The opening ceremony of the Turing Class of 2024 at Peking University and the fifth John Hopcroft Scholarship Award Ceremony were held
2024/11/26 Information source: School of Information Science and Technology
Editor: Yan Ru | Editor: Milo
On the morning of November 21, 2024, Peking University held the opening ceremony of the Turing Class of 2024 and the fifth John Hopcroft Scholarship Award Ceremony. John Hopcroft, foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and visiting chair professor of Peking University, Gao Wen, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and director of the Department of Information and Engineering Sciences of Peking University, Hu Zhenjiang, dean of the School of Computer Science, and Guo Yao, deputy dean of the School of Computer Science, Peking University, executive director of the Frontier Computing Research Center Deng Xiaotie, Liu Yunhuai, the representative of the Turing class teacher, as well as representatives of donation companies such as ByteDance, ZhenFund, SenseTime, Microsoft Research Asia, Kuaishou, and Jiukun attended the ceremony as well as Turing class students. The event was hosted by Jia Fangjian, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Information Science and Technology.
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John Hopcroft combined his own study experience to encourage students to not only focus on learning knowledge during college, but also to have the courage to explore and persist in their passions. Even if they are not completely consistent with the major they are studying, they should be brave to pursue it. He emphasized that life is short and precious, and you should act decisively when faced with opportunities, because opportunities that can truly unleash your potential and change your destiny are often fleeting.
John Hopcroft delivers a speech
Gao Wen said that the Turing class provides students with comprehensive scientific research training and valuable opportunities to be exposed to cutting-edge research at an early stage, helping students develop in the future. He encouraged students not only to pursue the improvement of personal abilities, but also to have an overall vision and to care about the development of computer science at Peking University, China and the world. When faced with challenges, he inspired students to seize opportunities bravely and become pioneers and innovators in their fields. At the same time, he also emphasized the importance of team spirit in the field of information science and called on students to cultivate the spirit of collaboration and mutual assistance.
Gao Wen’s speech
Hu Zhenjiang put forward two expectations for the students: first, to devote themselves to good scientific research; second, to do good scientific research. He encouraged students to choose meaningful issues with theoretical or applied value to explore, and to study in depth without fear of difficulties. He hoped that every student would shine with his or her own unique light in the future and become a leader in their respective fields.
Hu Zhenjiang delivered a speech
Liu Yunhuai said that as a class teacher, his biggest wish is to see his classmates continue to surpass themselves and achieve outstanding achievements in the future, and he looks forward to one day having a Turing Award winner from his class.
Message from Liu Yunhuai
Deng Wenqi, a freshman representative from the Class of 2024, shared his experience of transitioning from being a “troublemaker” to becoming a class president in middle school, emphasizing the important role of class in personal growth. He hopes that during his time in college, Turing Class will not only become a platform for everyone to learn together, but also become an emotional home for the students. He wished the students would regard hard work as happiness, experience the happiness brought by helping others, and move forward together with the goal of solving the pain points of others.
Deng Wenqi spoke
Group photo of Peking University’s Turing Class of 2024
During the award ceremony, Guo Yao, on behalf of the Turing Project Management Committee, congratulated the students who received the John Hopcroft scholarship, and spoke about John Hopcroft’s guidance and care for the Turing class at Peking University and the contribution of the donating companies to the training of computer science talents at Peking University. Thank you for your support.
Guo Yao delivered a speech
As the representative of the award-winning students, Liu Kecheng, a class of 2021 student, said in his speech that he was grateful for the exploration environment provided by Turing Class, which allowed him to find a research direction that stimulated curiosity and enthusiasm. He will use the scholarship as motivation and strive to become an outstanding young teacher like the tutor in the Turing class. He will give back to the society with academic achievements and teaching and educating people. He looks forward to continuing to pass the torch of knowledge and innovation in the future and make more meaningful contributions to the world. contribute.
Liu Kecheng spoke
The John Hopcroft Scholarship Award Ceremony was held on site, and the guests and award-winning students took photos to witness this precious moment.
John Hopcroft takes photos with scholarship winners
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The establishment of the “Turing Talent Training Program” aims to create a computer undergraduate and graduate training program with Peking University characteristics, establish a demonstration system for curriculum teaching and scientific research training, and comprehensively improve the education and talent training level of Peking University’s computer discipline, and provide The state cultivates future leading talents in the computer field. The program consists of undergraduate and postgraduate training. Undergraduate training is based on the “Turing Class” established by the School of Information Science and Technology of Peking University in 2017, and the graduate training plan was subsequently established in 2019. Professor John Hopcroft, one of the initiators of the “Turing Class” and winner of the Turing Award, serves as the director of the steering committee. He personally designs the training plan and curriculum system, and personally teaches, audits and communicates one-on-one related courses to ensure the quality of the class.
The “Peking University John Hopcroft Fund” was established at the Peking University Education Foundation in 2020 to thank John Hopcroft for promoting teaching reform and related work at Peking University. The fund is used to support the implementation of the “Turing Talent Training Program” of the School of Information Science and Technology of Peking University. Currently, companies donating to the fund include: ByteDance, ZhenFund, SenseTime, Microsoft Research Asia, Kuaishou, and Jiukun.
Considering the significant role of external funding from philanthropists and corporations in supporting the Turing Class, how can universities ensure that such partnerships maintain academic independence and prioritize student well-being over commercial interests?
Here are some open-ended questions focusing on the key topics covered in the article, designed to encourage discussion and diverse viewpoints:
**Theme: The Turing Class and its Purpose**
* The article highlights the Turing Class as a unique program at Peking University. What makes this program stand out from traditional computer science education? What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of such a specialized approach?
* Professor Deng Wenqi emphasizes the importance of finding happiness in hard work and helping others. How can educational programs like the Turing Class foster these values in students? Are these values essential for success in the field of computer science and beyond?
**Theme: John Hopcroft’s Influence and the Role of Philanthropy**
* John Hopcroft, a Turing Award winner, plays a significant role in the Turing Class. How does the involvement of a world-renowned figure impact the students and the program’s reputation?
* The article mentions the ”Peking University John Hopcroft Fund” and corporate donations supporting the program. How important is external funding and philanthropic support for initiatives like the Turing Class? What are the potential ethical considerations involved in this type of partnership between academia and industry?
**Theme: Impact on Students and Future Aspirations**
* The scholarship recipient, Liu Kecheng, expresses gratitude for the Turing Class’s exploration environment and plans to “give back to society” with his academic achievements. How can educational programs like this contribute to a broader sense of social responsibility in young professionals?
* The article mentions the program aims to train “future leading talents in the computer field.” What specific skills and qualities do you think are essential for leadership in this rapidly evolving field? How should educational programs adapt to prepare students for the unknown challenges and opportunities of the future?
**Additional Discussion Points:**
* What are your thoughts on the article’s portrayal of the relationship between academia, industry, and philanthropy in fostering innovation and education?
* How can universities strike a balance between providing students with specialized training and nurturing their broader intellectual and personal growth?
These open-ended questions aim to spark meaningful conversation and encourage critical thinking about the themes explored in the article.
