Tianjin Uni celebrates 130th anniv. with focus on innovation, national progress

Tianjin University, China's first modern university, celebrated its 130th anniversary on Thursday. Faculty and students expressed their best wishes for the university and their dedication toward advancing higher education and national development through science and education.

"Standing at the new starting point of Tianjin University's 130th anniversary, I am committed to taking proactive steps and setting an example in building a world-class university with Chinese characteristics. I aim to make new and greater contributions to the development of a strong educational nation," said Sun Tao, director of the Intelligent Manufacturing Center and Party Secretary of the School of Mechanical Engineering at Tianjin University.

He emphasized the integration of moral education into the educational process, driven by the reform of new engineering education. This includes continuously developing core education platforms such as interdisciplinary project-based curricula, practice teaching centers that integrate industry, academia and research, and AI-enabled teaching platforms, to rapidly cultivate top-tier, innovative talent.

Yuan Yingjin, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, affirmed his research team's dedication to Tianjin University's motto of "seeking truth from facts" and demonstrating the university's commitment to national strength. Yuan's team has long been engaged in fields such as genome design and synthesis, synthetic cell construction, and DNA digital information storage.

"We will seize the strategic high ground in synthetic biology; gather interdisciplinary talent to tackle key core technologies; collaborate with leading enterprises to advance the commercialization of research outcomes, thus aiding the upgrade of the real economy; and cultivate talents with both scientific literacy and engineering capability," said Yuan, who is also the dean of the School of Synthetic Biology and Biomanufacturing at Tianjin University.

Ming Dong, vice president of Tianjin University and director of the Brain-computer Interaction and human-computer Integration Haihe Laboratory, expressed his commitment to leading the laboratory team in advancing the strategic frontier discipline of brain-computer interfaces. He emphasized the continuous strengthening of research platforms and talent development in this field, aiming to provide strong momentum for the industrialization of brain-computer interface technology in China and to make new contributions to meeting the country's major strategic needs.

"In this era, only innovators advance, only innovators become strong, and only innovators win. As a student of the new era, I feel a great sense of responsibility. We must bravely climb the peaks of technology and take the lead in overcoming 'bottleneck' technologies, contributing our youthful energy to the realization of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation!" said Qi Dehao, a student in the Measurement and Control Technology and Instrumentation program at the School of Precision Instruments and Optoelectronic Engineering.

Tan Lak Hon, an international student from Malaysia, shared that during his three years at Tianjin University, he gained not only extensive knowledge but also many unforgettable experiences and memories.

Last year marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China, and last month, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim visited Tianjin University.

"These two significant events have converged during my youth, strengthening my future direction—to integrate personal growth into the progress of the times, to transform cross-cultural exchanges into bridges and bonds, and to tell the story of Malaysia-China friendship," he said.

"In the future, I hope to continue strengthening my professional studies while actively engaging in Malaysia-China youth exchanges and cooperation, contributing to the relationship between the two countries with what I have learned. Tianjin University is not just a place for my studies; it is the starting point of my dreams. I am willing to use the power of youth to write a new chapter that belongs to me, to Tianjin University, and to Malaysia-China friendship," he added.