Dear Teachers, Students, Alumni and Friends:

As the sun and moon advance and the seasons renew, we extend our warmest New Year greetings and best wishes to all faculty and staff, retired colleagues, alumni near and far, and friends from all walks of life who support the development of our institution, as the Spring Festival of 2026 approaches.

The year 2025 marks a pivotal period in advancing the Party and State's strategy to build China into an education powerhouse. Throughout the past year, the College's leadership and all faculty and staff have steadfastly upheld the fundamental mission of fostering virtue through education, remaining true to our founding purpose of nurturing talent for the Party and the nation. This commitment has injected robust momentum into the University's high-quality development and its endeavours to establish itself as a world-class institution.

This year, we have anchored our original aspirations, with Party building steering our concerted development efforts. We thoroughly studied and implemented the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, vigorously championing the spirit of educators. The "Binhai Urban Resilience Infrastructure Faculty Team" was successfully selected for the fourth batch of "Huang Danian-style Faculty Teams in National Higher Education Institutions". One individual was honoured as a "National Advanced Worker", another as a "South Guangdong Outstanding Teacher", and a third established a Shenzhen Model Worker and Craftsman Innovation Studio. Party building efforts garnered nearly 20 honours and achievements at various levels, with the College Party Committee being named a "Guangdong Provincial Benchmark Party Building Department" and the First Faculty Party Branch of the Civil Engineering Department receiving the "Guangdong Provincial Model Party Branch for Party Building". Party members, members of democratic parties, and non-affiliated faculty members have submitted over ten proposals and recommendations, several of which were designated as municipal key proposals. Recommendations led by Academician Chen Xiangsheng concerning urban underground space and pipeline network renewal were incorporated into the "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Promoting High-Quality Urban Development".

This year, we focused on excellence, writing a new chapter in disciplinary development. Following our contribution to propelling Materials Science and Engineering into the top 0.3‰ globally in ESI rankings, we further supported Earth Sciences in reaching the top 5‰ globally with a 65.83% contribution rate. Civil Engineering ranked 27th globally in the 2025 U.S. News World University Subject Rankings, 29th worldwide in the 2025 Shanghai Ranking's "World's Best Disciplines" list, and 9th nationally in the Shanghai Ranking's "China's Best Disciplines" ranking. Transportation Engineering secured 35th place globally in the Shanghai Ranking's "World's Best Disciplines" classification.

This year, we have laid solid foundations, with tangible results in talent cultivation. The Mathematics and Mechanics Innovation Class and the International Engineering Innovation Class, led by Academician Xie Heping and Academician Chen Xiangsheng respectively, saw their provincial enrolment rankings rise by 3,000 places. Three new digital intelligence practice platforms were established, including the Intelligent Construction Student Innovation Studio, alongside the initial development of a scenario-based (immersive) AR/VR teaching system, which has been utilised over 60,000 times. The university spearheaded 14 teaching awards, including the Guangdong Provincial Teaching Achievement Award Special Prize (undergraduate category) and the Guangdong Provincial Teaching Achievement Award Second Prize (postgraduate category). Fifteen monographs and textbooks were published, with Soil Mechanics being honoured as the inaugural Guangdong Provincial Outstanding Textbook. Students secured over 50 national competition awards, including the Grand Prize in the Artificial Intelligence category of the Challenge Cup National Competition and the Grand Prize in the National University Students' Tunnel and Underground Space Design Innovation Competition. One doctoral candidate was honoured with the 2024 University Top Ten Doctoral Theses, while three doctoral candidates received Category C funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

This year, we tackled challenges with courage and determination, achieving new heights in scientific research and innovation. We secured 186 vertical research projects, with total funding reaching approximately 212 million yuan. Among these, 68 National Natural Science Foundation projects were approved (including 36 general projects), setting a historic record. Additionally, 114 new horizontal projects were secured, with total contract funding amounting to approximately 74.8 million yuan. We garnered 38 domestic scientific awards, including the First Prize of Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Award (lead institution), two First Prizes of Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award (lead and co-lead institutions), the First Prize of Hebei Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award (co-lead institution), the First Prize of Anhui Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award (third institution), and two First Prizes of Chongqing Municipal Science and Technology Progress Award (co-lead and third institutions). Four international accolades were secured, including the 2025 ISTT No-Dig Award Winners. One new national platform (jointly established) – the National Mine Safety Technology Innovation Centre – and three provincial/ministerial-level platforms were added. Faculty members published 1,156 high-impact papers, secured 210 patent authorisations, and led or contributed to 11 standardisation projects.

