To fully implement the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent, as well as the strategic requirements for building a leading country in education, and to effectively carry out the fundamental mission of fostering virtue and nurturing talents in the new era, the “New-quality Textile” Education Community for Higher Education Institutions in the New Era was established on May 16 at the Songjiang Campus of Donghua University. This community aims to promote collaborative synergy and full-chain talent development in the textile industry, cultivating “new-quality textile” talents — versatile, top-tier individuals with solid disciplinary foundations, strong innovation awareness, interdisciplinary thinking, and the ability to solve complex industrial problems.
(Scene from the “New-quality Textile” Education Community for Higher Education Institutions in the New Era)
Sun Ruizhe, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC); Gu Hongliang, Deputy Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Education and Health Work Committee; Wang Jing, Deputy Secretary of the Songjiang District Committee and District Chief of Songjiang District, Shanghai; Liu Shuhui, Chairperson of Donghua University; Xiang Yanxun, President of Donghua University; and academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Yu Jianyong and Sun Yize, attended the founding ceremony. The community brings together 86 member units, including 11 leading industry organizations such as the China Textile Engineering Society and the China Textile and Apparel Education Society, 41 universities such as Southeast University, Tongji University, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, East China University of Science and Technology and Donghua University, 30 industry-leading enterprises such as Genertec High-tech Materials Group Co., Ltd. and Orient International (Holding) Co., Ltd., and 4 research institutions such as the Xi’an Branch of the China Academy of Space Technology and the Shanghai Institute of Satellite Equipment. This composition demonstrates the distinctive cross-regional and interdisciplinary nature of the “New-quality Textile” community.
(Keynote address by Sun Ruizhe)
In his keynote report titled “Nurturing New-quality Talents, Building a Brilliant Future for Textiles,” Sun Ruizhe noted that China's textile industry has entered a new stage of high-quality development, achieving a historic leap from “following behind” to “running alongside” and even “taking the lead” in certain areas, and has firmly established itself among the world's top-tier textile industries. He further pointed out that during the period of the 15th Five-Year Plan, China's textile industry has defined a new value framework, positioning itself as a pillar industry of the national economy, a livelihood industry serving common prosperity, a competitive industry facilitating domestic and international integration, and a classic industry that honors tradition while embracing innovation. Focusing on technology, fashion, green development, and health, the industry is accelerating the development of a modern industrial system, with innovation as the core driver for fostering new quality productive forces. He emphasized that the establishment of the “New-quality Textile” Education Community, initiated by Donghua University in collaboration with universities, leading enterprises, research institutions, and industry associations, represents a significant exploration in advancing the development of new quality productive forces. Sun stressed that building such an education community requires identifying the right positioning across multiple dimensions, crafting an innovative strategy that ensures smooth progression and coherent integration(like the classic “beginning, transition, development, and conclusion” in essay writing) while promoting the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent. It is also essential to strike a proper balance between foundational research and applied innovation, between breadth and depth, and between immediate needs and long-term goals. Only then can the flourishing of talent lead to the prosperity of the industry, and the strength of education support a stronger future. Together, we shall write a brilliant chapter in the high-quality development of China's textile industry.
(Gu Hongliang delivers a speech)
On behalf of the Shanghai Municipal Education and Health Work Committee and the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Gu Hongliang extended warm congratulations on the establishment of the Education Community. He noted that Donghua University, as a pilot university for the comprehensive reform of mechanisms for fostering virtue and nurturing talents in Shanghai and a leading institution in the city‘s overall pilot zone for developing the “Great Ideological and Political Curriculum,” has great significance in advancing ideological and political education reform and innovation in universities, as well as promoting the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent, by aligning with industry trends and focusing on building the “New-quality Textile” Education Community.
