Time：Sept. 10, 2020
Source: Guangzhou Daily
Author: Wang Jing, Tong Feng, Li Weimiao

Guangdong's colleges and universities should strengthen the building of talent teams through talent introduction to bring in outstanding world talents, foster an innovative talent pool, and enhance scientific and technological innovation, JNU President Song Xianzhong said on September 9 in an interview with Guangzhou Daily. Higher education is of great significance to the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, whose construction is one of China's major national strategies.

Speaking about the responsibility and role of higher education, Song said the construction of the Greater Bay Area and the development of Guangdong's colleges and universities can interact in a positive manner. For example, he said, Jinan University, with five campuses in three Guangdong cities, provides necessary conditions for the construction of the Greater Bay Area. In addition, JNU has cultivated numerous talents for Hong Kong and Macao, with more than 60,000 JNUers from Hong Kong and more than 20,000 JNUers from Macao to date. They give JNU a unique advantage, he said: as a leading school for overseas Chinese, JNU can gather alumni resources from Hong Kong and Macao to provide intellectual support for the construction of the Greater Bay Area.

In terms of the construction of the teaching staff as well as talent training and introduction, Song pointed out that first-class universities must cultivate high-caliber talents. Their cultivation depends on the provision of first-class disciplines and specialties, which cannot be realized without a first-class teaching faculty. All these factors are complementary and mutually reinforcing, Song said.
Song also said JNU was committed to cultivating leading talents in their disciplines, a young and middle-aged academic backbone, and prominent teachers through multiple and targeted approaches, including providing talent allowances, equipping tutors, encouraging academic exchanges and providing paid academic leave.