ShanghaiTech’s second Faculty Assembly of 2026, held on September 10, featured a keynote address encouraging faculty members to devote themselves to educating students and pursuing innovation. The address was delivered by Chen Xianhui, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China. At the assembly, ShanghaiTech Party Secretary Li Ruxin and President Feng Donglai delivered remarks and outlined priorities for the new semester. Other university leaders, including Yin Jie, Ding Hao, Cui Yong, Wu Qiang, Zhang Qi, Yu Jingyi, Luo Zhengge, and Liu Zhi, also attended and gave updates on the university’s work in their respective areas.
Party Secretary Li Ruxin
In his remarks, Li Ruxin noted that the global scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation are accelerating, while China has continued to rise in global innovation rankings, evolving from a participant in scientific and technological innovation to a pioneer and leader. He emphasized that ShanghaiTech should continue to advance its fundamental mission of fostering virtue through education. “The university should deepen integration of science and education as well as industry and education, and strengthen collaboration between schools and residential colleges in educating students.” Li stressed that faculty members are the soul of a university and should combine academic excellence with high moral character. “Professors across the university need to further fulfill their responsibilities as residential college mentors, using human-centered care and intellectual guidance to address the new challenges brought by the age of AI, thus demonstrating the enduring value of higher education.”
President Feng Donglai
Feng Donglai congratulated the faculty members who had recently been promoted, welcomed newly appointed professors, and expressed his sincere appreciation to faculty and staff who have served the university for 10 years. He emphasized that the university should continue to strive for excellence while engaging more closely with the broader academic and industrial community. Leveraging the campus’s location in Zhangjiang, the university should strengthen deep partnerships with industry and integrate industry more tightly into its approach to educating and developing students.
Feng also called for continued reform of teaching in the age of AI and encouraged faculty members to actively seek resources and engage with the broader academic community.
Professor Chen Xianhui
In the address titled “What it means to be a university faculty member in the new era,” Chen drew on more than three decades of experience in teaching and research to explore how the spirit of scientists and the spirit of educators can be brought together.
Later in the assembly, Li Ruxin and Feng Donglai jointly presented appointment letters to professors who had recently been promoted. The professors took turns sharing reflections on their work and academic experiences. Newly appointed professors also introduced themselves and expressed their enthusiasm and expectations for teaching and research at ShanghaiTech.
Promoted faculty members receive the appointment letters from Li Ruxin and Feng Donglai
The assembly also recognized 62 faculty and staff members with the 10-Year Service Award.