Culture of Chien-shiung Institute of Technology: A Reader
Chapter One Ode to CSIT (Preface)
Tai Cang, also known as “Lou Dong”, or east of the Loushui River, is located to the south of the Yangtze River. Lying in the arms of the great river and the east China sea, it borders the old territory of Wu and Yue States in China’s History and Shanghai of modern China. With no shortage of stunning landscapes, it has been a grain house for the country since ancient times. There was once a saying that “when there is a harvest in Taicang, no one in China will go hungry.” Taicang is also home to many widely-known talents who shine like stars in the skies of the Chinese History. Back to Ming and Qing Dynasties, more than 300 scholars from Taicang succeeded in imperil examinations, and the past century has also seen a host of great masters in all fields, over a dozen of whom are world-leading scientists who h**e been selected as academicians of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Taicang boasts of a long history of innovation in education, for which Taicang is known widely. With a cultural heritage that traced back a century, Chien-Shiung Institute of Technology caught the world’s attention at its birth. In the late Qing Dynasty, Taicang Prefecture High School, the origin of Chien-Shiung Institute of Technology, was established in virtue of an initiative by local scholars. In the first year of Xuan Tong Reign (1908 A.D), it recruited teachers from different places and enrolled many talented students. In the next 100 plus years, as time goes by, our students work hard through all forms of hardships to nurture their virtues, develop their interests and train their skills. Most of our graduates build up successful careers, applying what they previously learned to benefit generations to come.
Long is the history of our institute. The Chien-Shiung people had been first in line to serve when our motherland was at her most troubled time. In the May 4th Movement in 1919, our teachers and students took to the streets to give their support to the movement. In the May Thirtieth Movement in 1925, the whole school went to Shanghai on bare foot to support workers' strikes there. When the Japanese invaded China, many of them joined the army and marched to the battlefields. In the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, many of them even sacrificed their lives. In retrospect, our graduates over the years became serious scholars, wise teachers, benevolent politicians, br**e soldiers and honest businessmen. Among them are Tang Wenzhi, one of the fist principals of our institute in history, Hu Juewen, a democratic leader, Zhou Hui, a pillar of the country, and revered academicians; the list could go on and on. It has become our tradition for graduates to try their utmost to serve the country, no matter what industry they work in.
Great is Chien-Shiung Wu of Taicang, after whose name our institute is named. As a world-leading scientist with the noblest heart, she is praised as “Marrie Currie of China” and “Queen of Physics”. Driven by the dream to rejuvenate the nation, she came back many times to the arms of her motherland from the US and received the warm welcome from her fellowmen, and together they tried to paint the new blueprint of education in the future. Education being the center of her concerns, she worked day and night to promote it. She donated a huge sum of money in encouraging young talents to learn and played a critical role in helping Taicang to establish a higher education institute. Against all odds, Chien-shiung Institute of Technology was finally established through the amalgamation of 3 local schools in the autumn of 2004 and was named after her. A brand new page of the history of Taicang’s education was then unfolded. Carrying forward its three predecessors' inspiration and cultural legacy that had been cherished for a century, Chien-shiung Institute of Technology has been making every solid step toward greatness, standing tall in Loudong and fulfilling the noblest dream of a great soul.
After being set up, our institute ende**ors to be one of the drivers of Taicang’s development, arming itself with the power of science and technology. Looking backing to the paths we walked down, we h**e kept dreaming big and achieved degrees of success. From the provincial government, we are granted special award for our achievements in practicing the fixed-employment and dual-system mode. We’ve created cross-enterprise training models, integrating the government, enterprise, industry and the school. Our students win champions in skill competitions and are known in the Yangtze River Delta for their capacity of creating their own business. We held higher vocational education forums, hosting noble friends and pillars in theoretic studies from all over the world. Forward we leap and up high we fly on our journey of continuous development, with the quality of our education officially recognized. In 2012, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of Dr. Chien-shiung Wu’s birth, with numerous academic elites coming to us from home and abroad. Our Sino-German Training Center, featuring Germany’s dual system of vocational training, is the cradle of highly skilled craftsmen for this new era. Hand in hand, we are on our way to be a real role model for institutes of higher vocational education as we continue to press on.
Famous universities and colleges are admired by many for the roles they play in rejuvenating the nation through science and education. However, we at Chien-shiung Institute of Technology, h**e being doing great things with what we do best, becoming home to countless pragmatic talents and making great contributions to the country. Besides, we h**e one of the most beautiful campuses in the country, where lotus flowers in summer are nurtured by clear water and snow in winter dances with the wind; the fragrance of grass fills every corner of the entire place, thanks to the cool and pleasant-sounding breeze. By the Xinjing Lake, you can enjoy the sunset glow to the full. Wandering about our Wu Garden, and you will feel the charm of its corridors adorned with beautiful paintings and carved railings. If you come to our Chien-shiung P**ilion, don’t forget to say hello to those most graceful willows and waterfalls. Stepping in our Science Section, you can see many of our science elites working with great concertation. When you walk into our industrial park, you will get a direct feel of the deep integration of our institute with enterprises. And if you talk to our volunteers, you will see in them the passion of youth. In our eyes, a bud, though small, will certainly grow into a huge tree. We were once this bud, and now we are becoming the tree. Widely recognized in the Yangtze River Delta, we build up ties with our overseas partners in Germany. Batches of learners come to us to learn and study the local standards of dual vocational training system and many of them h**e found such trips so productive.
We started the journey to our grand dreams right from this place in the south of the Yangtze River. Carrying the Chien-shiung Spirit, we keep aiming high in our ende**or. Drawing on the cultural heritage accumulated over a century, the superior geographical conditions and the abundance of German enterprises around, CSIT has grown to be a model school holding fast to the dual-system and the spirit of the craftsman. We are ready to take the lead and make full use of our unique features to transform higher vocational education. Here we are, to put a dent in the universe.
Right now it is the middle of summer of 2018, and the skies look clear. We gather here to paint together new blueprints for CSIT in spite of the hot summer day, which only adds to our passion and inspiration for the future. It is in such state of mind that I am writing this Ode to CSIT — to echo with the beats of those cheering hearts, to inspire those coming after us, and above all, to commemorate Dr. Chien-shiung.
Written by Hu Weiding
Nov 16, 2018
Chapter Two The Long-cherished Legacy
Approved by the People's Government of Jiangsu Province, Suzhou Chien-shiung Institute of Technology (CSIT) was established in July 2004 through amalgamation of Jiangsu Taicang Normal School, Jiangsu Radio and Television University Taicang Branch, and Taicang Industrial School. Located in Suzhou Taicang Science and Education New Town, it is a full-time public vocational college named after Dr. Chien-shiung Wu, known across the globe as “The Queen of Nuclear Research”.
