TJU Holds E9’s First Seminar on Campus Planning and Construction

Tianjin University (TJU) organized the Excellence 9 (E9)’s first seminar on the theme of campus planning and construction recently. About 20 representatives from higher education institutes including Beijing Institute of Technology, Chongqing University, Dalian University of Technology, Southeast University, Harbin Institute of Technology, South China University of Technology, Tianjin University, Tongji University and Northwestern Polytechnical University attended the seminar. They gathered together to discuss the further development of higher education and universities. Zhang Fengbao, Vice President of TJU, attended the forum and delivered a speech.

The representatives visited the large-scale earthquake engineering simulation facility and other buildings such as Zhengdong library, the main building, and comprehensive gym. They further acknowledged TJU’s architectural style and campus life. Zhang Jinyuan, head of the engineering management department of the large-scale earthquake engineering simulation research facility management office, gave them a clear picture of the overall situation of the project and the progress of construction. As China’s first major national scientific and technological infrastructure in this field, the capping of the main project of the experimental center is under construction. It will become the largest and most powerful seismic simulation research facility for major projects in the world when completed.

Later, the meeting was held at the university’s Peiyang Park Campus. The forum was presided over by Diao Ke. Zhang Fengbao, on behalf of TJU, expressed his sincere welcome and greeting to all participants, and briefly introduced the university’s facts, ranging from development history, school scale, discipline construction to scientific research achievements and its two campuses. He said that since the founding of E9, well-rounded cooperation has been developed among nine elite universities in terms of talent training, collaborative innovation, resources sharing and cultural exchanges. As we usher into the key period of “double-first class” initiative, it is of paramount importance for us to hold this meeting. All universities are expected to engage in in-depth discussion so as to better construct universities.

Representatives from 9 universities introduced their facts, organizations, faculty and staff and proposed project. Exchanges were made in such key topics like standardized management, internal control system, project construction model and the role of "all-round education through all staff over the whole process". Attendees thought that facing new tasks and challenges in the new era, universities need to take a page from cutting-edge management concepts and explore new project construction and management modes. In so doing, the overall quality will become better and efficiency higher. In addition, breakthroughs must be achieved in building a sustainable and digital campus to better underpin talents training, teaching and research in universities.

It is reported that such meetings will be continued by different members of E9 in the years ahead so as to advance mutual exchanges and cooperation.

By: Sun Fei

Editor: Qin Mian