As the new year begins, everything starts anew. At a time to ring out the old year and ring in the new, on behalf of the university, we would like to express heartfelt gratitude and high respect and best wishes to all faculty members, students, alumni at home and abroad, and friends from all sectors of the society who have long cared for and supported the development of Northwest University of Political Science and Law.
In the past year of 2023, all NWUPLers have deeply learned and fully implemented the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, and Xi's Thought on Culture. We have stayed committed and united to forge ahead with enterprise and resolve to promote high-quality development for the university, and to make new strides and further breakthrough.
Over the past year, we upheld and strengthened the Party’s overall guidance. With general requirements to study thoughts, strengthen Party spirits, emphasize practices, and make new contributions, the theoretical study program has been steadily advanced. Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has been practiced unremittingly to pool concerted efforts among all faculty members and students. Each one of them were motivated to be engaged in undertakings with enthusiasm and the increasing climate of down-to-earth and taking the lead in actions was created. We made solid efforts on various fronts in the year of Party Improvement, and enhanced development efficiency rigorously by integrating learning and practicing. We carried forward our revolutionary traditions and heritage. One-stop community services were provided on all fronts.
Over the past year, we fostered virtue through education, and cultivation of high-quality talents were steadily enhanced. We sent teachers to participate in training course specializing the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, and sent staff to attend Legal Alliance Summit for universities of political science and law. We did survey and research and implemented Guidelines on Strengthening Legal Education and Theoretical Research. We advanced the preparation for undergraduate teaching assessment, deepened quality of post-graduate cultivation, and the system to safeguard the teaching quality got better. The joint degree program of “Law + German” was initiated, 7 courses were selected as first-class courses at national level, 8 teaching reform projects were approved and granted at provincial level, 9 projects were presented at the 7th Post-graduate Innovation Achievements Fair, and excellent doctoral dissertation in Shaanxi Province was again awarded.
Over the past year, we developed higher education to its full potential, and a more solid foundation for disciplines and research was constructed. We persisted in developing higher education to its full potential and characteristic construction, optimized the allocation of disciplinary resources, and carried forward in the competition in the second list of universities and disciplines included in the “Double World-Class Project”. China-Central Asia Law Ascertainment and Research Center was established with support of Ministry of Justice to better serve the needs of overseas-related rule-of-law. We strengthened organized research work. 2 provincial key research bases and 3 youth innovation teams were established. 16 projects were supported by the National Social Science Fund of China. 2 excellent scientific research achievement awards were issued by National Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China. 25 excellent scientific research achievement awards were issued by Shaanxi Academy of Social Sciences. A new record in both quality and quantity was hit.
Over the past year, we attracted and cultivated professional personnel, and the improvement trend of the faculty member quality was obvious. We advocated and practiced educator spirit. All faculty members dedicated themselves to virtue education and aspired to be enlightening and inspiring fine examples for students. Team from School of International Law was selected in the second list of Shaanxi Huang Danian Model Teaching Team. 37 were titled as Chang’an Scholars or Chang’an Young Scholars in university program. 12 were awarded the title Professor (Tier 2, Tier 3). 2 obtained post-doctoral general projects supported by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation. A great number of faculty members were awarded titles or approved in various projects, such as Excellent Talents in Field of Theory, News, Publication, Arts, Cultural Business and Management, and International Communication in Shaanxi Province, Experts of Ethnic Study in National Ethnic Affairs Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Top Ten Legal Models in Shaanxi Province, and Special Support for Shaanxi Talents.
Over the past year, we focused on the needs of society, and international exchange and opening-up was accelerated. We were actively involved in the Belt and Road Initiative with high quality, built relationships with 19 universities overseas, and many teachers went abroad for scholarly visit. The university became more internalized in terms of educational performance. The 10th Cross-Strait Legal Culture Week was successfully held and effectively promoted the communication in legal education between the two sides. We deepened cooperation with law enforcement and judicial agencies of Shaanxi, Xinjiang, Shanghai, Zhejiang and some other provinces or areas. We were approved as the base for training the representatives and officials of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in Shaanxi Province. The platform to build the rule of law in Shaanxi Province and China was set up wider. We signed agreements with Xizang Minzu University, Xi’an International Studies University, Xi’an Peihua University to integrate resources and better advance educational collaboration to a wider stage. Alumni association meeting and reunion was held, and the cohesion of the alumni continued to rise. We created new momentum and new drivers of growth in rural vitalization, and we were awarded the Model Unit of “Double Hundred Projects” for the 6th consecutive times.
Over the past year, we strengthened internal governance, and service quality was significantly improved. We were established as the Model Unit of Law-Based Governance. We deepened reform at school and department level and performed reform in service sectors by formulating and revising 26 rules and policies, which better improved the modernized governance system. Legal practice training base were constructed in Yanta Campus and the parking lot at teacher apartment in Chang’an Campus were built. Teaching buildings in Chang’an Campus were mostly equipped with smart classrooms. We optimized service and management for professors (Tier 2, Tier 3) and retired comrades. We continuously improved the living and studying conditions for faculty members and students. Progress has been made in state-owned asset management, financial management, information network, books and literature, medical services, and social training to ensure the high-quality development.
All the great achievements have come from the dedication and resolve of all faculty members and students, and full supports from alumni and people from all walks of life. We express our heartfelt gratitude to all who have long cared for the development of Northwest University of Political Science and Law, and we express our appreciation to all the hard-working faculty members and students.
Next year will mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It will be the key year to achieve the major targets and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development. It will be the crucial time to build world-class university. We will embark on a new journey in high spirits and are heading towards a new goal. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will put into practice the concept of Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, and Xi's Thought on Culture. We will carry out the basic task of fostering virtue through education. We will be bound by a common sense of purpose and work hard to write a new chapter for Shaanxi Province, to serve as an example in western China, and to make contributions to the comprehensive advancement of law-based governance and a leading country in education.
We have full confidence and expectation in the coming year of 2024. I wish you great success in career, good health, joy and happiness to your family in the year ahead!
