On November 7-8, the 2nd Central Plains University Leadership Forum was grandly held at Henan University (HENU)’s Longzihu Campus in Zhengzhou. More than 20 eminent university leaders from China and abroad attended the forum, including HAN Jiecai, President of Harbin Institute of Technology and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; QIAN Xuhong, President of East China Normal University and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; FAN Jianping, President of Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology and Fellow of the Eurasian Academy of Sciences; LI Xingwei, President of Macau University of Science and Technology and Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Engineering Sciences; and Tayyeb Shah, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor of The University of Western Australia. Together, they discussed development pathways for future-oriented higher education. ZHANG Suojiang, President of HENU and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, attended the event and delivered the opening address, while JI Bo, Secretary of the Party Committee of HENU, presided over the opening ceremony.

ZHANG Suojiang, President of HENU and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, delivered the opening address

In his speech, ZHANG Suojiang stated that this forum aimed to explore the reform and innovation of higher education, foster friendships, and work together to formulate development strategies. He pointed out that against the backdrop of the profound impact of the technological revolution and artificial intelligence on society, higher education faces new opportunities and challenges. HENU is willing to join other institutions in contemplating the era’s question of “What role should higher education play in building a strong nation?” by closely aligning with national strategies and local realities, and promoting the deep integration of education, technology, and industry.

ZHANG Suojiang emphasized that the essence of a university lies in nurturing talent, noting that human emotion and the spirit of innovation are core elements that technology cannot replace. He expressed his hope that the forum would pool wisdom to explore new models of education and new paradigms for scientific research, thereby contributing to the construction of first-class universities. He also provided an overview of HENU’s historical evolution and current developmental progress. HENU is currently prioritizing the national “Double First-Class” initiative and Henan Province’s “Two Top-Tier Universities” strategy. It is actively implementing its core development framework of “strengthening foundational sciences and humanities while developing new interdisciplinary programs in engineering and medical fields”. These efforts are consistently directed toward advancing its vision of becoming a top-tier university characterized by research excellence, comprehensive disciplines, and engagement.

Keynote Reports

During the forum’s keynote report session, 11 university presidents exchanged views on the theme “Innovation·Integration·Pioneering: University Transformation Shaping the Future”. QIAN Xuhong, President of East China Normal University, proposed that future universities would exhibit forms characterized by “excellence, transcendence, and superposition of multiple states”. HAN Jiecai, President of Harbin Institute of Technology, shared the “Humanities-Technology Double Helix” approach to cultivating innovative talent. FAN Jianping, President of Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology, elaborated on the mission of new research-oriented universities in serving national and regional development. Other participants presented forward-looking ideas on topics including cooperation, digital and intelligent transformation, and the integration of industry and education.

The forum’s agenda also included round table discussions. Participants were then invited on visits to the Henan University History Museum, the Longzihu New Energy Laboratory, and the Zhongzhou Laboratory, providing a platform to advance talks on educational and scientific research collaboration.

By thoroughly implementing the national strategy for education, technology, and talent, the forum demonstrated how higher education is transitioning from a model of collective development and mutual benefit to one defined by innovation and leadership. This process has generated vital consensus and momentum for establishing a world-class higher education system with Chinese characteristics.