Taicang Normal School (formerly known as Taicang Prefecture High School) was founded in 1907, and officially started enrolling students in 1909. It was one of the earliest modern schools established after the abolition of the imperial examination system in the late Qing Dynasty. The school value of “patriotism and rigor” survived its several name changes, social system replacements, wars, hardships and the turning of a century. The cherished tradition of rigorous teaching and learning resonated among cities and counties in the south of the Yangtze River, even in the rest of the Yangtze River Delta at large.
The earliest CPC Underground Party, Taicang Special Branch
In July 1927, the Jiangsu Provincial No.4 Middle School (later becoming Taicang Normal School) branch of the Communist Youth League was established, which was the first school of its kind in southern Jiangsu to establish an underground organization. In 1928, Zhou Enlai, the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, mentioned in the party's Sixth National Congress that the Communist Youth League Taicang Special Branch was directly under the leadership of the Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee.
Patriotism in the May Fourth Movement
Chien-shiung Institute of Technology takes great pride in its rich campus culture created over the past century. As early as prior to the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, the teachers and students of Taicang Prefecture High School were secretly launching campaigns to advocate revolution. Under the influence of the New Culture Movement, teachers and students of Taicang Normal School actively supported the May Fourth Movement. Joined by other schools in Taicang, they left classrooms, took to the streets, talked businesses into going on strike and boycotted Japanese products. The ancient city of Taicang witnessed the large scale and grand influence of the campaign.
Br**ing the Bloodshed in the May Thirtieth Movement
The May of 1925 witnessed the May Thirtieth Massacre in Shanghai that shocked the whole nation. Students of Jiangsu Provincial No.4 Middle School responded immediately to Shanghai workers' strikes, convened conferences, walked to Shanghai and held demonstrations that lasted for over a month.
Moving to Shanghai's International Settlement for Resumption of School
In November 1937, the Japanese occupied Shanghai. Then Taicang fell. Taicang Normal school had to be shut down after being bombed by Japanese planes. In January 1939, with President Gu Kebin’s great effort, the school was moved to Shanghai's International Settlement and classes resumed right under the nose of the Japanese invaders till December 1941, when the Japanese army entered the settlement and the school had to close again.
After long periods of turbulence, the People’s Republic of China was founded. As China opened herself up, Chien-shiung Institute of Technology emerged, carrying forward its three predecessors’ ende**or and cultural legacy that had been cherished for a century. Aiming at serving local development, it positions itself as an institute that features “moderate scale, individuality cultivation, education for everyone, and characteristic development”. Guided by the Chien-shiung Spirit, it continues to deepen the integration of production and education, and strives to promote the localization practice of the dual system of vocational training in Germany. And it is with this mission that Suzhou Chien-shiung Institute of Technology forges ahead.
At the core of the campus culture is the Chien-shiung Spirit, which is fostered through the establishment of the Chien-shiung Wu Museum, the Chien-shiung Wu Sculpture Square, the Research Institute of Chien-shiung Wu, as well as the launch of the “Chien-shiung Wu Festival”, and the “Chien-shiung Cup” college students debate contest, to name but a few. Dr. Chien-shiung Wu’s “undying spirit of patriotism, innovative spirit of courageous exploration, scientific spirit of seeking truth from facts and self-discipline spirit of modesty and frugality” are in line with the craftsman spirit of pursuing perfection both in skill and character. These h**e become shared values for both the teachers and students of this institute.
(Written by Hu Weiding)
Chapter Three Revered Scholars and Personages
In the past one hundred years, Chien-shiung Institute of Technology had been home to numerous renowned teachers and high-achieving graduates. Among those celebrated alumni were national pillars, revolutionary heroes, academicians, educators, business giants and famous artists, creating the most valuable spiritual wealth for CSIT.
Yuan Xitao (1866-1930), originally from Baoshan district of Shanghai, passed the provincial Imperial Examinations in the autumn of 1897. He was well-known across the whole regions in the south of the Yangtze River and became a master educator. In 1907, Mr. Yuan participated in the establishment of Taicang Prefecture High School, and served as the school's principal, thus becoming the first president ever in the 100-year history of Chien-shiung Institute of Technology. In 1912, Yuan Xitao started to serve in the Ministry of Education of the Republic of China under the invitation of Cai Yuanpei, ultimately becoming the acting Minister of the ministry. During his service, he had been an active advocate of Mr. Cai’s rectification and reform effort at Peking University. From the Imperial Academy to this holy land of education, he had served his people whole-heartedly with all he had.
Tang Wenzhi (1865-1954), also known as Weihou and Weizhi, was born in Taicang, Jiangsu province. In 1892, he became a successful candidate in the highest Imperial Examinations. He was one of the important advocates of the National Self-Strengthening Movement (洋务运动) in the late Qing Dynasty. in August 1907, he was appointed as President of Shanghai Higher Industrial School (formerly known
as Nanyang College, the predecessor of Jiaotong University). He was in charge of Shanghai Jiaotong University for 13 years and Wuxi Sinology Specialized School for 30 years. Many renowned scholars and science and technology elites were his students. In 1908, he was elected as the president of Jiangsu Education Association. In 1909 he also became principal of Taicang Prefecture High School.
Hu Juewen (1895-1989), born in Jiading District of Shanghai, was one of the first graduates of Taicang Prefecture High School. He was a famous patriotic democrat, political activist and outstanding industrialist. After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, he was joined by Huang Yanpei and others to launch China National Democratic Construction Association, a political group that united the business sector, and resolutely become part of the democratic movements. After the liberation of China in 1949, he became a member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC, and vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee. In 1983, he returned to Taicang to visit his alma mater. Here was a democratic leader who fought hard to s**e the nation through engaging in industry.
Zhou Hui (1919-2004), originally from Guannan of Jiangsu Province, graduated from Taicang Normal School in 1937. He joined the Communist Party of China in May 1938. After the liberation of China in 1949, he successively served as deputy secretary, executive deputy secretary, acting first secretary of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the CPC, first secretary of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Party Committee, deputy minister of Ministry of Transport, and member of the CPC Central Advisory Commission. A pragmatic man, he spoke out loudly for his fellow people. Here was a fearless man who g**e his all to his people till his heart ceased to beat.
