To strengthen academic exchange and promote high-quality disciplinary development, from August 13 to 16, the leadership team of the School of Materials Science and Engineering, together with faculty representatives, visited the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CIAC), and Jilin University, and participated in the 15th National Forum of Materials Deans in Harbin.
Exchange Visit at CIAC
At CIAC, the delegation was warmly welcomed by Prof. Yongfeng Men, Director of the State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, and Prof. Jinkui Tang, Deputy Director of the State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization. Both sides introduced their respective strengths and needs, and held in-depth discussions on collaboration in discipline development, talent cultivation and recruitment, joint research platform building, and student training. The delegation also visited the Science and Technology Exhibition Hall, gaining a comprehensive understanding of CIAC’s six decades of development and its major breakthroughs in polymer materials and rare earth utilization.
Exchange Visit at Jilin University
At the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Jilin University, the delegation was welcomed by Party Secretary Prof. Heng Sun, Dean Prof. Lijun Zhang, and other school leaders. Both sides shared their development histories, disciplinary features, and core strengths, and explored cooperation opportunities in joint research projects, disciplinary development, and talent exchange. The delegation also visited the Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Automotive Materials and the Analysis and Testing Center, learning about laboratory development. In addition, they visited the Huang Danian Memorial Hall, revisiting the touching story of Prof. Huang’s lifelong dedication to education and scientific research, which further strengthened their commitment to nurturing talent and serving national strategic needs.
Participation in the 15th National Forum of Materials Deans
On August 15–16, the delegation attended the 15th National Forum of Materials Deans in Harbin. The forum brought together more than 900 deans and experts from over 230 universities and research institutes, setting a new record in scale and influence. With the theme “AI Empowering Materials Innovation, Serving the Nation through Education,” over 70 experts shared insights on topics including Party building, AI-enabled talent cultivation, discipline and faculty development, research platform building, regional innovation, journal development, and internationalization. Dean Prof. Hongzhi Cui was invited to chair a sub-forum, and the school’s leadership team actively participated throughout the event.
This forum provided a valuable platform for learning from the best practices of peer institutions. Building on this opportunity, the School of Materials Science and Engineering will deepen cooperation with universities nationwide, continue to optimize its disciplinary layout, enhance research and education quality, and actively prepare to host the 17th National Forum of Materials Deans in 2027, advancing the university’s materials discipline to a higher level.
Written and photographed by Liu Shuang
