On the morning of December 27, Wuhan University of Technology (WUT) inaugurated the 9th International Forum for Young Scholars. The opening ceremony was attended by Zhan Yong, Director of the Talent Work Department of the Organization Department of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee; Li Lv, Deputy Director of the Wuhan Talent Work Bureau; Yang Qi, Director of the Third Division of the Wuhan Talent Bureau; Wang Fazhou, President of WUT; Cheng Yibing, Academician of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and Professor at the university; chief discipline professors under the university’s “15551 Excellent Talent Program”; representatives of national high-level talents, and heads of relevant teaching, research, and functional departments. The ceremony was presided over by Mai Liqiang, Vice President of WUT. More than 1,000 young scholars from home and abroad participated in the forum through a hybrid online–offline format.

In his address, Zhan Yong outlined Hubei Province’s development trajectory and introduced the policy framework supporting talent recruitment, cultivation, and services in Hubei and Wuhan. He emphasized that Hubei is currently a convergence point of opportunities and a highland for innovation and entrepreneurship, with a growing demand for talent across various fields. He emphasized that WUT is deeply integrated with the development of Hubei Province and Wuhan City and is maintaining strong growth momentum, warmly welcoming outstanding young scholars worldwide to join Hubei, Wuhan, and WUT in sharing development opportunities and shaping a promising future together.

President Wang Fazhou delivered a special report focusing on “Excellence in Quality,” “Responsibility and Contribution,” and “Innovation and Integration”. He introduced the University’s academic heritage, recent achievements, and future development plans. Wang highlighted that WUT attracts and cultivates talent through the development of first-class disciplines, empowers talent growth through digital transformation, and supports innovation by building a high-level talent ecosystem. By providing fertile ground and high-quality platforms for talents, WUT enabled young scholars to pursue their aspirations and realize their potential amid the University’s transformative development.

Vice President Mai Liqiang elaborated on WUT’s full-chain talent service system covering recruitment, cultivation, retention, and utilization, as well as the Fourteen Key Measures for Talent Development, the construction of the Frontier Interdisciplinary Innovation Research Institute, the third round of the “15551 Excellent Talent Program,” and the “Sailing Plan” for young talents. These initiatives collectively demonstrate the University’s broad development platforms, favorable academic environment, and competitive remuneration packages.

Professor Cheng Yibing presented a frontier academic report titled Frontier Technologies and Development Trends in New Energy, analyzing the trends and significance of new energy systems. He also introduced the university’s basic research and industrial applications in solar photovoltaic and hydrogen energy technologies.

Heads of the university’s major research platforms introduced the development and progress of key laboratories, including the Institute of New Materials (State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology For Materials Synthesis and Processing), Fiber Optic Sensing Technology Research Center (State Key Laboratory of Fiber Optic Sensing and Network Technology), Silicate Materials Engineering Research Center (State Key Laboratory of Silicate Materials for Architectures), Intelligent Transportation Systems Research Center, the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Glass Materials (Wuhan), and the State Key Laboratory of High-Temperature Light Alloys and Application Technology.

Representatives of national high-level young talents shared their personal development experiences from three perspectives: motivations for choosing WUT, growth experiences, and future development, illustrating the developmental path for young scholars from career initiation to breakthrough innovation and providing a growth guide for attendees.

On the afternoon of December 27, various teaching and research units organized  diverse and substantial sub-forums., where participating young scholars, faculty, and students engaged in deep-level exchanges and discussions on hot research areas in related disciplines..

The 9th International Forum for Young Scholars built a bridge for in-depth understanding of WUT and regional opportunities for young scholars worldwide by showcasing the university's comprehensive strength, talent policies, and development vision from multiple dimensions. In the future, the University will continue to advance its talent-driven development strategy, attract a large number of outstanding young scholars to build careers at the university with an improved ecosystem, help young scholars set sail, and jointly contribute to the construction of a first-class university.

Written by: Guo Zhengang

Rewritten by: Mei Mengqi

Edited by: Liang Muwei, Li Tiantian

Source: Personnel Office of WUT