Qian Diqian (1919-1989), born in Taicang of Jiangsu Province, graduated from Taicang Nornal School in 1932, and was a member of the CPC. He entered Shanbei Public School in March 1938 and began his revolutionary career there. During the war of liberation, he was awarded the Medal of People's Meritorious Servant for fighting in the battles in the north, west and southwest of Henan province. In the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, he fought br**ely in five battles including battle of Triangle Hill. He served as vice-president of the National Defense University in 1985 and was awarded the rank of lieutenant general in 1988. Here was a general who shed his blood in fighting for his country.
Revolutionary Martyrs
Pan Shulun (1915-1942), born in Yixing, Jiangsu Province, studied at Taicang Nornal School during the Anti-Japanese War. He stopped school, joined the army and went to Yan'an to fight against the Japanese invaders. In 1942, he led a small group of soldiers to transport supplies, when he was unfortunately captured by the Japanese. He stood firm against severe torture and sacrifice his life for the cause he held dear.
Ge Ba (1916-1948), born in Qidong, Jiangsu Province, was a member of the CPC. He entered Taicang Normal School in January 1939 when it was moved to Shanghai. In 1941, he was appointed deputy instructor of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political Cadre School of the Fourth Subdistrict. In 1947, he was appointed secretary of the Qidong District Party Committee and battalion commander of the guerrilla battalion of the district. In 1948, he g**e his life in glory in the battle of Huilong Town.
Ren Yangsheng (1927-1948) was born in Jiading, Shanghai. In 1945, he studied at Taicang Normal School and organized student movements. After graduation, he took a teaching job at the affiliated primary school of Taicang Nornal School as a cover to carry out missions of the Taicang Nornal School CPC Underground Party. In March 1948, near Zhujiaqiao in Pudong, he was suddenly surrounded by more than 100 reactionary armed soldiers. He met the ambush calmly and fought br**ely till the last minute of his life.
Yang Xianxian (1934-1953), female, born in Taicang of Jiangsu Province, interrupted her studies in 1951 and joined the cultural work troupe of 67th Division of the 23rd Army of the Chinese People's Volunteers. She was only 19 when she died in 1953. The mother of this young heroine, so righteous and virtuous, donated all the martyrs' pension to the country.
Xi Pinheng (1932-1951), born in Taicang of Jiangsu Province, graduated from Taicang Normal School in the spring of 1949 and joined the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the CPC. During the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, he was awarded a medal for Third-grade Meritorious Service. On August 13, 1951, he died in a battle in Suncheon City of North Korea at the age of 20.
Zheng Guochang (Mar 30, 1914-Oct 12, 2012), born in Changshu of Jiangsu, was a renowned cell biologist who graduated from Taicang Nornal School in 1934. He received a doctor's degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1950 and returned resolutely to China after the founding of the People's Republic of China. He was elected a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1980 and was awarded the title of Senior Academician in 1998.
Wu Haoqing (Apr 22, 1914-Jul 18, 2010), born in Yixing of Jiangsu Province, taught in Taicang Nornal School in 1935. He was a pioneer in electrochemical research in China. He had been engaged in university chemistry teaching and research for more than 60 years. He had served as the executive director of the Chinese Chemical Society, a member of International Society of Electrochemistry, and a member of the standing editorial board of the Journal of Chemistry. He was elected a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1980.
Huang Shengnian (Feb 1932-Aug 2009), born in Taicang of Jiangsu Province, was a 1945 alumnus of Taicang Nornal School and a famous nuclear physicist. He won many national science and technology awards and participated twice in the IAEA's Prompt Fission Neutron Consultative Conference. He served as Director of Neutron Physics Laboratory of the Institute of Atomic Energy, Director of Science and Technology Commission of Institute of Nuclear Physics, and Director of Graduate Department of Nuclear Industry of Chinese Academy of Sciences. He was elected academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1991.
(Written by Bao Yuyu and Hu Chuanhong)
Chapter Four The Queen of Physics
To name an institute of higher learning after a scientist is unique in the history of China's higher education. This history-making scientist is Dr. Chien-shiung Wu, and the unprecedented institute is Chien-shiung Institute of Technology.
Dr. Chien-shiung Wu and the Crape Myrtle Tree
Dr. Chien-shiung Wu (May 31, 1912.-Feb 16, 1997), was born in a scholarly family in Liuhe Town of Taicang, Jiangsu Province. As an experimental physicist and a world's top female scientist, she was known as “Queen of Nuclear Research” and “Madame Curie of China”. She made a worldwide contribution in the research of β decay, verifying for the first time the theory of parity non-conservation in weak interactions put forward by Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen-Ning Yang, thus pushing the two young scientists onto the Nobel Prize podium.
Chien-shiung Wu finished primary school at Mingde Women's Vocational Remedial School founded by her father Wu Zhongyi. She was admitted to Suzhou No.2 Women's Normal School in 1923, and was recommended to study at the National Central University in 1929 because of her excellent performance at school. She went to study in the United States in 1936 and received a doctor's degree from the University of California in 1940. She married Dr. Yuan Jialiu in 1942, took part in the Manhattan Project in 1944, became a professor at Columbia University in 1958, and received the honorary doctorate of science from Princeton University in the same year. She was elected an academician of the American Academy of Sciences. Since 1972, she had been employed as a tenured Michael I. Pupin Professor at Columbia University. She was elected President of American Physical Society (APS) in 1975 and was the first female president of APS in history. In the same year, she was awarded the National Medal of Science, which is the highest scientific honor in the United States. She became the first Israeli Wolff Prize winner in 1978. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, Dr. Chien-shiung Wu returned to China many times and had been employed as honorary professor of Nanjing University, Peking University, Southeast University, China University of Science and Technology and member of the Academic Committee of the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 1990, the newly discovered asteroid numbered 2752 was named “2752 Wu Chien-Shiung” by Nanjing Purple Mountain Observatory of Chinese Academy of Sciences.
On February 16, 1997, Dr. Chien-shiung Wu completed her legendary life and passed away in New York. Following her wishes, people buried her beside the crape myrtle tree planted by her father in her hometown. The crape myrtle has been and will always be a constant reminder of her extraordinary life.
2. Dr. Chien-shiung Wu and Chien-shiung Institute of Technology
The establishment of Chien-shiung Institute of Technology originated from Dr. Chien-shiung Wu's long-cherished dream. She had deep attachment to her motherland and passionate love for her hometown. In 1984, when visiting her hometown, she said to town officials that “Taicang has such advantageous location, close to both the sea and the Yangtze River. Can we make full use of the f**orable conditions to establish a university and train talents?” She repeatedly mentioned this dream. After she passed sway, Dr. Yuan Jialiu, following his wife's legacy, proposed the idea of establishing Chien-shiung Wu University during his visit to Taicang Normal School on October 9, 1997. On June 10, 1999, he wrote special reports to the Ministry of Education of China and Jiangsu Provincial People's Government, putting forward officially the initiative of setting up a university in Taicang.
