Core Viewpoint - Sun Yat-sen University is expanding its undergraduate enrollment plan to 7,845 students in 2025, focusing on interdisciplinary studies and innovative talent cultivation to meet national and regional development needs [1][2]. Enrollment Expansion - The university will maintain its enrollment of over 500 students from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, emphasizing its role as a leader in higher education within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area [1]. - The new enrollment plan will target emerging interdisciplinary fields, national shortage disciplines, and dual degree programs to cultivate top innovative talents [1]. New Programs and Initiatives - In 2025, the university will introduce new majors in Pharmacy (Biomedicine) and Mathematics and Applied Mathematics (Intelligent Science), bringing the total to 12 strong foundation programs [2]. - Three new undergraduate programs in Flexible Electronics, Smart Agriculture, and Digital Economy will be added to develop high-quality talents with a combination of knowledge and practical skills [2]. - The university will launch seven distinctive "Innovation Classes" across various fields, providing tailored growth pathways and support for students [2]. Dual Degree Programs - Ten new dual degree programs will be introduced, focusing on interdisciplinary integration and addressing national strategic needs, with a total enrollment plan of 210 students [2]. - The dual degree programs will feature a unique curriculum structure, requiring students to complete a thesis that integrates both disciplines, resulting in two degrees upon graduation [4]. Admission Policies - The university will continue its established admission practices, ensuring that students are admitted to their chosen departments without adjustments or rejections, maximizing the fulfillment of student preferences [4]. - Opportunities for cross-disciplinary studies and flexible learning paths will be available to students, enhancing their educational experience [4].

Core Viewpoint - The integration of AI in education is inevitable and is reshaping teaching methods and educational concepts, particularly in primary education [1][3][13] Group 1: Impact of AI on Education - AI is not just a tool for homework assistance but is driving educational innovation, promoting autonomous, immersive, exploratory, collaborative, and interdisciplinary learning [3][7] - The 2025 World Digital Education Conference highlighted that AI's influence on education extends beyond superficial applications, affecting deeper educational paradigms [1][7] Group 2: Innovative Learning Environments - The "Star Island Academy" in Wuhan exemplifies a future learning center where students engage in interdisciplinary theme-based learning through hands-on projects [4][6] - Students at the academy created an "AI Mars Rescue Vehicle," showcasing the integration of AI in practical learning experiences [5][6] Group 3: Policy and Guidelines - The Ministry of Education released guidelines for AI education, aiming to standardize and promote AI across all educational stages, fostering innovative teaching models [7][10] - The establishment of the "National Smart Education Platform" provides extensive resources for all educational levels, addressing disparities in educational quality [10][11] Group 4: Bridging Educational Gaps - The "Digital Teaching" project in Gansu province aims to address educational inequities by providing remote teaching resources to rural areas, enhancing access to quality education [11][12] - Initiatives like "5G+ Special Classrooms" in Quanzhou connect urban and rural students, facilitating synchronous learning experiences [12] Group 5: Future of Education - The rapid development of AI is transforming educational practices, emphasizing the need for innovative talent cultivation and the breaking down of traditional subject boundaries [6][9][13] - The educational landscape is evolving to include external resources and collaborative environments, moving beyond the confines of physical school settings [8][9]

Core Insights - Nanjing University launched the "Lixing" Research Mentor Program to enhance undergraduate students' innovation capabilities and research literacy, starting in December 2024 [1][5] - The program involves 11 distinguished faculty members from various science and engineering disciplines, providing small group project-based courses for first-year students [1][5] Group 1: Program Structure and Objectives - The program aims to bridge the gap between different scientific disciplines, offering students early research experiences that are both tangible and exploratory [4][7] - Faculty members emphasize the importance of "accompanied growth" and setting clear goals to effectively engage students in research activities [4][5] - The initiative is designed to stimulate students' interest in fields such as physics, chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, biology, and computer science, while also providing personalized career guidance [5][8] Group 2: Teaching Methodology - The first class focused on storytelling rather than traditional lectures, allowing students to learn from the experiences of senior peers [4] - Professors are encouraged to adapt graduate-level topics for undergraduates, fostering a proactive research mindset among students [4][7] - The program will incorporate humanities courses to enhance students' logical thinking, artistic appreciation, and scientific literacy through interdisciplinary learning [7][8] Group 3: Future Aspirations - The program aims to cultivate innovative talents by integrating cross-disciplinary and liberal arts content into the curriculum [8] - The college plans to expand research training projects both domestically and internationally, providing a comprehensive development path for students [8]