This year, we remained steadfast in our commitment to innovation, leveraging our formidable capabilities to serve the nation's major strategic initiatives. Academician Xie Heping's team, in collaboration with Dongfang Electric, established the first land-based research and development base for "large-scale direct hydrogen production from undesalinated seawater". They successfully overcame the core challenge of near-zero carbon emission thermal-mechanical failure in direct coal fuel cells/solid oxide fuel cells. Academician Chen Xiangsheng's team participated in constructing the Jiangyin-Jingjiang Yangtze River Tunnel, mainland China's largest-diameter shield tunnel. Their high-water-pressure, high-permeability formation shield mid-tunnel freezing reinforcement technology achieved global first-time success. Academician Li Qingquan's team proposed an innovative "dynamic precision measurement-metrological calibration-quantum traceability" solution, filling a domestic gap in deflection deformation measurement devices for high-dynamic scenarios. The Intelligent Transport and Operations team independently developed the first integrated diagnostic equipment for concealed defects in railway infrastructure, achieving a breakthrough in the industry's technological capabilities.

This year, we have strengthened our talent pool through both external recruitment and internal cultivation. Sixteen new national-level talents were added, including one National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars recipient, one National Leading Talent in the Ten Thousand Talents Programme, one National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars recipient, one Young Changjiang Scholar, and five Overseas Excellent Young Scholars (including those selected through affiliated institutions). We recruited two national-level leading talents and five national-level young talents. Eight scholars were included in Elsevier's 2025 "China Highly Cited Researchers" list. We recruited 26 new tenure-track faculty members, 31 full-time researchers, and 41 postdoctoral fellows. Additionally, nine visiting professors and adjunct professors were newly appointed.

This year, we have fostered greater integration between Chinese and international perspectives, enhancing the quality and efficiency of our international collaborations. We have strategically introduced fully English-taught master's programmes for overseas students; hosted over 30 visiting scholars from abroad; and welcomed 20 new international students alongside 20 foreign faculty members. Organised institutional visits for 20 students from the International Engineering Innovation Academy to Monash University in Australia and 84 students to four universities in Hong Kong. Students undertook 196 overseas exchange visits throughout the year, with 29 graduates pursuing further studies or employment abroad. Staff undertook over 70 overseas exchange visits. Established formal partnerships with seven globally renowned universities, including the University of Manchester in the UK and the University of Auckland in New Zealand. One new integrated undergraduate-postgraduate programme and one international joint laboratory were established.

This year, we have cultivated our work with meticulous care, achieving solid progress in student affairs. Our off-campus ideological and political education bases have expanded to four institutions, while our alumni mentor team has grown to 23 members. The undergraduate progression rate has surpassed 46%. Throughout the year, 85 campus cultural events were organised, reaching 14,000 participants. Three students enlisted in the military. One hundred and eleven students volunteered at the 15th National Games, with teams including "Iron Will, Building Integrity", "Concrete Hearts, Concrete Companions", and "Concrete Dreams, Concrete Actions" collectively contributing over 16,400 service hours. The student affairs team received honours including "Guangdong Provincial Advanced Individual in National Defence Education" and "Guangdong Provincial Exemplary Case in Student Financial Aid Work".

This year, we remained committed to our academic community, continuously enhancing service efficiency. We formulated 13 policy documents and established four dedicated working groups. Efforts to improve both the soft and hard infrastructure of the college continued, including advancing digitalisation initiatives, upgrading the website, and renewing office signage and directional displays. The Staff Union organised 12 cultural events and extended welfare visits to 28 individuals. The college successfully hosted its 2025 Annual Summary and Commendation Ceremony, fostering a growing sense of belonging and fulfilment among staff. The Alumni Foundation disbursed ¥1.5 million in charitable funding, benefiting nearly 300 faculty and students. The institution once again achieved a perfect score in the Foundation Transparency Index (FTI), ranking joint first nationally.

Every achievement in 2025 embodies the collective wisdom and hard work of all members of the Shenzhen University School of Land and Resources. We hereby extend our highest esteem and most heartfelt gratitude to all faculty and staff, as well as every friend from all walks of life who has shown concern and support for the development of our School.

Spring blossoms herald a new beginning, as all things renew themselves. Standing at this fresh juncture, we extend our heartfelt wishes to all staff and students, alumni near and far, and friends from every walk of life: may your households be blessed with happiness, and may all your endeavours prosper!

President of the School of Civil and Transportation Engineering:

Party Secretary:

Executive President:

16 February 2026