In the wave of globalization, innovation has become a key driving force for social development. On the afternoon of October 15, the first annual meeting of the World University Student Innovation Alliance (hereinafter referred to as the "Alliance") grandly opened at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in the Zizhu Science Park. Attendees included Ding Kuiling, President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Liu Weidong, Vice President, Ma Xinbin, Vice President of Tianjin University, as well as leaders and guests from renowned universities around the world. The meeting was hosted by Yin Haitao, Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Office of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
In his speech, Ma Xinbin, Vice President of Tianjin University, expressed sincere gratitude to all the guests attending the conference. He stated that as one of the founding institutions of the Alliance, Tianjin University hopes that the Alliance can fully leverage its role as a bridge for competitions, establishing a platform for communication and cooperation in innovation and entrepreneurship among young university students worldwide. This initiative aims to promote the practice of innovation and entrepreneurship education on a broader scale, at a higher level, and in deeper international cooperation, embarking on a new journey.
Yin Haitao, Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Office of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, presided over the event.
In the subsequent roundtable discussion, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the current status and trends of innovation development among university students worldwide, as well as their expectations and visions for the Alliance. The roundtable forum was co-hosted by Xue Hongwei, President of South China Agricultural University, and Zhu Lei, Executive President of the Global Youth Innovation Leaders Community Promotion Association.
Noel Lindsay, Vice President of the University of Adelaide, Xu Jian, Vice President of the University of Macau, Jose Alberto Conejero Casares, Vice President of Valencia Polytechnic University in Spain, William Hua Wang, Vice President of emlyon Business School in France, Zhang Guowei, Associate Vice President of Hong Kong Baptist University, Zhang Zhibing, Co-Dean of the China Institute at the University of Birmingham and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Zhu Hui, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Zhejiang University, Maximilián Strémy, Vice President of the Slovak University of Technology, Wang Haijie, Vice President of Zhengzhou University, Cheong Wei Yang, Associate Provost of Singapore Management University, Li Qiang, Vice President of Nanjing University of Science and Technology, and Chen Ning, Chairman and CEO of Shenzhen Yuntianlifeng Technology Co., Ltd., along with other distinguished guests from globally renowned universities and enterprises, shared their perspectives and insights on innovation education for university students.
Noel Lindsay mentioned in the discussion that design thinking is crucial for building a vibrant innovation ecosystem and is regarded as a core skill that every student must master. This mindset encourages students to break away from traditional thinking patterns and actively discover and seize opportunities that may not be easily perceived, allowing them to remain resilient in the face of challenges.
Zhang Zhibing offered unique insights on how to provide students with an international perspective to foster innovation. He pointed out that the key to innovation education lies in continuously exploring new methods, inspiring students to maintain a positive attitude, and cultivating their ability for lifelong learning.
Zhu Hui highly praised the significance of the establishment of the alliance and expressed her earnest expectations for it. She stated her hope that the alliance would uphold its educational mission, drive innovation as its motivation, and take collaboration as its main focus, actively leading global university students to jointly address global challenges.
Cheong Wei Yang shared his thoughts on innovation education based on examples from Singapore. He stated that the primary task of the alliance is to explore how to become a hub for resource sharing. By promoting open cooperation and mutually beneficial relationships, the alliance aims to facilitate multinational collaboration and communication, establishing itself as a benchmark for global innovation education.
As a representative from the business sector, Chen Ning delved into how to leverage the alliance platform to provide strong support for student innovation, drawing on his own industry experience. He pointed out that the core of the Student Innovation Alliance lies in the students themselves, with the goal of promoting innovation, while the platform serves as the foundation of the alliance.
Finally, Liu Weidong expressed his sincere gratitude to the attendees. He stated that the rapid development of artificial intelligence and the resulting industrial transformation have profoundly impacted higher education, requiring us to gather more wisdom to devise strategies for cultivating innovative talents with an international perspective. The alliance will closely integrate with the China International College Students Innovation Competition, a high-standard platform for technological innovation and exchange, providing strong support for the growth and success of young people and injecting powerful momentum into the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity.
It is reported that the World College Student Innovation Alliance was jointly initiated by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Tianjin University, with the aim of "openness, cooperation, sharing, mutual promotion, and integration." The alliance is dedicated to building a communication platform for competition participants, enterprises, and investors, offering guidance and support for the successful implementation of outstanding projects, and consolidating resources from businesses, investment institutions, and industrial parks to provide platform service support for the transformation of college students' innovative achievements. The alliance was officially established on October 15, 2024, and has already invited 56 universities (30 from overseas) from 19 countries and regions across five continents, as well as 21 enterprises, to join.