On March 1, 2025, the founding ceremony of the Peking University Frontier Engineering PhD Association (hereinafter referred to as the “Frontier Engineering PhD Association”) was held at the Yanyuan campus. Frontier engineering PhD students from the School of Software and Microelectronics, the College of Engineering, the School of Materials Science and Engineering, the School of Earth and Space Sciences, and the College of Future Technology attended the event.
Zhang Yue hosted the meeting.
The meeting site.
This year marks the “Year of Technological Innovation” at Peking University. In an effort to further uniteengineering PhD students across the university and promote resource sharing and interdisciplinary collaboration in training and development, the Frontier Engineering PhD Association was established to contribute to the advancement of emerging engineering disciplines at Peking University. Initiated by frontier engineering PhD students from the School of Materials Science and Engineering, with strong support from various university units and faculty members, including Zou Ruqiang, Dean of the School of Materials Science and Engineering, and Hu Guodong, Director of the Student Affairs Department, the association successfully completed its registration and approval process and has officially begun its operations.
Wang Peimin gave his speech.
At the meeting, Wang Peimin, a 2021 Frontier Engineering PhD student and the inaugural Chair of the First Council, announced the establishment of the Frontier Engineering PhD Association and delivered a speech. On behalf of the association, Wang expressed gratitude to the leaders and faculty from various schools and departments who have long supported and cared for the engineering PhD student community.Wang Peimin emphasized that the Frontier Engineering PhD Association is a nonprofit, platform-based student organization dedicated to serving all engineering PhD students at Peking University. It inherits the university’s proud tradition of patriotism, progress, democracy, and scientific inquiry, while promoting the pioneering and innovative spirit of the new era.Wang Peimin expressed hope that the association would adhere to its principles of public service, supportiveness, innovation, mass participation, and representation, continuously enhance its appeal, value, brand influence, credibility, and overall impact.
Gong Yudong delivered his speech.
Gong Yudong, the Chairman of the First Executive Committee and a 2023 Frontier Engineering PhD student, introduced the preparation process and organizational structure of the Frontier Engineering PhD Association. He also outlined the association’s work plan and goals for the current semester.Gong Yudong stated that the association’s various departments will regularly organize or host a series of cross-grade and cross-disciplinary activities. These will include, but are not limited to, specialized seminars, engineering field investigations, the Excellent Engineer Forum, the Science and Technology Innovation Forum, along with a rich array of cultural, athletic and team-building activities. Through these high-quality events, the association aims to help students broaden their horizons, encourage interaction, foster friendships, integrate resources, and promote collaboration.He then expressed his hope that everyone would work together to build a strong and vibrant Frontier Engineering PhD Association, emphasizing that the association should serve as a platform for personal growth and skill enhancement for all its members. In this way, it is expected to contribute collectively to the development of new engineering disciplines at Peking University and advancing national technological innovation.
Sun Yongzhen gave her concluding remarks.
Sun Yongzhen, Director of the Student Organizations Department of the Peking University Youth League Committee, delivered a concluding speech. She congratulated the Frontier Engineering PhD Association on its establishment and provided suggestions for its future development. Sun expressed her hope that, with the joint efforts of students from various disciplines, the association would become an outstanding organization leading industry-academia-research collaboration, contributing to Peking University’s innovative development and its goal of becoming a world-class university.
Based on the feedback and suggestions gathered from frontier engineering PhD students across different schools, the association’s preparatory committee elected the members of the First Council and the First Executive Committee, forming the association’s inaugural decision-making and executive body. During the meeting, the list of the First Council members and the First Executive Committee Presidium members was officially announced.
Text and Photos by:Frontier Engineering PhD Association
Further Reading:
To promote scientific and technological innovation as well as strategic management innovation, and to accelerate the cultivation of leading engineering and technological talent urgently needed by the country, Peking University launched the Frontier Engineering PhD Professional Degree program in 2021. Currently, the program covers five engineering fields: Electronic Information, Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Chemical Engineering, Resources and Environmental Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering. With nearly 300 enrolled students, the program has achieved significant milestones in its initial stages.
