2026 "Write the Chapter of Youth on the Land of the Motherland" Ideological and Political Course Enters the University of Science and Technology of China

Starting from Yanyuan and spanning five years, a major ideological and political course named "Youth" once again wrote a new chapter. On the evening of September 6, the 2026 "Write the Chapter of Youth on the Land of the Motherland" online theme publicity and interactive guidance activities of the ideological and political course entered the University of Science and Technology of China.

This event was co-sponsored by six units including the Cyberspace Administration of China and the Ministry of Education. Famous scholars and young students from all walks of life gathered in this red school born out of the "two bombs and one satellite". In the collision and blending of the spirit of science and innovation and the ideals of youth, they explored the answers to the growth of young people in the new era and the path to serve the country.

When youthful hard work meets science and technology, this "big ideological and political course" requires young people to answer a question of the times: How should the youth chapter of contemporary youth be written on the land of the motherland?

Three tokens to understand the spirit of HKUST

Chang Jin, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of the University of Science and Technology of China, brought three special "tokens" to the students with the theme of "Eternal East Wind".

The first is Guo Yonghuai's "Two Bombs and One Satellite" meritorious service medal. In 1958, in order to support the "two bombs and one satellite" national strategy, scientists such as Qian Xuesen and Guo Yonghuai proposed that the Chinese Academy of Sciences establish the University of Science and Technology of China. The school has been imprinted with the distinctive background of "the national destiny" since its birth; the second is a rough red brick, inscribed with a story of "the best brick-burner in history" : In order to resume scientific research and teaching work as soon as possible during difficult times, teachers and students of HKUST personally fired the red bricks for the construction of the Chemistry Building; The third is a set of photos of "important weapons of a great country": the "Wukong" dark matter detection satellite, the "Mozi" quantum science experimental satellite, the "Jiu Zhang" optical quantum computing prototype... The names of HKUST people are engraved on the backs of these important national weapons.

"You are on the shoulders of giants, and on your shoulders is the future of the country." Chang Jin sent a message to the students present, inheriting the school motto of "red colleges and universities advance side by side, integrating theory and practice", and use youth to continue to write the glorious chapter of the times of serving the country through science and education.

Where should youth go? They spend their whole lives answering

Several generations have stood on the stage one after another, using their lives to answer the same question: Where should youth go?

Chen Liquan, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and winner of the 2025 National Highest Science and Technology Award, shared "My 'Lithium' Thoughts" as a senior in the Department of Technical Physics in 1959. From hand-making China's first solid-state lithium battery in 1988 to the current dream of "Electric China", young people need to take over the "baton"; "Model of the Times" Wang Ji, a researcher at the School of Computer Science at the National University of Defense Technology, made the scene echo. Repeated applause: "As long as I can still think and type on the keyboard, I will stick to the scientific research position that the motherland needs most and keep moving forward!" Shi Hao, a student of the Air Force Engineering University and a graduate of Yezhai Middle School, and Chu Mingxi received the "Medal of Silence" from Wang Yuchang, the winner of the "July 1st Medal". The heroic 2nd Battalion that made great achievements in the past is now a model surface-to-air missile battalion, and the spark of a strong army has been firmly handed over to the younger generation.

Using youth to choose, interpreting the fear of future generations

He Yu, co-founder of Guoyi Quantum, said: "The fear of future generations lies not only in being young, but also in choosing a direction worth investing in when you are young." During a lecture, he learned about the reality that high-end scientific instruments are controlled by people - the price of a single device has increased from 6 million yuan to 10 million yuan, and he has to wait in line for half a year for just one repair. This made He Yu deeply aware of the importance of independent control of high-end instruments for the first time, and he has since determined the direction of his life. Today, quantum precision measurement has achieved a leap from laboratory technology to industrial application. The domestic market share of electron paramagnetic resonance is firmly in the absolute lead, and high-end electron microscopes have successfully ranked among the first echelons in the world.

Liu Sizhe, the founder of Shouyi Technology who also made a key life choice at the age of 18 and a student in the 2025 Youth Entrepreneurship Class, relied on AI technology to create the "Forget Me Not" cognitive screening tool, which turned the originally programmed cognitive screening like an exam into an easy and natural phone communication. The two young technology practitioners jointly interpreted the connotation of the era of "the next generation is fearful" through their exploration of different tracks.

The four major car companies recruit talents on-site and extend an olive branch to young talents

Nowadays, the global automobile industry pattern is quietly changing. One out of every three cars sold globally is made in China, and one out of every five cars exported across the country is produced in Anhui. How can Anhui be at the forefront of smart electric vehicles?

The heads of four car companies, BYD, Chery, NIO and JAC, gave their answers and gathered on the stage of the University of Science and Technology of China. Li Bin, the founder of NIO, said with emotion: “Seeing so many energetic young people, I saw the future of China’s automobile industry.” A real-life “Boss Direct Recruitment” was also staged at the scene, cordially inviting young students to take root in Jianghuai, join the manufacturing industry, and write the chapter of youth on the land of the motherland in the journey of industrial revitalization.

The quantum fire is passed down from generation to generation, and the chapter of youth is beginning

What is passing the torch on the quantum circuit?

One generation paved the way and laid the foundation, one generation made breakthroughs, and one generation continued to lead the way.

"Science is not just formulas on paper. Only when core technologies are in your own hands can you truly have confidence." Pan Jianwei, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and executive vice president of the University of Science and Technology of China, recalled the gap thirty years ago and was still filled with emotion when talking about his experience of studying in Austria. From setting the aspiration to "build a world-class quantum laboratory in the motherland" to returning to China in 2001 to set up a laboratory, and then honing his sword for thirty years to achieve the goal of going from following to partially leading, he led his team to forge a path for China's quantum technology.

"Coming back to HKUST from Stanford, Cambridge, Eastbrook, MIT, Munich, and Heidelberg, we were like scattered seeds in a foreign country, absorbing nutrients. After returning home, we formed a forest." said Lu Chaoyang, a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China.

Each generation has its own journey, and each generation has its own responsibilities. The legacy of quantum technology continues to be passed on from generation to generation, illuminating the long path of serving the country through science and technology.

When the curtain of this "big ideological and political course" at the University of Science and Technology of China slowly opens, the life answers of generations of science and education pioneers are clearly spread out in front of young students. The eyes of thousands of young people in the audience are glaring. Their life answers are just beginning to be written, filled with ideals and enthusiasm.