CUG highlights campus cultural building on path to become world-class university

The China University of Geosciences (CUG), which is on the list of prestigious universities in China working towards world-class status, has always attached great importance to the building of campus culture and has made glorious achievements in the protection and conservation of its traditional cultural heritage over the past seven decades.

All functional departments and schools at the CUG have incorporated their unique resources and strengths in the cultivation of signature cultural activities, which are themed around the interview of scientists, chemical mystery, ethnic unity, garment design, robotic engineering and humanistic lectures.

The CUG has highlighted the inheritance and development of cultural and historical heritage in the building of its campus culture. Two prime examples of this are the annual poetry and lantern fairs, which attract the participation of over 20,000 people to welcome the arrival of the Autumn and Winter Solstices.

The CUG has built China's first chime bell team in a non-professional institution and held several rounds of musical concerts. The chime bell program has been inscribed by the Ministry of Education into a list of demonstration bases for the promotion of traditional Chinese culture.

The CUG has become an educational and practical base of the China Dragon & Lion Dance Association because of its dragon dance show, which has already grown into a signature cultural event on campus.

The CUG has incorporated education on traditional Chinese culture into its talent cultivation related to science and technology.

Three foreign doctoral students (Sinonmatohou Damien Tiando from Benin, Tikhomirova Anna from Russia, and Chowdhury Mohammad Abir Shahid from Bangladesh) at the CUG were invited to attend a publicity and promotional event via video link, on April 12, 2021, to speak about the heroic efforts made by Hubei and the country in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was held by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing.

They are also members of the "Iron Man" International Students Volunteer Team at the CUG and have provided volunteer services to the prevention and control of the virus in Wuhan. Their stories have been covered by mainstream media outlets at home and abroad.

Building themed cultural sites on campus

The CUG has launched a special cultural program in its Yifu Museum to promote science popularization among the public. The CUG Yifu Museum has been listed as a national 2-grade museum and a national scientific educational practice base for primary and middle school students.

The CUG has held various cultural activities on World Earth Day, International Museum Day and National Science Popularization Day and produced a three-episode documentary series titled "Promoting Talent Cultivation with Revolutionary Traditions".

The CUG has made great strides in the building and renovation of its teaching building, themed sculptures and other facilities to further highlight its signature elements.

The CUG has actively fostered and practised core socialist values, adhered to its fundamental principles of talent cultivation, carried out the strategy for invigorating the university through science and education, the workforce development strategy, and the internationalization-driven development strategy, and has deepened comprehensive reform in the implementation of its academic excellence plan, and forged ahead in unity toward the goal of building a world-class university.

Over the past five years, the CUG has made notable achievements in the improvement of its spiritual and cultural mechanisms, the formation of cultural scenery, the building of cultural infrastructure, the enhancement of its cultural brand and influence, and the maintenance and operation of its cultural communication systems.

Huang Xiaomei, Party secretary of the China University of Geosciences, joins students in at the traditional Chinese lantern festival. [Photo/Zhang Yuxian]

An international student shows his Chinese calligraphy artwork at the China University of Geosciences.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

International students attend a lion dance show at the China University of Geosciences. [Photo/Tu Aoling]

China Central Television gives a report on the heroic deeds of international students from the China University of Geosciences in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A group photo of the "Iron Man" International Students Volunteer Team at the China University of Geosciences [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Several primary school students attend a celebration activity for World Earth Day at the China University of Geosciences. [Photo/Zhang Yuxian]

Several swans are swimming in a pond on Nanwangshan campus of the China University of Geosciences. [Photo/Chen Mingcui]

A geological worker sculpture in the Future Town campus of the China University of Geosciences [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Students study in a library of the China University of Geosciences [Photo/Zhang Yuxian]