On September 10, Nanjing University held a meeting to celebrate the 42nd Teachers' Day and outline plans for new semester. Tan Tieniu, Chair of NJU CPC Council and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as well as Tan Zhemin, President of NJU and Academician of the CAS, attended the event and delivered speeches.
Tan Tieniu first conveyed President Xi Jinping's greetings and sincere regards to teachers and educators across the nation. On behalf of the University Party Committee, he extended best wishes to all NJU staff members and expressed high respect to the retired teachers and leaders who had made significant contributions to the university's development. He pointed out that education is a top priority for the country and the Party, and teachers are the foundation and source of educational excellence. Over the past 124 years, NJU has maintained its cultural and academic legacy because of generations of teachers who are dedicated, capable, and warm-hearted. These teachers are the university's most valuable asset and the deepest force in its development. In recent years, the university has earnestly studied and implemented President Xi Jinping's important discussions on education and the profound message in his reply to young scholars who returned to China after studying abroad. With a focus on promoting the spirit of educators, it has upheld teacher ethics and conduct as the primary standard, implemented a strategy of talent-driven development, and made significant progress in faculty building, injecting strong momentum into its growth.
Tan Tieniu emphasized that 2026 marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan, serves as a crucial year for implementing the three-year action plan for building an education power, and represents a pivotal moment for NJU to deepen its "Forging Ahead" initiative and make strides toward becoming a world-class university with Chinese characteristics. Today, the university released the "Nanjing University 'Forging Ahead 2030' Implementation Plan", clearly outlining the goals and measures for building "the unique Nanjing University" during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. This is a concrete action plan for the university's 15th Five-Year Development Plan. The entire university must prioritize the implementation of "Forging Ahead 2030" as the main focus for the new semester and the next five years. With clear goals, specific measures, and defined responsibilities as outlined in the plan, the university should make concerted efforts to turn every task into reality, contributing to the faster establishment of NJU as a first-class university with Chinese characteristics. Tan Tieniu also stated arrangements for new semester Party building work,
Tan Zhemin provided an in-depth analysis of the new contexts and requirements facing the university's development. He noted that in the first half of the year, efforts were made to deeply plan and draft the university's 15th Five-Year Plan. Significant progress was made in fostering character and virtues, improving the development level of academic disciplines, enhancing faculty quality, achieving remarkable results in scientific and technological innovation, expanding cultural heritage and innovation, promoting opening-up strategies, enhancing coordination across multiple campuses, and improving governance efficiency. He further analyzed the issues and shortcomings in the university's development and emphasized the importance of strengthening political awareness, overall awareness, responsibility, reform-mindedness, and resources conservation consciousness. Special attention should be paid to achieving breakthroughs in structure, capacity, resources, and contributions.
Tan Zhemin outlined key tasks for the new semester in terms of strategic development, talent cultivation, discipline development, faculty building, research in Science, Engineering, and Medicine, development of the humanities, open education, multi-campus construction and development, services and management. Tan Zhemin emphasized the importance of unity and collective efforts to embrace progress, enabling new qualitative development breakthroughs across the university.
During the meeting, Tan Tieniu and Tan Zhemin presented awards to educators and teams recognized as "Nan Yong Teaching Masters" "Nan Yong Young Teaching Masters" "Zhao Shiliang Chair Professors""My Favorite Teachers" "Excellent Teaching Teams" and recipients of the "Excellence in Teaching Award."
The event was presided over by Zheng Hairong, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC NJU Committee, Executive Vice President, and Academician of the CAS.
Award-winning representatives shared their teaching experiences and reflections.
During the ceremony, the "Zhicheng"Talent System of NJU was formally launched. This system aims to create a hub for high-level talent, guiding scholars to deeply integrate their academic pursuits with the national development landscape, and to achieve academic success in serving national strategies. The main venue of the meeting was located at the Xianlin Campus, with a sub-venue at the Suzhou Campus.
