On 27th October 2024 at 21:00, QMES hosted an online event titled “Talk to QMES: Study Skills Enhancement Salon” to assist students in improving their study skills and academic performance. This event primarily targeted undergraduates from the 2024 and 2023 cohort undergraduates. Led by Ding Jing, the second-year academic affairs officer, the session featured insights from Zhou Zijian, 2023 cohort student. Through training guidance and interactive discussions, the event aimed to equip participants with effective skills and methods relevant to innovation, entrepreneurship project processes, and research training. A total of 98 undergraduates attended the event.

Firstly, Ding Jing provided a detailed overview of the overall process for innovation and entrepreneurship projects, clearly outlining the key stages from project selection, project advancement, and mid-term evaluations to the final presentation of results. She emphasised, “The innovation project requires students to fully demonstrate their initiative and actively communicate with their supervisors. The Education and Teaching Centre will strictly manage the entry and process of projects to ensure their smooth progression.”

Subsequently, undergraduate Zhou Zijian from the class of 2023 shared his valuable experiences participating in innovation and entrepreneurship projects. His insights covered various aspects, including topic selection, letter etiquette, application formatting, presentation attire standards, and PPT design. He reminded his peers that “etiquette plays a crucial role in the research process”.

To assist students in better preparing for their upcoming project presentations, Ding Jing demonstrated on the layout design concepts and operational techniques of PowerPoint and other office software, providing robust technical support for their project displays. During the Q&A and open discussion session, students actively posed questions and engaged in discussions on topics such as project selection, team collaboration, and the use of innovation and entrepreneurship platforms. Ding Jing patiently listened and offered detailed and professional responses.

The inaugural event of the “Talk to QMES: Skills Enhancement Salon” was successfully held, showcasing QMES’s innovative exploration in practical teaching and highlighting the distinctive role of the academic affairs officer. Through in-depth explanations and guidance on the processes of innovation and entrepreneurship projects, the event equipped students with essential skills needed for research and entrepreneurship, clarifying key stages and important considerations. QMES is committed to promoting student growth and progress in research practice through systematic and meticulous support measures, continually fostering their development. In the future, QMES will continue to organise such events to gain a deeper understanding of common challenges faced by students during their studies, providing targeted guidance to help them find effective solutions. This will enhance their autonomous learning abilities and critical thinking skills, thereby boosting their competitiveness in innovation and entrepreneurship projects and their future career development.

Text: Zhou Zijian, Ding Jing

Photo: Zhou Zijian

Edit: Huang Jiaxin, Chen Xinyan

Translate: Shen Xinyi

Review: Wang Yongxin, Yang Yufei