The Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, celebrated its 50th anniversary on 26 September.

The President of Tsinghua University Qiu Yong, the Secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee Chen Xu, and Tsinghua University Vice President and Provost Yang Bin attended the event, together with academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering in the field of automation. Zhang Zuo, the Secretary of the CPC Department of Automation Committee, moderated the ceremony.

Wu Guanzheng, member of the 16th Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, who spent nine years in Tsinghua University in thermal measurement and the automatic control specialty of the Department, sent a congratulatory letter before the event. Wu highly praised the achievements the Department has made in the past 50 years: “I believe that in the new era, the Department of Automation will continue to forge ahead, to nurture more outstanding professionals in the field of automation, become a leader in technological innovation, and make greater contributions to national prosperity,” Wu wrote in his letter.

President Qiu Yong spoke at the event and conveyed his congratulations to the Department of Automation in his speech.

“A new round of technological revolution, industrial shift and social transformation is driving our world today. Automation is a key technology in empowering the economy with information technology, in supporting national strategies such as smart manufacturing, digital economy, life and health, and smart services, as well as in overcoming global challenges including energy, resources, and environment,” Qiu pointed out in his speech. “Over the past five decades, the Department has nurtured more than 12,000 outstanding graduates, pioneered a multitude of world-leading scientific and technological achievements, and embarked on a path marked by cross-disciplinary and innovation. In the future, the Department should keep the monument to promote the innovation and development of control science and technology.”

“I sincerely wish the Department every success in the next 50 years ahead. I look forward to the Department of Automation reaching even greater heights in the future,” Qiu added.

On behalf of educators and researchers in the field of automation, Zheng Nanning, President of the Chinese Association of Automation (CAA), thanked the Department for its support to the CAA over the years, especially in the field of continuous innovation regarding process control and control theory, as well as talent nurturing.

Zhang Tao, Head of the Department of Automation, briefly reviewed the history of the Department and said he is confident that the Department would continue to contribute to the development of China and the world.

Representing academic organizations that have a close partnership with the Department, Shao Zhijiang, Dean of the College of Control Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, expressed his congratulations and praises to the Department and wished to strengthen the cooperation.

He Meiying, former Secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee and former Secretary of the CPC Department of Automation Committee, expressed her pride in the endeavor, achievement and contributions the Department has made since its founding, and summarized her wishes to the Department into three suggestions: to keep an awareness of crisis, to keep traditions and innovation, and to enhance openness and cooperation.

Over 500 participants attended the celebration, including representatives from several schools and departments of Tsinghua and other universities and academic organizations, as well as from the automation industry. The ceremony was also live-streamed to the worldwide audience and the number of clicks reached about 340,000, through the live broadcast platform.

Reporter: Lin Lu

Editors: Li Han, Sangeet Sangroula, John Olbrich