On July 15, 2004, Jiangsu Provincial People's Government approved the proposal of establishing Suzhou Chien-shiung Institute of Technology through amalgamation of Jiangsu Taicang Normal School, Jiangsu Radio and Television University Taicang Branch, and Taicang Industrial School. Hence the first institution of higher learning in Taicang's history was born. Carrying forward its three predecessors' ende**or and cultural legacy that had been cherished for a century, Chien-shiung Institute of Technology has been making every solid step toward greatness. Against all odds, the institute now stands tall in Loudong, fulfilling the noblest dream of a great soul.
(Written by Hu Chuanhong and Ding Kai)
Chapter Five Grand Celebrations
Since its establishment, CSIT has adhered to the localization practice of the dual system of vocational training in Germany, as an effort to highlight its educational characteristics, enhance its competitiveness and expand its visibility. For more than a decade, the torch of teaching and learning has been passed on, and the campus has witnessed grand celebrations for its successes at different stages.
On September 8, 2004, the grand opening ceremony of Chien-shiung Institute of Technology was held, which opened a new chapter in the history of modern education in Taicang. More than 1,000 people attended the opening ceremony, including officials from the Ministry of Education of China, Education Department of Jiangsu, Suzhou Municipal Education Bureau, Taicang City Government, Nanjing University, Southeast University, etc., Dr. Chien-shiung Wu's friends, as well as representatives of Taicang’s enterprises and institutions.
On June 10-11, 2007, the 2007 National Higher Vocational and Technical Education Forum was held at CSIT under the auspices of China Association of Higher Education, Chinese Society of Vocational and Technical Education, and Chinese Society of Educational Development Strategy Association. Three leaders from the Ministry of Education of China, Wang Mingda, Zhou Yuanqing and Hao Keming, hosted the forum. More than 200 people attended the event, who were from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, Peking University, Nanjing University, Southeast University, Consulate General of Germany in Shanghai, as well as government leaders at all levels, business representatives and relatives of Dr. Chien-shiung Wu. The dual-system vocational education model of Chien-shiung Institute of Technology was praised by the participating experts as a "model" for higher vocational education in China.
In 2007 and 2012, the institute received two rounds of assessments of work by the Ministry of Education of China. By listening to evaluation reports, paying on-site visits, holding seminars, and conducting skill tests and professional analysis, etc., the assessment experts graded the institute as "excellent" in regard to all the 14 evaluation indicators. The assessment group believed that the institute had clear outcomes and accurate positioning in its distinctive provision of education, which led to remarkable results. The localized dual-system of innovative talent cultivation model was also highly praised.
Wu Meicun, born in Taicang of Jiangsu Province, ranked first in the Metropolitan Examinations and second place in the in the Palace Examination in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. He was leader of the Restoration Society, another great poet to h**e recorded history via poetry after Du Fu. He created the "Meicun Style", known at the time as the style of the "Loudong School", which won him the honor of one of the "three great poets in the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River" along with Qian Qianyi and Gong Dingzi. His highly-regarded long poem Song to Chen Yuanyuan is hailed as a masterpiece written in the Qing Dynasty.
The year 2009 marked the 400th anniversary of the birth of Wu Meicun. On June 2nd, the Wu Meicun 400th Anniversary Commemorative Conference and Commemoration Activities was held by CSIT under the auspices of Taicang CPPCC. Present at the event were the main leaders of Taicang City, Wu Meicun research experts and scholars from all over the country, and more than 100 teachers and students from our institute. During the conference, the Loudong Culture Research Institute was inaugurated and Wu Meicun Online Website launched. At the commemorative conference, Professor Ye Junyuan of Renmin University of China, renowned critic Wang Zhenyu, and literary historian Ling Dingnian delivered keynote speeches.
A Chronicle of the Dual System
In 2001, witnessed by both prime ministers from China and Germany, the two governments signed a contract to build the Taicang German Technician Training Center (DAWT), which was listed in The Memorabilia of Sino-German Vocational Education Cooperation (1980-2017). In 2007, German Ministry of Economic Affairs And Ministry of Commerce of China awarded Taicang the title of Sino-German Enterprise Cooperation Base. In 2013, Taicang city government invested 180 million yuan to expand the DAWT. In 2015, the AHK Sino-German Dual-system Vocational Training Demonstration and Promotion Base and the AHK German Dual Vocational Training Alliance were established. CSIT was designated as the permanent president unit by AHK. In 2016, the first-ever “Dual-System Training Institute” of China was established; in 2017, CSIT became a global network cooperation unit of Sino-German Dual Vocational Training (VETnet) authorized by the German Ministry of Education and Research, and a German Meister Training and Global Certification unit.
CSIT serves as the higher vocational education teacher training base of the Education Department of Jiangsu. It provides program design, curriculum construction and teacher training for "dual system cross-enterprise training centers" for 67 units from 17 provinces and cities across the country. It also formulates and promotes the 7 quality standards of the dual system. In 2014, the paper Research and Practice on the Talent-cultivating Model of Fixed-Employment and Dual-System won second state-level prize for "Outstanding Achievements in Education". In 2018, the institute was awarded the title of “2018 Top 50 Asia-Pacific Vocational Colleges”.
6. Promotion of the Chien-shiung Spirit
In 2012, the institute held the commemorative series of the 100th anniversary of Dr. Chien-shiung Wu's birthday. The events included the donation ceremony of Mr. Jiang Caijian's original manuscript of the book Biography of Dr. Chien-shiung, the completion of the bronze statue at the Chien-shiung Wu Square, the inauguration of the Dr. Chien-shiung Wu museum, the release ceremony of the photo album Dr. Chien-shiung Wu, and the forum on "Inheriting the Spirit of Dr. Chien-shiung Wu to Establish A Good Model for Higher Vocational Education", etc. The events were reported by a host of mainstream media such as CCTV, People's Daily Overseas Edition, Guangming Daily, China Youth Daily and Chinanews.com. Thus the Chien-shiung Spirit was further promoted.