He emphasized that in developing the “New-quality Textile” Education Community, efforts should focus on three key areas. First, the community should strengthen ideological guidance and consolidate the foundation of ideals and convictions. This involves carrying out high-quality case-based teaching reform of the “Great Ideological and Political Curriculum” that integrates theory and practice, and deeply exploring and refining the spiritual essence embedded in the development of the textile industry, so as to instill in teachers and students a profound sense of patriotism and a spirit of dedication. Second, the community should leverage the advantages of collaboration to innovate the paradigm of practical education. This includes promoting university-enterprise partnerships to jointly establish innovation and practice bases, and accelerating the creation of a new education paradigm in which teachers and students learn, research, speak, and act together. Third, the community should focus on cultural heritage to build distinctive and impactful programs. This involves delving deeply into the revolutionary culture, craftsmanship spirit, and innovative genes inherent in the textile industry and related fields, thereby guiding young students to strengthen their cultural confidence, take up the baton of industry development with a sense of mission, and accelerate their efforts to achieve new accomplishments on the track of “new-quality textiles.”
(Wang Jing delivers a speech)
Representing the Songjiang District Committee and the Songjiang District People’s Government, Wang Jing congratulated the establishment of the Education Community and pledged full support for its development and construction with the utmost sincerity and the best possible services. She noted that the “New-quality Textile” Education Community represents a vivid practice in promoting the deep integration of the education chain, talent chain, industrial chain, and innovation chain. It will explore new pathways for the construction of the “Shanghai Pilot Zone for Comprehensive Reform of Mechanisms for Fostering Virtue and Nurturing Talents” and bring new opportunities to the development of the Songjiang University Town Science and Technology Innovation Source.
She expressed the hope that the Education Community could be developed into a converter of new technologies, facilitating the transfer and application of more laboratory achievements in Songjiang; a forge of new talents, supplying more outstanding engineers and skilled craftsmen to support the industrial development of Songjiang and the broader Yangtze River Delta region; and a connector of new ecosystems, gathering more innovative resources to take root in Songjiang and achieve shared success. She further expressed the aspiration that the Education Community would become a highland for industrial innovation and talent agglomeration, jointly contributing wisdom and strength to the nation‘s endeavor of building a great modern socialist country and to high-quality regional development.
(Liu Shuhui delivers a speech)
On behalf of Donghua University, Liu Shuhui extended a warm welcome and sincere thanks to the leaders, corporate guests, fellow academics and friends from all sectors attending the ceremony. She stated that as a distinguished high-level research university with a strong disciplinary focus, Donghua University has always maintained close ties with the development of the textile industry and has advanced collaborative talent cultivation alongside industrial development over its 75-year history. The initiative to establish this education community in the textile sector is a strategic move to deeply implement the mission of fostering virtue and nurturing talents in the new era, and a proactive response to nurturing new quality productive forces and supporting the development of a modern industrial system. She noted that China's textile industry is accelerating its transformation towards higher-end, smarter, greener, and more integrated development, creating an urgent need for cutting-edge technologies and versatile, high-caliber talents. By reconstructing the logic of talent cultivation and working towards shared goals, shared responsibilities, and win-win progress, the community aims to build an all-encompassing new ecosystem for talent cultivation. She emphasized that Donghua University will join forces with all member institutions to explore and develop the education community. First, it will nurture the roots and forge the soul of students, reinforcing the ideological foundation of fostering virtue and nurturing talents. Second, it will deepen the integration of industry and education to improve the quality of talent cultivation. Third, it will strengthen service and contribution to empower the development of a modern industrial system. Through concrete actions, the community will demonstrate the claim of the era that the textile industry has a significant role to play in strengthening the nation through education, and will contribute to the cause of Chinese modernization.
(Official establishment of the “New-quality Textile” Education Community for Higher Education Institutions in the New Era)
At the ceremony, Sun Ruizhe, Xiang Yanxun, Yu Jianyong, Fu Xin, President of Wuhan Textile University, Zhang Zhichang, Secretary of the Party Committee of Xi‘an Polytechnic University, Jiang Junhua, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Genertec High-tech Materials Group Co., Ltd., Xing Jihong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Southeast University, Zheng Zijian, Vice President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and Wang Huifeng, Vice President of East China University of Science and Technology, jointly unveiled the plaque for the “New-quality Textile” Education Community for Higher Education Institutions in the New Era.
