CityU Macau’s Master Lecture: CAS Academician Quanshui Zheng shares the joy of learning and teaching
Quanshui Zheng, an honorary doctor of City University of Macau (CityU), chief honorary professor of the Honors Class, and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), visited CityU today to attend the launch ceremony for the inaugural Honors Class and delivered a lecture as part of the “CityU Macau’s Master Lecture Series.” Academician Zheng gave a fascinating lecture titled the “The Joy of Learning and Teaching - Innovative Education: Practice and Reflection on Education in the Era of Digital Intelligence.”
Rector Jun Liu warmly welcomed Academician Zheng and expressed deep respect for his contributions to nurturing top innovative talents in education. He introduced Academician Zheng as an expert in solid mechanics and micro- and nano-mechanics and has been devoted to cultivating top innovative students and researching innovative education for many years, highlighting that “he is not only an academic master, but also a senior educator.” Rector Liu mentioned the Honors Class launched by City University of Macau and X-Institute, Shenzhen, this year under the guidance and strong support of Academician Zheng, aimed at innovative and applied high-end data science talents.
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During the lecture, Academician Zheng discussed how in the current era of data intelligence, the saying “knowledge is power” is no longer relevant; instead, what is more important is the ability to imagine and create the future. He used his own experience to highlight that being able to freely pursue one’s interests and learn through self-exploration during the growth is key to future success. He believes that “type A students,” who grow up under traditional education systems, are constrained by existing evaluation frameworks, which impose significant limitations. In contrast, “type X students’ maintain an open attitude and critical thinking and would explore unknown fields.
Academician Zheng proposed a new educational model called “creative education,” which is driven by innovation as an intrinsic force for growth. He analyzed several cases of “type X students” experiencing significant personal development, emphasizing the importance of an inner motivation—referred to as “passion.” The Tsien Excellence in Engineering Program (TEEP, also known as the Tsien Hsue-shen Elite Class in Mechanics at Tsinghua University has continuously evolved based on this concept, ultimately forming a unique educational ecosystem that allows each individual to embark on personalized growth.
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After the lecture, Academician Zheng engaged in inspiring discussions with the students, exploring topics such as the development of educational intellects and the scientific nature of education, providing guidance for students’ learning and growth breakthroughs.
