On the afternoon of January 20, 2026, Vice President Hu Zhong and Vice Director Li Song of the Research Administration Office of Shantou University visited the School of Engineering and presided over the 2026 Research Fund Application Thematic Meeting. Focusing on the research fund application work, the meeting aimed to summarize past experience, break through development bottlenecks, clarify the future direction, and push the scientific research work of the School of Engineering to a new level. Lu Zhuobin, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Engineering, Vice Deans Yu ying and Rao Longshi, as well as directors of all departments and teacher representatives attended the meeting.

To ensure the smooth progress of the 2026 research fund application work, Shen Shuilong, Dean of the School of Engineering, and Lu Zhuobin, Secretary of the Party Committee, had conducted in-depth research and guidance in all departments in the early stage. They conveyed the university's deployment and requirements for the research fund application work, and put forward specific suggestions according to the characteristics of each discipline, providing strong support for the holding of this thematic meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting, Vice President Hu Zhong fully affirmed the remarkable achievements made by the School of Engineering in recent years. He pointed out that the School of Engineering had achieved outstanding results in scientific research project application, achievement transformation and talent cultivation, making important contributions to the overall development of the university. Meanwhile, he objectively analyzed the current challenges, especially the bottlenecks encountered in the construction of doctoral degree programs in recent years. He emphasized that discipline construction was the key to improving the academic level and influence of the school, and all faculty and staff needed to work together to break through development constraints through solid scientific research work and effective resource integration.

Vice President Hu Zhong further elaborated on the core logic of the development of universities. He stated that teaching was the foundation of a university and the basis for cultivating high-quality talents, while scientific research was an important plus, serving as a key way to enhance the university's reputation and competitiveness. To promote effective work, convey the university's spirit and build consensus, he required the School of Engineering to complete the relevant work of research fund application before and after the vacation to ensure the orderly progress of the work. The school should set the goals of baseline, target peak and aspirational peak for the 2026 research fund application, ensure the basic number of applications, strive to reach the expected peak, and actively meet higher challenges.

In view of the research fund application work, Vice President Hu Zhong put forward specific requirements. All disciplines should strengthen mutual support, form a joint force, and carry out the work in a down-to-earth and meticulous manner. The relevant funding had been allocated, and the university planned to sign responsibility agreements with schools and departments to clarify the division of responsibilities and ensure the maximization of fund utilization efficiency. At the same time, the research fund application materials should be continuously polished and refined to improve the quality of applications.

At the meeting, Lu Zhuobin, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Engineering, stated that the school would fully support the 2026 research fund application work and actively implement all requirements put forward by the university. He emphasized that all teachers of the school should unify their thinking, build consensus, devote themselves to the work with a high sense of responsibility and mission, and jointly push the scientific research cause of the School of Engineering to a new level.

The holding of this thematic meeting has pointed out the direction and gathered strength for the 2026 research fund application work of the School of Engineering. Taking this meeting as an opportunity, all faculty and staff of the school will work together to overcome difficulties and make unremitting efforts to achieve the goal of high-quality development of the school.

Photos & Text: School of Engineering