To build a world-class faculty team, Beihang University hosted the 17th Vision Forum for International Young Scholars from December 19 to 21. With the theme "Pursuing the Dream of Serving the Nation through Aerospace Endeavors, Gathering Talent to Empower a New Chapter," the forum attracted over 700 young scholars from top global institutions such as the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Imperial College London. Participants engaged in both online and offline discussions, focusing on academic frontiers and promoting integrated innovation.

The opening ceremony and main forum were held on the morning of December 20 at the First Lecture Hall of the New Main Building at the Xueyuan Road campus. Attendees included Liu Shuchun, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beihang University Committee; Yan Xiaojun, Vice President of Beihang University; Dong Zhuoning, Assistant President of Beihang University and Dean of its Hangzhou International Innovation Institute (H3I); heads of relevant departments such as the Financial Department, Institute of Science and Technology, and International Relations Department; and leaders from various schools and departments. Zhan Yilin, a fourth-level investigator from the International Cooperation Division of the Beijing Municipal Talent Bureau, was also invited. The forum was presided over by Bao Rui, Director of the Human Resource Department and Director of the Party Committee Talent Office.

Liu Shuchun delivers opening speech

Liu Shuchun delivered the opening speech on behalf of the university, extending a warm welcome to the young scholars from home and abroad. He emphasized that Beihang University always regards talent as its primary resource, deeply implements the strategy of strengthening the university through talent, and fully implements the national strategic deployment for the integrated development of education, technology, and talent.

Liu highlighted that since its founding, Beihang has integrated the red gene of "serving the nation through aerospace endeavors" into its core, making outstanding contributions to major national projects such as the Shenzhou spacecraft, BeiDou navigation system, and domestically developed large aircraft. At this critical juncture of accelerating the construction of a world-class university with Chinese characteristics, he sincerely invited outstanding young talents worldwide to choose Beihang and root themselves here, integrating their personal aspirations into the national development to jointly write a glorious chapter of serving the nation in the new era. 

Yan Xiaojun delivers keynote report

Yan Xiaojun presented the keynote report, systematically elaborating on Beihang's mission to serve national strategic needs. He comprehensively introduced the university's strengths and development plans in terms of disciplinary development, research platforms, and faculty team. Yan pointed out that Beihang has established a disciplinary system characterized by "top-tier engineering, first-class science, high-quality arts and humanities, and advantageous medical engineering." It has also built an organized research model featuring "great platforms, large teams, major projects, and significant contributions." The university is continually deepening reforms in its personnel system, constructing a classified excellence evaluation and support framework. Through the "three campuses in two cities (Beijing and Hangzhou)" layout and talent special zones like the International Institute for Interdisciplinary and Frontiers, Beihang provides young scholars with first-class research conditions, sufficient funding support, and an international development environment.

During the main forum, attendees watched the talent-themed promotional video "Set Sail." The video, showcasing the growth stories of academicians, illustrated how Beihang serves as fertile ground for young talent to nurture dreams and achieve excellence. It also extended a sincere invitation to young scholars worldwide to join hands and contribute to building a strong nation.

Dong Zhuoning, Wu Ruilin, and Jiang Chongwen deliver reports

In the invited report session subsequently, Dong Zhuoning, Assistant President of Beihang University and Dean of H3I, Wu Ruilin, Director of the Financial Department, and Jiang Chongwen, Executive Vice Dean of Institute of Science and Technology delivered reports, jointly extending a warm invitation for young scholars to join Beihang.

Closely aligned with international academic frontiers, the Forum this year meticulously organized 32 disciplinary sub-forums covering fields such as materials science, electronic information, aerospace, mathematics, physics, chemistry, artificial intelligence, medical-engineering interdisciplinary studies, economics and management, and humanities and social sciences, which created an academic exchange matrix for multi-field collaboration and in-depth interaction. Hosted by relevant schools, these forums leveraged their disciplinary characteristics and research strengths to build professional and specialized high-level academic dialogue platforms for participants.

During the forum, young scholars from home and abroad gathered with deans and academic leaders of various schools. They focused on key scientific issues and cutting-edge technological directions in their respective fields, conducting in-depth exchanges through keynote speeches, panel discussions, and research presentations. For the first time, the forum established and held a "Foreign Scholars Forum," inviting 10 outstanding foreign scholars from world-renowned universities, including Politecnico di Torino, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, King's College London, and the University of Hong Kong.

Bai Lin, Director of the International Relations Department, elaborated on Beihang's internationalization development strategy (UPS) and talent recruitment philosophy. The international scholars shared their latest research progress in cutting-edge areas like artificial intelligence, aerospace, advanced materials, and sustainable development, engaging in lively discussions with on-site guests. Several preliminary cooperative intentions were reached, exploring new models and pathways for the university to attract top overseas talent and deepen substantive international research collaboration.

During the forum, the university also thoughtfully organized campus tours for young scholars, taking them to visit the University History Museum, Beijing Air and Space Museum, and the Center for Micro-Nano Innovation of Beihang (Beihang Nano). During these visits, they experienced the profound cultural heritage, strong research atmosphere, robust disciplinary strengths, and excellent research platforms of Beihang.

Since its inception in 2016, the Vision Forum for International Young Scholars has been held 17 times, attracting nearly 7,000 outstanding young scholars globally. Over 300 have joined Beihang through this platform, and more than 110 have grown into recipients of major national talent programs. The forum has become a "golden brand" and important window for Beihang's global talent recruitment.

In the future, the university will continue to leverage the Forum as a key initiative, continuously innovating international talent exchange mechanisms and expanding collaboration networks. With a more open and inclusive stance, Beihang aims to gather outstanding talents around the world, to jointly contribute to building China into a leading country in education, science and technology, and talent, striving for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Editor: Liu Tingting