On September 22nd, Chen Changzhi, NPC Vice Chairman and Chairman of China National Democratic Construction Association Central Committee, paid a special visit to CSUST during his stay in Hunan. Li Weiwei, Minister of United Front Work Department of Hunan Provincial CPC Committee, Zhang Hui, deputy director of the General Office of Hunan Provincial People's Congress, Liang Jianguo, Director of the President’s Office of China National Democratic Construction Association accompanied him for the investigation and inspection.
Chen Changzhi inspected National Engineering Laboratory of Road Maintenance Technology and showed great interest in laboratory experiments and research content and listened carefully to the narrator for the construction and operation of the laboratory and asked in detail about usage of the industrial CT X-ray inspection system, TLJ-150A centrifuge operation.
After that, Chen Changzhi happily visited the sandbox model of CSUST and participated in the meeting with officials of CSUST. Party Secretary of CSUST Fu Hongyuan introduced the achievements in personnel training, faculty, scientific research, discipline construction and Party construction and reported the thoughts about education reform.
Chen Changzhi highly appreciated CSUST’s ideas about development and education reform, and applauded the operation of Confucius Institutes, outstanding alumni "Cut-cake Prince" Adil and achievements made in the Specialty Discipline Construction and commended the leadership, faculty and students for their efforts and hard work.
Chen Changzhi pointed out that universities specializing in science and technology are closely related to the country's economic construction and should thoroughly implement the guidelines of the Third Plenary Session of the Eighteenth Congress and accurately grasp the requirements in deepening comprehensive reform in the field of education.
Chen Changzhi also pointed out that universities should focus their efforts on construction of teachers, increase the intensity of teacher training, constantly improve the teaching level, attract top talents and further promote foreign exchange. In particular, universities should strengthen moral construction and lead teachers to become models for students. Meanwhile, colleges and universities, as an important link in the national technology innovation system, should change the concept of teaching management, cultivate the spirit of innovation, increase research efforts to improve teachers' research initiative, and promote transformation of scientific and research results for the national economic construction.
Chen Changzhi also quoted Einstein "Imagination is more important than knowledge" to illustrate the importance of innovation capabilities. He stressed that schools should change the past spoon-feeding education mode and cultivate students’ ability in thinking, innovation, mobilize the enthusiasm of students' creativity, and give full play to their talents as long as they do not violate principles, guidelines, and regulations.
CSUST President Lai Mingyong thanked Chen Changzhi for his affirmation and encouragement, assuring that CSUST would thoroughly study and put into practice the guiding principles given by Chen Changzhi to deepen comprehensive reform and further strengthen the construction of teachers and students' innovative ability and strive for greater achievements for the industry as well as local economic and social development.