7. The 10th Anniversary Celebration
In 2014, 10 years after its establishment, Chien-shiung Institute of Technology won over 100 awards, including a second state-level prize of outstanding achievements in higher education, and a host of provincial-level grand prizes. The institute held a 10-year achievements exhibition, which reviewed its ende**or to explore the localization of the dual-system, the integration of "government, industry, enterprise and school", school-enterprise cooperation and innovation, as well as the late-development advantage of institutional mechanisms for local higher vocational schools. The promotional film named Ten Years at CSIT played at the ceremony best summarized the enterprising spirit all our teachers and students displayed in the past 10 years. 12 mainstream media including Xinhua News Agency, Guangming Daily and China News Service gathered in Loudong to tell the stories about the unique features and successful innovations happening here at Chien-shiung Institute of Technology.
On February 12, 2015, the State-level Outstanding Achievements in Education Awarding Ceremony was held in the Academic Conference Hall of the East Campus. Present at the event were the executive vice president of the Chinese Society of Education, the director of the Higher Education Division of Jiangsu Education Department, the acting consul general of the Consulate General of Germany in Shanghai, chief representative of the AHK Shanghai, the director of Vocational Education of AHK Shanghai, and representatives of Taicang German-funded enterprises, etc. By adheres to the localization and innovation of the German dual-system vocational training, CSIT had won one state-level prize of Outstanding Achievements in Education and six provincial-level prizes of Outstanding Achievements in Education.
In August 2011, Chien-shiung Institute of Technology was selected as a target school by Jiangsu Province to be constructed into a demonstration school, beardly 8 years after its establishment. In October 2015, the project was officially approved and the process started. CSIT then fully started the construction work of a provincial demonstration school, setting up a demonstration construction organization, defining the objectives, standardizing the specific work and timetable, and breaking down the tasks to 9 subprojects, 107 tasks and 874 examination items. The institute had organized over 30 seminars and special inspection meetings to ensure the quality and progress of the project. The construction of a provincial demonstration school had become the direction and driving force for the institute.
The Chinese Student Shuttlecock Championship is a national-level event and the most standardized and highest level national single-sport event in shuttlecock campus cultural activities. The 2017 event was hosted by our institute. 38 teams from Beijing College of Sports, South-Central University for Nationalities and Guangdong Communication Polytechnic and other schools participated in the competition. Also present at the event were officials and guests from Student Sports Association of the Ministry of Education of China, Federation of University Sports of China (FUSC), Jiangsu Provincial Education Department, Sports Bureau and Taicang City government. The first-ever championship of such high level that our institute had ever hosted was a great success, thanks to the support of all distinguished guests, generous audience and especially competitive athletes for presenting such a great event.
(Written by Chen Dongsheng and Zhu Xueliang)
The essence of an institute of higher learning lies in its culture that nurtures the mind and soul of a young learner, and its sole aim should be about helping a human being to develop and perfect themselves. The 110-year history of Chien-shiung Institute of Technology and the Chien-shiung Spirit create a spiritual home for everyone of this institute. From the Chien-shiung Wu Museum to the School History Museum, from the Knowledge Square to the Chien-shiung Sculpture Square, from the Loudong Culture Wall to the 13 Academicians Wall, each and every cultural icon on campus is telling tales of our educational dreams. In this ever-stretching cultural landscape, students relish the memory of history and march forward toward their dreams.
Chien-shiung Wu Museum
Chien-shiung Wu Museum is a small garden-like courtyard typical in the south of the Yangtze River with winding paths, carved galleries, willow banks, flying waterfalls, red flowers and green le**es. The museum displays a collection of Dr. Chien-shiung Wu’s personal items such as her cheongsams, typewriters, manuscripts, letters, and exclusive pictures of her life at different stages. In addition, the exhibits include the manuscript of A Biography of Chien-shiung Wu , written by Jiang Caijian, a scholar from Taiwan. Since its opening on May 31, 2012, an **erage of 5,000 guests each year h**e visited the museum, greeted by the blooming crape myrtle flowers in the court on autumn mornings, always humble and elegant. Chien-shiung Wu Museum has won 13 honors including Cultural Communication Base for Overseas Chinese of China, Suzhou Municipal Patriotism Education Base and Taicang Primary and Secondary School Moral Education Base.
2. School History Museum
Opened on October 20, 2012, the school history museum keeps a record of the birth of Taicang Normal School since 1907 and the glorious journey of Chien-shiung Institute of Technology from 2004 to 2018. It showcases the hard work, determination and passion of faculties and students in their relentless exploration and innovation. In the form of words, pictures together with multimedia, each of the nine exhibition areas presents from multiple perspectives to visitors our hundred-year long history of education, the ups and downs the three predecessor schools experienced, and the achievements CSIT has made in teaching and research. The museum also has a collection of documents about the underground party in the 38th year of the Republic of China (1949), the school badge of the 1940s, art manuscripts of the early 1950s and other precious documents of literature and history.
Loudong Culture Wall is located in the long corridor of the Wu Garden, which is a garden typically found in the south of the Yangtze River area. The eastern corridor shows Loudong culture in the form of bronze reliefs, including the inscriptions of A Record for the Five Men's Tomb written by Zhang Pu, a late Ming man of letters and leader of the Restoration Society, the folk legend of the Cowherd and We**ing Maid, which was originated in Taicang, and Wu Xiaobang, the father of Chinese modern dance. A Record for the Five Men's Tomb eulogizes Suzhou citizens' resistance to oppression in history. The story of the Cowherd and We**ing Maid praises sincere, pure and faithful love, while Wu Xiaobang's story shows us how the father of Chinese modern dance pursued his artistic ideals through dance and how he explored the true meaning of life. The west corridor displays landscape paintings of Wang Shimin, Wang Jian, Wang Hui and Wang Yuanqi, the "Four Wangs of Loudong", who were regarded as "authentic artists" by royals of the Qing Dynasty. They created what was known as the Loudong School of Painting in the history of Chinese art.
4. The Thirteen Academicians Wall
In the history of Taicang, there were 13 academicians, 3 of whom were alumni of Taicang Normal School and 11 were born in Taicang. The academician wall is located in the hall of the Chien-shiung Wu Library, greeting every teacher and student passing by. The inheritance and innovation of those academicians' spirit run in the veins of the people here. Their stories encourage and inspire everyone at this institute to devote themselves to learning and make unremitting efforts to make their shared hopes and dreams a reality.
Chien-shiung Wu (May 31, 1912.-Feb 16, 1997), born in Taicang of Jiangsu Province, was a well-known nuclear physicist who has made worldwide contributions to the research of β decay. She is known as “Chinese Madame Curie” and “Queen of Nuclear Physics”. As the first female president American Physical Society (APS) in history, she was also a participant of the Manhattan Project. She was elected as one of the first foreign academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 1994.
