From October 13 to 15, the 2024 China International College Students’ Innovation Competition (CICSIC) finals took place at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. In this competition, QMES secured five gold awards in the finals, including four for international track. Notably, QMES achieved its first gold award in the undergraduate idea category of the main competition track, marking another significant breakthrough following its success in 2023, when it won six gold awards for the international track. This success reflects the notable effectiveness of QMES in cultivating students’ international innovative practical skills.

QMES placed great emphasis on cultivating students’ innovative capabilities, leveraging the unique resources and advantages of Chinese-foreign cooperative education. Through comprehensive planning and coordinated advancement in areas such as the curriculum system for innovation and entrepreneurship education, the nurturing of innovation competition projects, and the development of undergraduate mentorship and management teams, the institution established a broad platform for research exploration. This fostered a strong atmosphere for innovative practice, resulting in the development of a cohort of leading talents equipped with profound professional knowledge, a strong sense of innovation, exceptional practical skills, and a global perspective.

Since the launch of the CICSIC university competition this year, QMES actively allocated resources and conducted various forms of innovation and entrepreneurship education activities. During the preparation period for the national competition, QMES provided effective support for each team across all stages, including project guidance, refinement, and final sprint efforts. Since the initiation of CICSIC, QMES received support and guidance from relevant units such as the the Youth League Committee of NPU, the Student Affairs Office, and the Asset Management Company. The Academic Affairs Office, the Graduate School, and the Information Management Office coordinated venues and provided technical support for the final projects. Furthermore, related departments, including the School of Materials Science and Engineering, the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and the Institute of Flexible Electronics, greatly contributed to refining the projects. QMES departments collaborated closely to ensure logistical support, safeguarding the competition entries. During the National Day holiday, QMES held a mobilization meeting for the national competition projects, with the dean and party secretary overseeing a seven-day training and guidance programme. A team of faculty mentors was established, comprising internal mentors, external experts, and QMUL mentors. The internal mentors were responsible for helping students enhance the technical content of their PPT presentations, while external experts provided feedback from the perspective of competition judges. QMUL mentors focused on training students in spoken English. Ultimately, through the collective efforts of various departments and the entire faculty and students, QMES secured five gold medals, including one gold in the main higher education category and four golds for the international projects. QMES achieved a 100% gold medal rate for the projects that reached the national competition finals, placing it among the top institutions for Chinese-foreign cooperative education in the country.

The five student teams shone brightly at this year’s CICSIC, exemplifying the spirit of “daring to explore and innovate”. Their actions not only highlighted the dynamism and excellence of QMES students but also showcased the significant achievements of QMES in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship education. Looking ahead, we are confident that on the broad platform meticulously constructed by QMES, more young talents will continue to contribute to innovation and entrepreneurship education, adding brilliance to NPU’s vision of becoming “A Global NPU, A World-Class University”.

“Chase the wind and the moon without tarrying, for beyond the vast plains lie the spring mountains”. We extend our warmest congratulations to the participants for their unwavering perseverance and outstanding performances day after day! May this honour serve as a source of inspiration for every student, encouraging them to remain steadfast, embrace innovation, and overcome challenges. We hope they will continue to seek transformation, realise their ambitions in the vast realm of innovation and entrepreneurship, and write their own youthful chapters on an even broader stage!

( Text: Yang Fenping, Meng Tengyang; Edit: Han Huichun; Translate: Shen Xinyi; Review: Cheng Yin )