On November 16, the 2024 National Water Conservancy Engineering Discipline Alliance Conference, hosted by the National Water Conservancy Engineering Discipline Alliance and organized by the School of Civil Engineering and Hydraulic Engineering at Tsinghua University, was held in Beijing. More than 130 leaders, experts, and faculty members from nearly 60 universities, research institutes, and enterprises across the country, including the Department of International Cooperation and Science and Technology of the Ministry of Water Resources, Tsinghua University, Hohai University, and Wuhan University, attended the conference. ZHAO Jianshi and LIU Xiaoli, Vice Deans of the School of Civil Engineering and Hydraulic Engineering at Tsinghua University, presided over the conference.
ZHENG Jinhai, Chairman of the National Water Conservancy Engineering Discipline Alliance and President of Hohai University delivered a video address, expressing his heartfelt gratitude to all sectors of society for their longstanding support for the alliance’s construction and development. He shared three key reflections on strengthening the alliance: first, to adhere to integrity and innovation by leveraging the unique strengths of each institution’s disciplines, establishing joint training mechanisms for water conservancy engineering students, and innovating cross-university talent exchange systems to create a new educational framework that serves the water conservancy sector. Second, to embrace openness and collaboration by breaking down barriers between institutions and disciplines, setting up cross-university research platforms, facilitating innovation channels between enterprises and universities, and building a global center for water conservancy talent and innovation. Third, to pursue simultaneous reform and development by promoting the alliance from both domestic and international perspectives, deepening integration with industries, enterprises, and regions, enhancing cooperation with world-class universities and research institutions, and continually elevating the influence of water conservancy engineering disciplines.
LI Danxun, Head of the Department of Hydraulic Engineering at Tsinghua University, delivered a welcome speech, extending a warm welcome to the guests and representatives attending the National Water Conservancy Engineering Discipline Alliance. He emphasized that the National Water Conservancy Engineering Discipline Alliance embodies water conservancy professionals’ passion and solemn commitment to their discipline, industry, and mission. Since its establishment, member institutions have actively promoted communication and collaboration, strengthened unity and cooperation, and advanced the sustainable development of the water conservancy engineering discipline. He expressed hope that all member institutions would continue to learn from one another, work hand in hand, and jointly promote further development.
During the conference’s keynote report session, WANG Hongming, Director of the Second Division of the Department of International Cooperation and Science and Technology of the Ministry of Water Resources, XIN Pei, Director of the Development Planning and Discipline Construction Office at Hohai University, LIU Pan, Associate Dean (acting) of the School of Hydraulic Engineering and Hydroelectric Power at Wuhan University, LI Yanbin, Vice President of North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, YU Long, Party Secretary of the School of Civil Engineering at Dalian University of Technology, and XU Mengzhen, Deputy Party Secretary of the School of Civil Engineering and Hydraulic Engineering at Tsinghua University, each delivered keynote reports on topics such as building a water conservancy technology support system, the practice and reflections on the development of water conservancy disciplines, and the training of water conservancy talents.
The 2024 National Water Conservancy Engineering Discipline Alliance Conference, with the theme “Closely Serving National Strategic Needs and Promoting the Development of New Water Conservancy Productivity,” discussed how the water conservancy engineering discipline can proactively adapt to technological development and national strategic needs, deepen the integration of education, technology, and talent reforms, and how to collectively contribute the wisdom and strength of water conservancy to the construction of a strong educational nation.
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