On July 4, the inauguration of Chongshi Forum (Pragmatic Learning Forum) and lecture by Academician Yang Wei were held at the Academic Center. Yang Wei, an expert in solid mechanics and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World, and a foreign member of the National Academy of Engineering (USA), delivered a unique and insightful intellectual feast. Li Jinchang, secretary of ZUFE’s Party Committee, attended the event, while Wei Jiang, deputy secretary of ZUFE’s Party Committee and vice president of ZUFE (leading executive work), presided over the lecture.
Yang Wei and Li Jinchang jointly unveiled the plaque for Chongshi Forum. Li inscribed the name himself, expressing his hopes for the forum’s future.
The name “Chongshi Forum” is derived from the unique “Chongshi” (pragmatic) ethos and character of ZUFE students. It aims to foster a philosophy of “seeking truth, pursuing practicality, and valuing action” and highlight the academic spirit of “not blindly following books or authorities, but adhering solely to facts”. Committed to inviting renowned scholars from home and abroad, Chongshi Forum serves as a platform to converge diverse intellectual perspectives, enlighten academic thinking, focus on disciplinary frontiers, lead academic trends, and showcase the excellence of eminent scholars. It stands as ZUFE’s highest-level platform for academic and cultural exchanges in humanities and social sciences.
As the inaugural speaker at Chongshi Forum, Academician Yang Wei delivered a special report titled “The Upward Trajectory of Building World-Class Universities”. Drawing on his broad perspective and extensive research and practice, he systematically analyzed current trends in university development through the central theme of “education, science and technology, and talent”. From six levels of attainment, he elaborated on the upward path for disciplinary development in world-class universities: distinctive characteristics; strong vitality; genuine academic performance; vibrant atmosphere; social influence; exemplary demeanor. The academician emphasized that disciplinary development should adhere to six principles: Distinctive characteristics—maintain clear and unique disciplinary identities; Strong upward momentum—foster a dynamic trajectory of growth driven by innovation; Overall objectives—elevate holistic development levels with strategic goals; Sustainable ecosystems—cultivate healthy academic environments for long-term viability; Global influence—nurture new academic schools and forge innovative educational philosophies to shape worldwide impact; Exemplary demeanor—embrace philosophy, pursue truth, goodness, and beauty, and embody multifaceted excellence.
He also stated that compared to other countries, China’s academic influence has been steadily rising in both quality and quantity, which he attributed to the genuine academic performance in the disciplinary development of Chinese universities. Drawing on the profound implications of “innovation, driving force, and development,” Yang interpreted four key dimensions against the backdrop of Chinese universities’ distinctive development and graduate education: “Type determines development path”; “Distinctiveness shapes organizational structure”; “Talent defines the height of advancement”; “Culture establishes historical status”. This lecture, with its strategic vision and profound insights, provided new ideas, innovative approaches, and valuable references for ZUFE’s next phase of high-quality development.
Following the insightful address, attendees—including faculty and researchers—engaged in a spirited Q&A session with Academician Yang, who provided detailed and clear answers to each query. “We were deeply inspired and enlightened by Academician Yang’s lecture, gaining a more profound and comprehensive understanding of ZUFE’s disciplinary development and high-quality development,” the faculty unanimously stated.
As the host, Wei Jiang noted that Academician Yang Wei had delivered a vivid lesson through global, strategic, humanistic, and forward-looking perspectives. The lecture was lauded for its profound thinking depth, relevance, and guidance, leaving the audience deeply inspired and motivated. This year marks the 50th anniversary of ZUFE. Over the past five decades, ZUFE has steadfastly upheld its spirit, which emphasizes “Cultivating virtue, diligent study, valuing practicality, fostering innovation”, driving its undertakings to new heights. At this new starting point, the university has formulated and implemented the “New Finance and Economics Strategy”, advancing the development of four key systems: “New Discipline System”, “New Cultivation System”, “New Ecology System” and “New Governance System”. He expressed hope that through Chongshi Forum, by upholding the principles of spreading knowledge and inspiring critical thinking, ZUFE would further broaden its horizons, spark intellectual innovation, and pragmatically and courageously advance the implementation of the “New Finance and Economics Strategy” with unwavering resolve. Wei Jiang emphasized that all faculty should diligently study the essence of the report, integrate its insights into their work, and collaborate across all levels to fulfill the fundamental mission of fostering virtue and cultivating talents, while advancing ZUFE’s development into a high-level institution.
Professor Zhu Yuan, secretary of the Party Committee of Zhejiang University’s School of Management, along with members of ZUFE’s leadership team, all middle-level officers, academic deans, vice deans, specially appointed deputy positions in departments, middle-level principals of Dongfang College, leaders of first-class disciplines, heads of provincial-level and above first-class programs, representatives of provincial-level and above talent programs, faculty representatives, directors of administrative offices of various schools, disciplinary secretaries, research secretaries, postgraduate student secretaries, in total 250 attendees participated the lecture.
A concise profile:
Yang Wei, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a scientist with strategic vision in solid mechanics, specializes in fracture mechanics, micromechanics and nanomechanics, and electro-mechanically coupled failure. He has served as director-general of the Academic Degrees Office under the State Council, director of the Department of Degree Management & Graduate Education at the Ministry of Education, president of Zhejiang University, and director of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. His groundbreaking contributions to scientific research and talent development have earned him multiple honors from China’s Triple National Science and Technology Awards (State Natural Science Award, State Technological Invention Award, State Scientific and Technological Progress Award).