(Release of the six key initiatives of the “New-quality Textile” Education Community for Higher Education Institutions in the New Era)
Sun Yize, along with Fu Guangwei, President of the China Textile Engineering Society, Ji Xiaofeng, President of the China Textile and Apparel Education Society, Yang Yumin, Secretary of the Party Committee of Nantong University, Yuan Xiaojie, Secretary of the Party Committee of Dalian Polytechnic University, He Li, Secretary of the Party Committee of Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Li Yue, Vice President of Tiangong University, Yao Juming, Vice President of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, and Xue Jifeng, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Orient International (Holding) Co., Ltd., jointly launched the six key initiatives of the “New-quality Textile” Education Community for Higher Education Institutions in the New Era.
These initiatives systematically deploy six major actions, including:
“Strong Nation, I Contribute; Textile Industry Takes Action” Ideological and Political Pilot Initiative
Industry-University-Research Collaborative Education and Breakthrough Innovation Action
Textile Practice Education Initiative for Great Transformation of the New Era
Cultural Heritage and Innovation Initiative: Clothing as a Carrier
Belt and Road International Expansion Initiative
Educator Spirit-Led Faculty Capacity Building Initiative
(“Splendid China, Strong Nation I Contribute” Joint Initiative Released)
In a resounding and resolute voice, members of the National Doctoral Student Party Member Propaganda Group of Textile Universities declared: “We will carry forward the revolutionary legacy and anchor our youthful aspirations on the journey to national prosperity. We will brave the forefront of innovation and devote our youthful wisdom to the upgrading of the industry. We will take solid and pragmatic actions to demonstrate our youthful contributions in serving the overall interests of the nation!” With this powerful pledge, the “Splendid China, Strong Nation I Contribute” Joint Initiative was officially released, inspiring textile students across the country to shoulder the mission of fostering new quality productive forces and advancing the development of China into a textile powerhouse.
Approximately 400 participants attended the founding ceremony and its series of activities, including Zhu Min, Director of the Publicity Division of the Shanghai Municipal Education and Health Work Committee and Director of the Moral Education Division of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission; Li Chenglong, Wang Zhidong, Vice Chairpersons of Donghua University; Chen Ge, Yan Linping, Zhang Qinghua, Vice Presidents of Donghua University; Chen Nanliang, former Vice President of Donghua University; as well as representatives from universities, enterprises, industry organizations, research institutions, and the media; heads of relevant administrative and academic departments of the university; and faculty and student representatives.
(The First Seminar on Outstanding Engineer Cultivation and Industry-Education Integration in the Textile Industry)
(The Forum on Textile Discipline Construction and Development)
(The Symposium on All-Domain Collaborative Education)
(Donghua University Education Innovation Achievements Exhibition)
Following the founding ceremony, a series of events took place, including the First Seminar on Outstanding Engineer Cultivation and Industry-Education Integration in the Textile Industry; the Forum on Textile Discipline Construction and Development; the Symposium on All-Domain Collaborative Education; the Inauguration Ceremony of the Donghua University Modern Textile Industry College; the Education Innovation Achievements Exhibition of Donghua University, titled “Fostering New-quality Productive Forces and Cultivating Talents for the New Era,” and the Textile Industry Job Fair of the “New-quality Textile” Education Community for Higher Education Institutions in the New Era under the theme of “pursuing New Quality, Striving for Excellence”. Member institutions of the Education Community also visited the university's History Museum and the Exhibition Hall of Scientific and Technological Achievements. Looking ahead, the "New-quality Textile" Education Community will expand its vision beyond the domestic arena to the international stage, promoting the collaborative sharing of global textile education resources and facilitating in-depth dialogue on the sustainable development of the textile industry.
