Nanjing University Hosts 3rd Yangtze River Delta Zhongying Young Scholars Forum

From May 31 to June 2, 2024, the 3rd Yangtze River Delta Zhongying Young Scholars Forum, sponsored by the Tang Zhongying Foundation and hosted by Nanjing University, was held at the Xianlin Campus. Ms. Zhu Li, Project Director of the Tang Zhongying Foundation, and Zou Yajun, Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee and Vice President of Nanjing University, attended the opening ceremony of the forum.

On behalf of Nanjing University, Zou Yajun extended a warm welcome to the guests and young scholars attending the event, and expressed sincere gratitude to the Tang Zhongying Foundation for its long-term care and support for Nanjing University. He introduced that Mr. Tang Zhongying and the Tang Zhongying Foundation have had a deep friendship with Nanjing University for more than 20 years, and the funding for our university covers student scholarships, infrastructure, teaching and research, and faculty teams. Nanjing University is grateful for this. He hopes that the majority of Zhongying young scholars can continue to work hard in their respective disciplines, integrate professional characteristics, innovative ideas, and the public welfare ideas and dedication of Tang members into professional research and public welfare services, and jointly promote the development of social public welfare undertakings.

Julie delivered a speech on behalf of the Tang Zhongying Foundation. She warmly congratulated the successful convening of the forum and thanked Nanjing University for its efforts in the preparation of the forum. Julie introduced the public welfare concept of the Tang Zhongying Foundation and the basic situation of various funding projects. She was particularly pleased to share the growth experience and public welfare stories of some students and young teachers funded by the Tang Zhongying Foundation. She emphasized that educating people is a long-term work. She hopes that young scholars will maintain close ties with the Tang family and maintain a healthy, positive and altruistic spiritual core on the road to future growth. Julie expects Zhongying young scholars from various schools to actively and continuously empower public welfare and charity, and make the people around them and the whole world a better place in the pursuit of their own excellence.

During the event, Sun Leqiang, director of the Publicity Department of the Party Committee of Nanjing University and professor of the Department of Philosophy, and Zhu Li jointly unveiled the plaque of Nanjing University Zhongying Society.

Representatives of the six participating Zhongying Young Scholars shared the progress of their projects and the special public welfare activities. Sun Leqiang spoke as a representative of the first Nanjing University Zhongying Young Scholars. He shared his understanding and growth in education and public welfare activities from the aspects of teaching, scientific research, service, and morality.

At the closing ceremony of this forum, Zou Yajun highly praised the outstanding performance of Zhongying young scholars from various schools. He fondly recalled the scene when he first met Mr. Tang Zhongying in 2002, and pointed out the hardships and difficulties of the older generation of entrepreneurs who worked hard outside and became industry leaders; he hoped that every Zhongying young scholar would be grateful and pass on the selfless love demonstrated by Mr. Tang and the Tang Zhongying Foundation. He hoped that scholars would continue to deepen exchanges and interactions under the united leadership of the Tang Zhongying Foundation, and reap more results in future academic activities and daily exchanges and cooperation, and truly practice the theme of this forum – facing the society and benefiting mankind.

In her summary, Ms. Zhang Xiaoli, project director of the Tang Zhongying Foundation, thanked Nanjing University for its strong support and the dedicated efforts of the volunteers of Nanjing University Tianjian Society. She said that the original intention of holding the forum was to break the regional barriers between universities and provide a stage for young scholars to showcase themselves. She looks forward to teachers and students strengthening communication and getting to know interesting souls; and she sent a message to everyone: “Love comes back to those who give love, and blessings come to those who give blessings.”

During the forum, a series of theme activities were held, including the quality development of Zhongying young scholars, Zhongying scholars exchange workshop, Tang Talk, etc. Zhongying young scholars and their leading teachers from six universities including Shanghai Jiaotong University, Soochow University, Northwest University, Zhejiang University, University of Science and Technology of China, and Nanjing University, relevant comrades from the Nanjing University Education Development Foundation, and relevant representatives from Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Southeast University, and local education bureaus attended the forum.

The Zhongying Young Scholars Program was piloted by the Tang Zhongying Foundation in 2016. It aims to help young scholars with development potential, enthusiasm, and public welfare concepts to grow and develop, and rely on their own professional fields to start from their own surroundings and work hard to make the world a better place.