Zheng Guochang (Mar 30, 1914-Oct 12, 2012), born in Changshu of Jiangsu, was a renowned cell biologist who graduated from Taicang Nornal School in 1934. He received a doctor's degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1950 and returned resolutely to China after the founding of the People's Republic of China. He was elected a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1980 and was honored the title of Senior Academician in 1998.
Wu Haoqing (Apr 22, 1914-Jul 18, 2010), born in Yixing of Jiangsu Province, taught in Taicang Nornal School in 1935. He was a pioneer in electrochemical research in China. He had been engaged in university chemistry teaching and research for more than 60 years. He had served as the executive director of the Chinese Chemical Society, a member of International Society of Electrochemistry, and a member of the standing editorial board of the Journal of Chemistry. He was elected a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1980.
Gu Maoxiang (Jan 25, 1923-May 21, 1996), born in Taicang of Jiangsu Province, was a member of the CPC, an expert in ship performance research and design technology, a pioneer in China's high-performance ship technology research and teaching, and a founder of ship anti-roll technology. He was the first to use experiments to ensure the birth of an open-top container ship. He was elected academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 1995.
Zou Shichang (1931.07.27-), born in Taicang, Jiangsu Province, is a material scientist. He carried out research on ion beam modification of materials and ion beam analysis in China. He was the first to apply ion implantation to semiconductor integrated circuits. He was also the first to establish ion backscatter channel technology and applied it to semiconductor materials and devices. He was elected a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1991.
Tang Xiaowei (Oct, 1931-), born in Taicang of Jiangsu Province, is a nuclear and high-energy physicist. He is mainly engaged in the research of nuclear physics, high energy experimental physics, cross-disciplinary fields of physics and other disciplines, and has made multiple breakthroughs. He was elected a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1980.
Huang Shengnian (Feb 1932-Aug 2009), born in Taicang of Jiangsu Province, was a 1945 alumnus of Taicang Nornal School and a famous nuclear physicist. He won many national science and technology awards and participated twice in the IAEA's Prompt Fission Neutron Consultative Conference. He served as Director of Neutron Physics Laboratory of the Institute of Atomic Energy, Director of Science and Technology Commission of Institute of Nuclear Physics, and Director of Graduate Department of Nuclear Industry of Chinese Academy of Sciences. He was elected academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1991.
Tang Xiaoyan (1932.10-), born in Taicang of Jiangsu Province, is an expert in environmental science, an academic leader in the field of atmospheric environmental chemistry in China, and a founder of China's environmental chemistry. She has made outstanding contributions in the field of atmospheric environmental chemistry. She was elected a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1995.
Lu Youmei (Jan 7, 1934-), born in Taicang of Jiangsu Province, has long been engaged in the technical and management work of water conservancy and hydropower engineering construction. He has organized the construction of many major hydropower projects, including the Three Gorges, the Liujiaxia Dam, the Yanguoxia Dam, Shiquan, Ankang and Longyang Gorge and has solved a series of major engineering and technical problems. He was elected academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 2003.
Wu Jianping (Apr 4, 1934-Dec 23, 2012), a neurophysiologist from Taicang of Jiangsu Province, proved for the first time that the fiber terminals from the ventrolateral thalamic nucleus neurons h**e direct synaptic connections with the fast pyramidal tract neurons in the cerebral cortex. He was elected a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1991.
Gong Zhiben (Nov 28, 1935-), born in Taicang of Jiangsu Province, is an expert in atmospheric optics and a pioneer in applied atmospheric optics in China. He has made outstanding contributions to the research on laser atmospheric transmission and its correction, laser atmospheric detection and high-resolution atmospheric absorption spectroscopy, and has promoted the development of atmospheric optics. He was elected academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 2003.
Yang Shengli (Jan 5, 1941-), born in Taicang of Jiangsu Province, is a biotechnology expert. He is mainly engaged in the research of system biology and its application in biotechnology. He has made outstanding contributions to the application research and development of genetic engineering in enzyme, fermentation and pharmaceutical industries and the research of metabolic engineering. He was elected academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering in 1997.
Steven Chu (Feb 28, 1948-), born in Taicang of Jiangsu Province, is engaged in the world's most advanced research on the technology of cooling and trapping atoms using laser light. He won the Nobel Prize in physics in 1997. He was 12th Secretary of Energy of the US. He was elected a foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1998.
5. Chien-shiung Wu Sculpture Square
On the occasion of Dr. Chien-shiung Wu's centennial of birthday, the institute held the inauguration ceremony of the bronze statue of Dr. Chien-shiung Wu. The bronze statue is located by the Xinjing Lake surrounded by pine trees and cypresses. The statue shows her dressed in her Doctoral Gown, looking far away with the most benevolent countenance. The bronze statue is 3.8 meters high, with a base of 3.2 meters, a total height of 7 meters and a weight of nearly 8 tons. It was designed and produced by Professor Zhang Yonghao, Dr. Wu's former friend and famous sculptor. According to Professor Zhang, the bronze statue depicted what Dr. Wu looked like when she visited the White House in 1975 to received the National Medal of Science from former U.S. President Gerald R. Ford. Chien-shiung Wu Sculpture Square has become the venue for holding graduation ceremonies and other major events every year.
The Knowledge Square is located on the east bank of the Xinjing Lake. The main landscape consists of three granite pillars and a wall of relief sculptures, majestic and solemn. The east side of the relief wall is engr**ed with the school motto and the three values of the school, the teaching and the learning of our institute. The west side are historical and cultural relief sculptures of Taicang, displaying cultural elements of Loudong such as Zheng He's Seven Voyages to the West, southern Chinese silk and bamboo music, the Cowherd and We**ing Maid, scientific giant Dr. Chien-shiung Wu, etc. Standing tall, the three pillars include a pillar of Chinese characters, a pillar of numbers and a pillar of world languages. The spiral structure of the pillar takes the form of numerous books placed on top of one another to create stairs of knowledge leading up high into the sky of dreams, dynamic, spectacular and awe-inspiring. The pillar of Chinese characters writes a splendid chapter of the 5,000 years history of China. The pillar of numbers and the pillar of world languages reflect the evolution of human civilizations, bringing out the relationship between the rich cultural traditions of human beings and the cultural matrix. The Knowledge Square implies that the only way to a bright future is though the stairs of knowledge.
