Tsinghua students harness the power of national endeavors

2023 marks the 110th anniversary of the birth of Tsinghua University’s former president, Jiang Nanxiang. In homage to Jiang Nanxiang’s pedagogical philosophy, a group of student journalists from Tsinghua embarked on a captivating journey to both Jiangsu and Shanghai from August 1st to 5th.

Under the overarching theme of unraveling the narratives of TsinghuaRen in national pursuits, these students immersed themselves in the inspiring stories of exceptional graduates spanning fields from arts and education to technology and media.

A Living Continuation of Jiang Nanxiang’s Legacy

Bust of Jiang Nanxiang

The journey began with a visit to Yixing, Jiangsu Province, the birthplace of Jiang Nanxiang. Iconic sites like Jiang Nanxiang’s residence, the former site of Gaocheng Elementary School, and Jiang Nanxiang Experimental Primary School in Gaocheng Town were explored.

The students were privileged to hear cherished memories recounted by Jiang Nanxiang’s descendants offering them profound insights into Jiang Nanxiang’s enduring impact within the local community

Jiang Kesheng, nephew of Jiang Nanxiang, shares precious memories

Among the visited sites, Jiang Nanxiang Experimental Primary School stands as a living testament to art education nurtured by Tsinghua University's Academy of Arts & Design.

The students delved deep into the accomplishments of art students, engaging in enlightening dialogues with school administrators to gain a richer understanding of how Jiang Nanxiang's pedagogical principles are tangibly applied and continue to influence education.

The visit to Jiang Nanxiang Experimental Primary School

Coincidentally, another group of students from the Academy of Arts & Design were immersed in artistic endeavors in Dingshu Town, Yixing. Collaboratively, these two groups explored the birthplace of the purple clay culture, conducting research into the evolution and continuation of this cultural heritage.

The endeavor involved interviews and reports highlighting how Tsinghua students are merging their knowledge with art education to contribute to the modernization of this ancient town, in alignment with regional development needs.

“The synergy exemplifies the enduring bond between Tsinghua and society, enabling us to sow the seeds of art education,” commented student journalist Zhou Qianlin from the Academy of Arts & Design.

The crafts of purple clay culture

Appreciating Tsinghua's Role in National Pursuits

The visit to the National Supercomputing Center in Wuxi

Moving beyond the realms of humanities and art education, autonomous innovation and technological took center stage during this journey. The students embarked on research visits to relevant institutions, including the National Supercomputing Center in Wuxi, Tsinghua University Wuxi Institute of Applied Technology, Jiangsu Maxscend Microelectronics Co., Ltd., etc.

Engaging in in-depth discussions with researchers passionately driving pivotal research undertakings, and delving into the entrepreneurial narratives of renowned alumni business leaders in the realms of spirited innovation, these interactions provided insights into Tsinghua’s intellectual prowess in cutting-edge domains such as supercomputing, chip manufacturing, integrated circuits, and environmental preservation.

“These encounters have prompted me to reflect on how, as Tsinghua students, we can channel our acquired knowledge to best serve our nation and society,” reflected student journalist Liu Wenxi.

Panel with Tsinghua alumnus

Navigating New Pathways in Gen Z-focused Content Innovation

For the final leg of the journey, the students visited the headquarters of Bilibili Technology Co., Ltd. based in Shanghai. Engaging in insightful discussions on the art of crafting new media narratives tailored to Gen Z, the company’s culture of innovation left a profound impact on the students.

Student journalist Anir aptly noted that the shared experiences from Bilibili’s creators could inspire her own exploration of solutions resonating within her academic sphere.

The visit to Bilibili Technology Co., Ltd.

“This journey has deepened the students’ understanding of Jiang Nanxiang’s pedagogical principles,” noted guiding teacher Yuan Jie, adding, “simultaneously, it has enriched their comprehension of Tsinghua’s spirit encompassing relentless self-improvement.”

Throughout the journey, students from diverse disciplines converged into a multimedia team, skillfully deploying their capabilities spanning interviewing, writing, filming and editing.

As guiding teacher Liu Shutian remarked, "we hope that more students will continue to harness the unique strengths of the Tsinghua University Student Journalist Group.

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News | Tsinghua student journalists harness the power of national endeavors

Writer: Gao Kejing

Editor: Liu Zhaoxi

Photographers: Liu Tong, Xing Letao, Huang Fushuolong

Designer: Liu Zhengyu

Reviewers: Liu Shutian, Lin Yuan