he construction of “world-class universitiesandfirst-classdisci- T plines”isacrucialmeasuretaken by the Chinese government to im- prove higher education after the success of the211and985Programs,andtoensure that the nation becomes rich in human-re- source potential. It is also relevant to enhancing the country’s core competitive- Zhimin Li ness internationally and to achieving its Director of Center for modernization goals. The implementation Science and Technology oftheDoubleFirst-ClassInitiativeisfully Development Ministry of Education, People's compatible with China’s economic and Republic of China social development and the demand for talents to play a central role in spearhead- ing the country’s growth. TheDoubleFirst-ClassInitiativeintegrates the development of higher education at home and the lessons learned from the develop- mentofhighereducationabroad.World- class universities and first-class disciplines are being built in keeping with Chinese cultural characteristics; the plan combines a careful evaluation of national conditions with a spirit that encourages innovation. Song Gao Ji Zhao Yanrong Li President of President of President of South China University Northeastern University Sichuan University of Technology Situated in Guangzhou, SCUT Northeastern University is one As one of the level A universities is one of the top-ranked univer- of the “Double First-Class” included in the “National Double sities in China listed under the key construction universities in First Class University Project”, “Double First-Class” University China’s higher education. SCU has clearly marked out the Project. SCUT ranks 235th in The university lays more development blueprint of “run- ARWU (Academic Ranking of emphasis on innovation ning the best programs of medi- World Universities), with its and novelty of the inter- cine and a first-class program of engineering discipline at national academic frontier liberal arts, science and new en- 22nd. In March 2017, and realizing the core tech- gineering”, and has set out the Chinese Ministry of nology innovation featured with a cross-disciplinary plan Education, Guangdong significance, intractability and focused on “medicine+” Provincial Government, commonness in the industrial up- and “information+” dis- Guangzhou Municipal grading. Northeastern University ciplines in the progress Government and SCUT signed will stride forward unremitting- of becoming a world-class an agreement on the collabo- ly to build itself into a world- university. SCU is committed rative construction of SCUT’s class university with Chinese to providing outstanding young Guangzhou International Cam- characteristics, playing a leading talents with great working and pus, SCUT has thus formed a role in the new industrialization living conditions. We look for- discipline layout emphasizing progress in China. We sincerely ward to you joining the ranks the interdependence of its three welcome global talents to join us of the renowned scholars and campuses. We sincerely wel- in the pursuit of a better future researchers who make the SCU come global talents to join us! for higher education. an outstanding university. ADVERTISING FEATURE ■ F The implementation of the Double First-Class Initiative is in universities is characterized by support and encouragement in the ocus on the “Double First-Class” accord with the essence and principles of education, while still administrative details of running a university and directional guid- keeping pace with the times. China’s higher education system has anceintheformationofdisciplines.Theappraisaloftheuniversity joinedtheageof“masseducation.”Weareenteringanetworked centers on the cultivation of students and allows their initiative to and information-based society; the organization of the university fourish. has changed profoundly, and curriculums are becoming centered PerhapsthemostcrucialaspectoftheDoubleFirst-ClassInitia- on digital platforms, where the nature of education focuses on tive is the support it receives from the stable supply of talents that individual choice and personalized learning is becoming the way isnowpouringin.Inrecentyears,Chinesehighereducationhas of the future. In the process of laying the groundwork for the in- been developing rapidly, and its universities have attracted more itiative,Chinastrivestofosterthehighesteducationalstandards, andmorespecialists.WhatissaidintheclassicChinesepoetry while strongly supporting higher education in its goals of improv- collectionTheBookofSongs,DaYaandWenWangisthat“talents ingscientiHcresearch,increasingthecapacityforinnovation,and were born in this kingdom, who fostered the development of the expanding the cultivation of talent. kingdom; they were the pillars of the Zhou Dynasty.” A Hrst-class The Double First-Class Initiative is being planned using a scien- team of scholars is the basis for Hrst-class scientiHc research and tiHc system; in order to build world-class universities and ensure teaching. The construction of world-class universities and first- their sound operation, their development must be standardized class disciplines in China requires not only buildings, but also through legislation that clariHes the mechanisms of management experts in every Held. and operation. Chinese universities maintain their relationship By being fully engaged in the Double First-Class Initiative and with the government in accordance with the Higher Education helpingtoguidehighereducationtowardabrighterfuture,Chi- Law of the People’s Republic of China, giving full play to their nese universities are playing a leading role in the advancement of abilitytorunindependentlywhilestillundertheguidanceofthe human civilization. government. TheDoubleFirst-ClassInitiativehasopenedupthousandsofop- The Double First-Class Initiative provides a reasonable evaluation portunities for outstanding scholars. Global talents are welcomed system, which is an important impetus for the sound development tojoinus,forChinaisapromisingcountrywhereyoucanrealize of higher education. Under the initiative, assessment of Chinese your dream of scientiHc research. Jian Lyu Hong Nie Qingxue Huang Liuan Kong President of President of President of President of Nanjing University of Taiyuan University Henan University of Nanjing University Aeronautics and Astronautics of Technology Science and Technology Nanjing University enjoys a glo- Nanjing University of Aeronaut- As an institution of higher Henan University of Science and rious tradition for more than 100 ics and Astronautics (NUAA) learning with a history of 117 Technology (HAUST), located years: breathing with the times, is a comprehensive, high-level, years, TYUT was listed as in the thousand-year ancient sharing destiny with the nation, research-oriented university China’s “Double World-class” capital and the peony seeking the strength of the specialized on aeronaut- construction university in 2017. flower city of Luoyang, country, and progress- ics, astronautics and civil Putting the students at the center is jointly Sponsored by ing in the promotion aviation, with building a and with construction dis- the State Administration of science. At present, world-class university as ciplines taking the lead, of Science, Technology & embraced by two major its unremitting pursuit. We TYUT has been, over Industry for National Defense themes, namely, fostering always regard teachers as our pri- the recent years, vigor- and the People’s Government virtue and morality education, mary resource for development. ously implementing the of Henan Province, as well as and serving the country, Nanjing We sincerely invite outstanding fve university-driven stra- University Supported by National University is pushing forward overseas scholars to join hands tegic projects with the strategy Basic Ability Construction Project a comprehensive reform and withusintakingtheuniversity of reinvigorating TYUT through of Western and Central China, speeding up the construction mission, shouldering the era’s human resource development Council Member of Universities of a world-class university. We responsibility and assembling at its core. Over 40,000 TYUT Alliance of the Silk Road, Model sincerely welcome a great many global wisdom to construct the staff and students are earnestly University of Entrepreneurial Ed- of young scholars to start a new blueprint. “Pursue the knowledge looking forward to the arrival of ucation and National Continuing journey of academic career in and serve the world”. Let’s reu- high-end talented professionals Education Base for Professionals. Nanjing University! nite together to create brilliance and their teams both from home Henan University of Science and on the road of serving the nations and abroad. Technology sincerely welcomes and pursuing the excellence. talents worldwide! ADVERTISING FEATURE Jinzhou Zhao Zhifeng Hao Honghai Zhang Dongfu Zhao President of President of President of President of Zhejiang University of Science Southwest Petroleum Foshan University Qufu Normal University University and Technology Founded in 1958, Southwest Pe- Foshan University is dedicating Qufu Normal University Young scholars are the hope of troleum University is the nation- to the leading National Institu- (QFNU) is located in Qufu universities. In order to attract al “double-first class” world- tion of Science and Technology. city, -- the birthplace of more excellent scholars from class university for discipline Scientific concepts never cut Confucius who was all over the world to join us and construction. It covers eight