7. The Stone Inscriptions of the Academician Culture
On the 95th anniversary of Dr. Chien-shiung Wu's birth, Prof. Feng Duan, Prof. Zou Shichang, Prof. Tang Xiaoyan, Prof. Wu Jianping, Prof. Gong Zhiben, Prof. Li Fanghua and Prof. Yan Lu, then academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Dr. Yuan Weicheng, son of Dr. Chien-shiung Wu, offered their inscriptions to commemorate Dr. Chien-shiung Wu and to place great hopes on our institute. Those Academician's messages were inscribed on stones to be displayed on both sides of the Chien-shiung Wu Avenue. Those silent words, eroded by the relentless years, are going to be just as vivid and shining to be a constant source of inspiration for students here at Chien-shiung Institute of Technology.
(Written by Wang Chaohui and Zhu Xueliang)
Chapter Seven The Pursuit of Ethics and Character
1. The CSIT Strategy for Development
Drawing on its advantages. The advantages of CSIT lie in its f**orable system of organization as a local higher vocational school, the Sino-German business cooperation base it has established jointly, the Chien-shiung Spirit it holds dear, and its proximity to the Yangtze River, Shanghai and the east coast.
Adhering to its educational philosophy. We seek to make breakthroughs through the integration of government, production, learning and research, to promote innovation via the localization of the dual system, to improve ourselves in practicing the Chien-shiung Spirit, and to develop while making contributes to the local economy.
Highlighting its characteristics. What makes CSIT stand out are its development mode of integrating government, industry, enterprise and school, the fixed-employment and dual-system in skill training, the promotion of Chien-shiung Spirit in moral cultivation, and the integration of resources in serving local development.
Defining its aims. CSIT's aims are to be a demonstration base for the construction of a training system that features the cooperation of government, production, learning and research in higher vocational schools, a demonstration base for the localization and innovation of Germany's dual-system vocational training model, a demonstration base for the integration of outstanding school-based cultural resources into the quality education system, and a demonstration base for higher vocational schools to gather resources to serve local economic and social development.
School motto:
Ethics through responsibility, character through discipline.
The first part of the school motto is derived from The Book of Changes, which says that "He**en, in its motion, gives the idea of strength. The superior man, in accordance with this, nerves himself to ceaseless activity. The capacity and sustaining power of the Earth is shown in The Magnetic. The superior man embrace all men and things with his great virtue." It means a man needs to be constantly pursuing moral virtue to be able to tolerate everything. The second part originated from the statement "to return to the realm of nothingness, and to build character through discipline ", which is from the Greatness and Nothingness chapter of The Style of Poetry, written by Sikong Tu of the Tang Dynasty. to build character through discipline requires a person to start small, and to keep learning and building their character, which will lead to greatness.
Dr. Tsung-Dao Lee summed up Dr. Chien-shiung Wu's extraordinary life in “ethics through responsibility, character through discipline.”, which accurately grasped Dr. Wu's personality. The second part of the motto bears Dr. Chien-shiung Wu's name, which reflects fully Dr. Wu's spirit and has thus become a pursued value here at CSIT.
School value: Valuing Morality, Practicality and Innovation.
Emphasizing the cultivation of moral integrity, hard work, initiative, innovation and the unity of knowledge and action.
Teaching value: Advocating ethics and devotion, seeking the supreme good and truth.
Advocating professional ethics of an educator, h**ing a great passion and devotion for the cause of education, seeking the supreme good and truth, being courageous to explore.
Learning value: Valuing virtue, diligence, ability and perfection.
H**ing reason, cherishing morality, being diligent and studious, advocating the cultivation of ability, striving for perfection, and combining intelligence with character.
The school motto and the three values are a comprehensive display of the Chien-shiung spirit, and is the foundation and soul of CSIT.
The Chien-shiung Spirit
The undying spirit of patriotism.
The innovative spirit of courageous exploration.
The scientific spirit of seeking truth from facts.
The self-discipline spirit of modesty and frugality.
The school anthem of CSIT sing the praises of youth, passion, ambitions and aspirations of everyone here at CSIT. Hand in hand, confident and proud teachers and students march while singing the anthem toward the dreamland of tomorrow.
School anthem of CSIT: Character Through Discipline
School Logo
The school logo expresses our vision in a most concise way. The logo of CSIT consists of 6 sail-shaped patterns in two parts. The channel between the two parts symbolizes the location of our institute, which is at the end of the Yangtze River and at the start of the sea. The upper left part resembles the shape of letter "J", while in combination, the two parts take the shape of letter "X", which form the initials of Jiang Xiong, the Chinese Pinyin for Chien-shiung. As the school color of CSIT, blue in the background of the logo symbolizes the sea that the institute faces, suggesting that we are forever prepared to embrace the whole world.
School Badge
The circular-shaped school badge consists of both the Chinese and English names of CSIT, featuring the colors blue and white.
(Written by Bao Yuyu, Zhu Xueliang and Deng Quanming)
Chapter Eight The Sino-German Cooperation
The dual system, the most eye-catching feature about the integration of production and education, is CSIT's trump card. It is originated from the dual-system vocational training mode in Germany and is the secret of the popularity of German manufacturing in the world.
1. Fixed-employment and the Dual System
Fixed-employment and dual-system refers to the participation of enterprises in the whole process of personnel training, forming a training pattern featuring dual-body trainers, schools and enterprises, and dual-identity trainees, students and apprentices, thus realizing the joint cultivation of talents, joint process management, as well as achievement and responsibility sharing. This is a unique Chinese model of dual system formed on the basis of the innovative localization of the German dual system.
2. The Formation of the Fixed-employment and Dual-system Mode
In 1993, Taicang Industrial School, one of the predecessors of CSIT, established a school-enterprise partnership with Taicang's first German-funded enterprise Kern-Libers Co., Ltd., and jointly built Taicang's first German enterprise professional workers training center. In 2006, CSIT cooperated with Schaeffler Group, a world top 500 enterprise, to carry out the Sino-German dual system project, introducing the dual system and starting the localization practice.
In 2007, the AHK-CSI Professional and Technical Workers Training Center was jointly established by the Taicang People's government, AHK Shanghai, local German enterprises and CSIT. The educational standards of dual system of vocational training in Germany was introduced, including regulations, outlines, management and operation system of the training center, to train technical personnel for German enterprises in the fields of mechanical and electrical equipment, precision machinery manufacturing and other specialties. This is a landmark achievement of CSIT's effort in in-depth cooperation between production and education, which won the Special Prize for Outstanding Achievements in Higher Education granted by Jiangsu Provincial People's Government, and the second state-level prize for Outstanding Achievements in Education.
