To deepen the strategic partnership between the university and Hainan Province, advance the development of Zhejiang University Hainan Research Institute, and enhance specialized talent cultivation and industry-academia-research collaboration in Hainan, Fangzheng FU, Party Secretary and Vice Dean of ZJU Ocean College, conducted a research visit to Zhejiang University Hainan Research Institute (hereinafter referred to as “the Institute”) on the afternoons of November 28 and 29. During the visit, FU held discussions with faculty, student representatives, and full-time researchers, and planned the second-phase development with the Institute's leadership team. Ruifei WANG, Development Advisor of the Institute, and Yang Jie, Party Secretary, along with division leaders from ZJU Ocean College and the Institute, and heads of relevant functional departments participated in the discussions.

Fangzheng FU first extended sincere greetings on behalf of the ZJU Ocean College to all faculty and students at the Institute. He inquired in detail about the learning, research, work, and living conditions of student representatives from the Hainan program and full-time research staff, attentively listening to their remarks and suggestions. He emphasized that serving the national strategy of building a maritime power is a vital mission and honorable task for the ZJU Ocean College. Located in the strategic high ground of the Hainan Free Trade Port, the Hainan Research Institute enjoys unique geographical advantages and generous local support. The first phase of construction has yielded fruitful results. Through the collective efforts of faculty and students, the institute has achieved remarkable progress and demonstrated strong momentum, laying a solid foundation for the next phase of high-quality development. Moving forward, the Institute must anchor its strategic direction, clearly grasp the vital role of new R&D institutions within the national innovation system, fully realize Zhejiang University's strategic intent, and accelerate the enhancement of the Institute's overall capabilities. It should emphasize Party leadership, leveraging high-quality Party building to advance student development, scientific innovation, and local service initiatives, thereby providing robust political safeguards for the Institute's high-quality development. Focus should be placed on talent cultivation, jointly building a micro-ecosystem for ideological and political work among Hainan-specialized graduate students, and proactively integrating into Hainan's integrated development framework for education, science and technology, and talent. We must innovate institutional mechanisms, actively explore innovative operational frameworks for the institute, and effectively translate research achievements into tangible outcomes that serve Hainan's economic and social development. We must improve the institutional system, strengthen security defenses, refine risk prevention mechanisms, plug management loopholes, and solidify institutional safeguards for the institute's long-term development.

In his exchange remarks, Ruifei WANG emphasized that all faculty and students of the Institute should cultivate a deep sense of patriotism and professional ambition, proactively integrate personal development with the Institute's growth, and work together to make greater contributions to the university, Hainan, and the nation. We must actively respond to the expectations of the nation and the university regarding specialized graduate training in Hainan, positioning the institute as a benchmark for off-campus student cultivation at Zhejiang University. We should maintain a task-oriented approach, focus on core development goals, and precisely address weaknesses in institutional mechanisms and team building to contribute greater strength to serving the construction of a maritime power and the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

As the lead unit for the Hainan Research Institute's development, the ZJU Ocean College will act on the suggestions raised by faculty and students during this survey. It will strive to build bridges for deepening collaboration and coordinated development. Together with local governments, university administrative bodies, and other Hainan-focused schools, it will establish the Hainan Research Institute as Zhejiang University's “bridgehead” serving national strategies in the southernmost part of the country.

(By Yue WANG)