2013 New Year Address of Soochow University
Dear faculty and staff members, students and friends,
Happy New Year!
As the year 2013 is approaching, on behalf of the university party committee and administrative council, we would like to extend our cordial greetings and best wishes to all of you, as well as all the retired and alumni at home and abroad. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude and high respect to leaders of all levels, our university board members as well as friends of all fields who have given care and support to the development of our university.
In the year 2012, with China¡¯s manned spacecraft, Shenzhou-9, soaring into the space, manned submersible, Jiaolong, diving into the deep sea, and China's first aircraft carrier, Liaoning, conducting its flight landing, the country, as a great power, demonstrated to the world her solid strength and strong confidence. The successful convening of the 18th CPC National Congress made China the center of attention worldwide.
The year 2012 also witnessed the university stride forward in advancing the quality of higher education. This year, with Nanjing Institute of Railway Technology Suzhou Campus joining our big family, the university tradition of inclusiveness was continued. This year, with Medical Education celebrating its 100th anniversary, the benevolent medical ethnics were passed on through Soochow medical students. Also in this year, with the success of the 11th University CPC Congress, everyone was pressing forward towards new targets and tasks with indomitable will.
In 2012, the university continued to reform its talent training mode. The Graduate School was established to promote the transformation of education concepts, training modes and management methods. Tang Wenzhi College was established to explore a new approach to cultivate elitist talents in liberal arts. Thanks to our students, the names of Soochow students were marked on the sites of London Olympics, on the medals of International Designing Competition, Challenge Cup, Robots Contest and other national and international competitions. The honor goes to you. The honor also belongs to Soochow University!
The strength of faculties was enhanced continuously. More teachers were selected in various national high-end talents projects. Centers for Post-Doctoral Studies increased significantly and continued to hold the first position among local universities. Our gratitude goes to our teachers, who showed their persistence to expertise on CCTV Lecture Room, and who received the USCACA-AFCR Young Scholar Awards and other awards of great academic influence.
The achievements of discipline construction and scientific researches were outstanding. We passed the examination of 211 Project Phase III Construction with high distinction. The number of National Natural Science Foundation projects continued to increase substantially, ranking No.2 in Jiangsu Province for the first time in history. We fulfilled the breakthrough in National 973 Chief Scientist Project. The number of National Social Science Foundation hit an all-time record. As a consequence, the university was awarded the Excellent Collectives of University Philosophy and Social Science Research by the Ministry of Education.
he university played an active role in external collaborations and exchanges. Soochow University in Laos, the first Chinese overseas education institution, recruited its first batch of students. Our cooperation with local governments, universities, industries and research institutes became more frequent. A number of high level research institutes and cooperative innovation platforms were established. The university expanded the scale of social services. Our staff who took temporary posts in the local governments and our Technological Town Mayors Group stayed even closer to the grass roots; The Leadership Training Programs won good social reputations. The Welfare Action received Top Award of University Campus Culture Development by Ministry of Education. The medical service of the affiliated hospitals reached a new level.
The culture soft power and Soochow Spirit were vigorously enhanced. The University Press celebrated its 20th anniversary. Wu Culture Database won First Prize in Higher Education Document Security Featured Database Project. The Administrative Efficiency Construction yielded remarkable results. The Scientific and Cultural capabilities of Party construction were constantly improved. Soochow people are striving on the road of scientific, harmonious and innovative development. We are more confident with achieving the goal of making Soochow University ¡°first-class at home and well-known abroad¡±.
Thank the year 2012, which gave us tremendous positive energy. Thank all the Soochow people, who witnessed with us such a splendid year!
Dear colleagues and students, the year 2013 is the first year after the 11th University Party Congress. Empty talks jeopardize university development. Only solid work prospers the university. Under the guidance of the 18th CPC National Congress, with the confidence of our 100-year tradition and the courage and determination of great advance, let us unite with one heart and one mind, boost the university undertakings to new heights, and create a ¡°Soochow style¡± on the way to the realization of ¡°Chinese dream¡±.
We wish you all a very happy and prosperous New Year!
Wang Zhuojun Zhu Xiulin
January 1st, 2013
