Professor Chen Qiuming, secretary of the Party Committee of Shenzhen Technology University (SZTU), was invited to attend and deliver a report at the 2025 World University Presidents Forum and the 2025 International Forum on Higher Education held in Hangzhou from November 8 to 9.

Jointly organized by the China Association of Higher Education and Zhejiang University, the forums brought together university leaders and experts from around the globe to discuss pressing issues and future trends in higher education, focusing on “AI and the Future of Higher Education” and “Building an Education Power and Promoting Sustainable Development of Higher Education.”

2025 World University Presidents Forum & International Forum on Higher Education [Photo/China Association of Higher Education]

The event gathered more than 167 international participants from over 40 countries and regions across five continents, including university presidents, representatives of international organizations, government officials, and renowned scholars. Over 200 Chinese university leaders and nearly 1,000 experts and delegates from universities and research institutions attended the conference.

On November 9, Prof. Chen Qiuming delivered a keynote speech titled “Enhancing Technology Transfer Efficiency under the Transformation of University Development Logic.” He analyzed three aspects: the rise of new-model universities and the transformation of university operational logic, the shift in research paradigms and the commercialization of research findings, as well as SZTU’s practical experience in promoting technology transfer.

Chen noted that throughout history, each industrial revolution has driven the evolution of universities, and universities in turn have fueled industrial progress. In the era of AI and the Fourth Technological Revolution, he emphasized that new-model universities must achieve two major transformations — shifting their educational logic from pure academic pursuit to serving national and industrial needs, and evolving research paradigms from linear approaches to problem-oriented, demand-driven, and symbiotic models. These changes are essential to overcoming long-standing challenges in research commercialization.

Prof. Chen Qiuming addresses a speech. [Photo/China Association of Higher Education]

Chen also shared SZTU’s reform practices guided by its philosophy of “Application for Scholarship and Scholarship for Application.” Since its founding, the university has focused on cultivating innovative engineers skilled in identifying, defining, and solving real-world problems. SZTU aligns its academic development with national strategies and industrial transformation by building new disciplinary structures, optimizing faculty systems, reforming personnel evaluations, and deepening the integration of education, research, and industry. The university also promotes technology transfer by developing innovation belts, diversified funding networks, and talent cultivation mechanisms.

SZTU is comprehensively enhancing its connotation building, focusing on national strategic needs and industrial demands while formulating high-standard plans for the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The university will continue to deepen the integration of industry and education, as well as the synergy between science and education, exploring more effective pathways for the transformation of scientific and technological achievements. These efforts aim to contribute to the high-quality development of higher education and the transformation and upgrading of regional industries.

Drafted by Difien（詹进源）/ Class of 2027, College of New Materials and New Energies

Revised by Brian (郑斌)，Daisy（姚琦）/ International Cooperation and Exchanges Department

Edited by Brian (郑斌) / International Cooperation and Exchanges Department