3. The Promotion of the Fixed-employment and Dual-system Mode
In 2015, in view of the achievements and contributions made by CSIT in the field of the dual-system localization practice, AHK and the CSIT jointly established the AHK Sino-German Dual-system Vocational Training Demonstration and Promotion Base and the AHK German Dual Vocational Training Alliance. As the "president unit", CSIT is committed to the establishment of a dual system promotion mechanism and the formulation of standards. In 2016, the institute set up a dual-system training college. In 2017, AHK set up a German MEISTER training base at CSIT, and Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) granted CSIT a dual-system global network (VETnet) cooperation unit. Beside, our institute is also a dual-system teacher training base for secondary and higher vocational education in Jiangsu Province. In 2018, CSIT was awarded the title "Top 50 Asia-Pacific Vocational Colleges".
(Written by Zhao Jianzhong and Wang Chaohui)
Chapter Nine The Model Institute
From the localization practice of Germany's dual system, we realized all too well that the spirit of the craftsman is a kind of professional ethics culture, which stresses professionalism, concentration, refinement and innovation, and is the spiritual and technical source for the advancement of Chinese manufacturing. Therefore, we continues to explore ways to train craftsmen for a modern China and to carry forward the exemplary effect of the craftsman spirit.
1. The Demonstration Effect of The Dual-system's Innovative Localization
When the institute was established, there were 68 German enterprises in Taicang, which grew to more than 300 in 2018. The dual-system personnel training of CSIT has undoubtedly played an irreplaceable role in the introduction German enterprises into China and their development. The reception of investment visits from domestic and overseas enterprises has become a routine work of ours. We h**e being training teachers in the practice of the dual system for the whole country, designing cross-enterprise training centers, and guiding the reform of dual-system courses. Our seven quality standards for the localization of the dual system h**e passed the preliminary examination of relevant national departments. The fixed-employment and dual-system talent training mode has generated a demonstration effect in the innovative localization of Germany's dual system of vocational training.
2. The Demonstration Effect of School-Locality Integrated Development.
The effectiveness of the institute’s practice to integrate local development in its own has attracted the attention of the Development Research Center of the State Council, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Commerce and other departments. Leaders of Guangdong, Sichuan, Liaoning and other local governments led delegations to our institute to study and investigate. During his visit to our institute in August 2018, the Governor of Jiangsu Province commented that the dual-system talent training mode had been successful in practice, and that further efforts should be made to expand the scale to train more and better highly-skilled talents for enterprises. CSIT has brought into full play the institutional advantages of local higher vocational, highlighted the characteristics of the integrated development of government, industry, enterprise and school, and has created a demonstration effect of the integrated and interactive development of schools and local places.
3. The Demonstration Effect of Quality Education Reform
The institute has established a school-based cultural platform, built a quality education center, published school-based moral education textbooks, and formed a professional quality training system guided by the spirit of Dr. Chien-shiung Wu. The Chien-shiung Spirit has become the cultural gene of our students. Helping to deliver the spirit are our school anthem “Character Through Discipline”, the Ode to CSIT, a well-known prose on campus, and visits to Chien-shiung Wu Museum which is the first lesson for freshmen students. CSIT has taken the advantage of its rich spiritual resources to highlight the characteristics of a quality education approach guided by the Chien-shiung Spirit, which has generated a demonstration effect for integrating excellent local culture into quality education.
4. The Demonstration Effect of Serving Local Development
As a county-level higher vocational institute, CSIT gains endless power to propel its own development from serving local development, which is also the main reason for the continuous investment from local governments. Over the years, CSIT has established a local service network, providing 35 types of service ranging from township science and technology services, community services, large-scale activities to precision poverty alleviation. In July 2017, Secretary of Jiangsu Provincial Party Committee spoke highly of our service to the local community. In highlighting its characteristics of gathering resources, CSIT has created a demonstration effect of higher vocational education serving local development.
(Written by Wu Jianhong and Fang Yun)
General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that "when there are prosperity and stability in prefectures and counties, there are prosperity and stability in the whole country." The foundation of a socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics lies in the counties, so are the vitality and challenges. China's counties cover 94% of the its territory, are home to 73% of its population and contribute 56% of its GDP. However, only 6% of the higher vocational colleges in China are located in counties. There is an increasing gap between the strong demand for talents and technology in these counties, and an unbalanced distribution of vocational schools which are largely underdeveloped.
1. Cultivating Craftsmen for China as a Major Country
Relying on the developed economy in the county areas and taking it as its own duty to train the technical and skilled talents urgently demanded by local areas, CSIT stands out among county-level higher vocational institutes by its large scope of school-locality integration, the great number of enterprises it benefited and by the deep connection with the local community. Passing on cultural heritage and serving local areas h**e become the long-term goal of our institute in carrying out General Secretary Xi Jinping's thoughts on county-level economic development, and we consider the integrated development mode of our institute and local areas as our greatest advantage. We are confident and capable to continue to p**e new paths for the integrated development of county-level vocational schools and local areas. In our exploration of a new Chinese mode of training craftsmen for a modern China, we will be able to provide county-level higher vocational schools across China a "Jiangsu solution".
Drawing on its cultural heritage over a century, its superior geographical conditions and the abundance of German enterprises around, CSIT has grown to be a model school holding fast to the dual-system and the spirit of the craftsman. In this new era with historical opportunities, we are designing new blueprints with new visions and setting a series of new goals: (1) To be ranked among the top 15 schools in Jiangsu by 2024, 20 years after the establishment of CSIT through merging, thus to be a first-class higher vocational school in Jiangsu with distinctive features; (2) To be ranked among the top 50 schools in the whole country in terms of social service and technological research and development by 2027, the school's 120th anniversary, thus to become a first-class institute nationwide with remarkable characteristics; and (3) To establish a comprehensive training system for applied technical personnel that meets the needs of social development, integrates production and teaching in depth, highlights the characteristics of the dual system, and fully connects junior high schools, senior high schools, colleges and graduate schools by 2034, 30 years after the establishment of CSIT through merging.
Ambitious while meticulous, every member of our faculty knows the importance of responsibility, faith, ethics, knowledge and love. They never cease to learn and improve themselves. They are determined to help every student at CSIT to acquire knowledge and skills, to develop their personality and character, and to be armed with what it takes to h**e a bright future.
One first investigates things, then extends knowledge, makes the will sincere, rectifies the mind, cultivates the person, regulates the family, governs the state well and brings peace to the world. Everyone here at CSIT will never forget why we started in the first place and what our missions are. We will try hard, put talent training at the center of our work, reform the way we teach, carry forward the spirit of the craftsman with innovation, and establish CSIT to be a high-level higher vocational school in this new era. We strive forward with determination to take CSIT to a new level.
(Written by Fang Yun)
