high recognition of the strength of the school, but also a responsibility of the times that the school must shoulder. He put forward three expectations for new students: first, to take on the mission of "seed teachers" and integrate personal ideals into the cause of basic education; second, to rely on the advantages of Shenzhen's "dual districts", actively participate in educational practice and accumulate practical experience; third, to adhere to the original intention of "educating people for the party and national education talents", to cultivate morality with the "four there" good teacher standards, and strive to be a guide for student growth.

 

Speech by Zhang Ling, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the University

 

Professor Ye Fei, Vice Dean of the Graduate School, stressed that the "National Excellence Program" is the country's first dual-degree training program for graduate students and an important measure to cultivate top-notch innovative basic education talents. He introduced that the Graduate School has clarified the core issues of each training link in the project preparation stage, and will continue to link the Faculty of Science and Engineering and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences to ensure student service. At the same time, he reminded the new students that although they have a solid foundation in science and engineering, they need to quickly adapt to the special training mode of the "National Excellence Plan" and take the initiative to explore the intersection of the two majors to achieve a balanced promotion and organic integration of learning.

 

Address by Deputy Dean Ye Fei, Graduate School

As the leading unit of the "National Excellence Program" education master's training, Professor Wang Lixin, Professor of the Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences, introduced the safeguarding measures of the College in detail. Focusing on the idea of "theoretical foundation, practical empowerment, and innovation leadership", the college established a dedicated team of teachers to create a "trinity" curriculum system: at the theoretical level, the "Principles of Education" and "Educational Psychology" were set up to consolidate the theoretical foundation of education; at the practical level, the "Scientific Curriculum Teaching Design for Primary and Secondary Schools" was set up, and micro-classrooms were built to achieve "Learning — Simulation — Review — Review — Review" closed-loop training; at the innovation level, cutting-edge courses such as "Artificial Intelligence and Education" were introduced to enhance the ability of new students to innovate in education.

In addition, the college also invited famous teachers of science and technology education in primary and secondary schools in Shenzhen to serve as off-campus tutors, promote cooperation with the practice base of high-quality primary and secondary schools, and accurately match practical resources for new students. In daily management, each freshman is equipped with an "educational theory supervisor" to assist in the qualification exemption of teachers, and through seminars, special job fairs, etc., all-round support for student growth and employment. Professor Wang Lixin also suggested that new students "think hard, practice more, and communicate better" to transform the advantages of science and technology into core teaching skills.

 

Wang Lixin Professor, Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences

Guo Yurong, former party secretary of SUSTech, reviewed the layout of the school education field for more than ten years: in 2015, the "Higher Education Innovation Center" was established to deepen the cultivation of courses and education informatization; since then, the Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences has set up a higher education research center; after the establishment of the affiliated education group in 2021, the future education research center has been established. She said that SUSTech has become Guangdong's only three "National Excellence Program" to undertake colleges and universities, which is the result of long-term accumulation. The opening of the first "National Excellence Program" marks the formal transition of the school education sector from "research and exploration" to a new stage of "teaching practice".

Combined with the theory of "learning science", Guo Yurong stressed that educators in the era of artificial intelligence need to continue to advance. Taking the Affiliated Chemistry Laboratory as an example, the graduates of SUSTech guided students to make crystals, vividly interpreted the curriculum value of "professional depth + practical achievements", and encouraged new students to rely on the school's advantages to deepen professional learning, strengthen teaching practice, and start a new journey in education.

 

Guo Yurong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the original school

Zhang Destao, class leader of the "National Excellence Plan" at the 2025 level, shared his original intention of joining the "National Excellence Plan". During his undergraduate education in Hequ County, Shanxi Province, he not only witnessed the thirst of local students for knowledge, but also witnessed the plight of backward educational concepts and lack of resources. After passing the teacher qualification examination, his thinking on "how to become a really good teacher" made him realize that teachers need to take into account both knowledge transfer and the cultivation of students' humanistic care and scientific spirit.

He said that the "National Excellence Plan" is a glory and a responsibility. Combined with the school motto of "Seeking Truth with Ming Virtue and Strengthening It Newly", he put forward three points of mutual exhortation: standing up with "Ming Virtue" and "Seeking Truth"; promoting integration with "Rixin" and "self-improvement"; and serving the front line of basic education with the wisdom of "Seeking Truth". He called on all new students to take the school motto as the boat and struggle as the paddle, and grow into "benevolent teachers, sage teachers, creators, and masters of the powerful country", contributing to the construction of basic education and national education in Shenzhen in the future.

 

Freshman Representative Zhang Detao

In the future, SUSTech's "National Excellence Program" will continue to integrate university-wide resources, deepen campus-land collaboration, and focus on the training of high-quality complex basic education teachers. The school expects that after three years, these students will be able to adhere to the spirit of "dare to try, truth-seeking and pragmatic", grow into excellent teachers that students like, parents trust, and are recognized by society, and write wonderful chapters for the Southern Science Academy in the national basic education high-quality development picture book.

 

Group photo of participants

 

It is reported that the "National Excellence Program" is a "National Excellent Primary and Secondary School Teacher Training Program" launched by the Ministry of Education in 2023, which aims to support the "double first-class" construction of colleges and universities to select students with excellent professional achievements and good education as postgraduates. These students not only study professional courses, but also systematically learn teacher education module courses, and participate in educational practices to cultivate excellent teachers with profound educational feelings and professional excellence. SUSTech became the second batch of "National Excellence Program" pilot universities in July 2024.