This year marks the 103rd anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Under the leadership of the QMES Party Committee, the vast number of QMES Party members and branches have thoroughly studied and implemented Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress. They have taken on their responsibilities with dedication, made significant efforts, and effectively demonstrated the combat fortress role of the Party organisation and the exemplary role of Party members. The Third Party Branch of Teachers and Students of QMES has been honoured with the title of “Advanced Student Party Branch” for 2024. Comrade Yuan Menglei, a counsellor, has been awarded the title of “Outstanding Communist Party Member”, and Comrade Zhang Xicheng, Deputy Secretary of the Fourth Party Branch of Teachers and Students of QMES has received the title of “Outstanding Student Communist Party Member”.
Advanced Student Party Branch
The Third Party Branch of Teachers and Students of QMES was established in November 2021. It currently has 41 members, including 21 full Party members, 20 probationary members, 13 development candidates, and 46 active members. In the 2023 democratic evaluation, it was rated as “Excellent”. The branch consistently leads with Party building to drive professional development, continually innovating in teaching, research, and social services, and has achieved outstanding results.
The branch maintains a regular and diverse approach to theoretical study through collective learning, discussion exchanges, special education, volunteer activities, themed Party day events, and study visits. It conducts in-depth thematic education on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era among Party members. Additionally, it implements practical activities on the theme of “Studying the 20th CPC National Congress, Following the Party Forever, and Advancing on the New Journey” among League members. This approach influences and motivates all students, fostering a sense of national pride, and enhancing the branch's vitality, cohesion, and combat effectiveness.
In the NPU’s May Fourth Awards, the branch and its members received accolades including “May Fourth Red Flag Youth League Branch”, “May Fourth Red Flag Youth League Cadre”, “Top Ten Class Leaders”, “Top Ten Student Union Cadres”, and “Outstanding Communist Youth League Cadres”. During the 2022-2023 academic year, 85 individuals were awarded school-level scholarships and social special awards, and 6 teams were recognised, representing 48% of the grade. QMES saw 64 students successfully obtain postgraduate recommendations, with 43 being branch members. Additionally, 16 Party members were admitted to C9 League universities such as Tsinghua University and Peking University, while 10 students were accepted into world-renowned institutions like Oxford and Cambridge, with 5 being branch members.
In terms of innovation and entrepreneurship, the branch has deepened its efforts in advancing “mass entrepreneurship and innovation initiative” work within higher education under the new era, actively guiding students to participate in projects such as the College Students’ Innovative Entrepreneurial Training Plan Program, the Sanhang Cup competition, the Challenge Cup competition, innovation competitions, and various academic contests. Party members are encouraged to take the lead in innovation and entrepreneurship projects. The branch actively supports students in forming teams, organising experience-sharing sessions and project training meetings, and inviting senior judges and mentors for mock defence sessions. Notable achievements include students Xue Yuhe, Sun Yingke, Wang Yuchen, and Li Fengyuan winning gold and silver awards in the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition. Sun Yuyao received the provincial special prize in the Challenge Cup competition. The students in the branch’s year had 93 projects approved under the College Students’ Innovative Entrepreneurial Training Plan Program, with a 100% participation rate. They achieved 1 gold, 2 silver, and 4 bronze awards in the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition, 5 provincial gold awards and 3 silver awards; 1 national bronze award, 2 provincial special prizes, and 1 provincial gold award in the Challenge Cup competition. Additionally, they secured 1 national special prize for the National University Student Social Practice and Science Contest on Energy Saving & Emission Reduction, 2 special mentions, 4 first prizes, and 9 second prizes in the Mathematical Contest In Modeling (MCM). As primary authors, they have published over 40 SCI papers, and been granted 23 patents, 28 utility model patents, 10 software copyrights, and 8 design patents.
In terms of international development, over 50% of branch members participate in overseas practice projects during winter and summer vacations. They travel to prestigious institutions such as the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Queen Mary University of London, National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, and the University of Macau for exchange studies. Additionally, they undertake internships and visits at relevant international organizations in Sweden, Thailand, the UK, and the United Nations in Geneva.
The Third Party Branch of Teachers and Students at QMES will build upon existing achievements to further enhance the role of the branch in guiding ideological and political education. It aims to elevate political awareness and theoretical consciousness, guiding graduating party members to remain true to their original aspirations and missions as they advance. The branch will encourage members to maintain a high degree of alignment with the Central Committee of the CPC in politics, ideology, and action. It is committed to continually improving party discipline, practising core principles, and shouldering responsibilities while striving unceasingly to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the Chinese Dream.
Outstanding Communist Party Member
Yuan Menglei, a member of the CPC and Associate Professor, serves as the Secretary of the First Party Branch of Teachers and Students at QMES and as a counsellor for undergraduate students of the 2022 class. He is dedicated to thoroughly implementing Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, integrating theoretical study into every aspect of daily work. Through organising various branch activities and study seminars, he continuously enhances the political awareness and ideological levels of party members within the branch. He is committed to building grassroots party organisations into strong bastions for effectively achieving the Party’s leadership.
Yuan Menglei is actively engaged in scientific research, continuously tackling challenging scientific problems and driving high-quality research through effective party-building. He has published over 20 papers as either the first or corresponding author in top-tier journals such as Angew. Chem. Int Ed., Energy. Environ. Sci. Focusing on scientific innovation and overcoming difficulties, he actively promotes the application and transformation of research results. He has led six projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and provincial-level grants, as well as three enterprise-sponsored projects. Yuan Menglei also serves as an expert evaluator for high-level talent at the Organisation Department of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee, and has been selected for the Shaanxi Province Sanqin Talent Introduction Plan, the Shaanxi Province Qinchuangyuan High-Level Innovation and Entrepreneurship Talent Project, and Advanced Individual Award of the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition (2023) in Shaanxi Province. Through his exemplary actions, he sets a model for party members and students within the branch, reinforcing party leadership and striving to take on significant responsibilities.
Yuan Menglei has actively guided branch students in participating in research projects and innovation and entrepreneurship competitions, fostering their innovative thinking and practical skills, thereby enhancing educational outcomes through high-quality party-building. Over 80 branch members have received various provincial and ministerial-level innovation and entrepreneurship awards, and the branch has been honoured multiple times with titles such as “May Fourth Red Banner Youth League Branch” and “Model Team”. As the primary supervisor, Yuan Menglei has led undergraduate students in achieving more than ten provincial and national-level accolades, including the International Gold Award at the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition (2023) and the Provincial Silver Award of the “Challenge Cup” Shaanxi Provincial China College Student Entrepreneurship Plan Competition. He has frequently taught academic paper writing courses to branch members and supervised undergraduates who have published six SCI papers as first authors in journals such as Green Energy & Environment and the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. With a strong sense of responsibility and mission, Yuan Menglei is dedicated to daily management and branch development, continually enhancing his professional skills and overall competence.
Outstanding Student Communist Party Member
Zhang Xicheng, a member of the Communist Party of China and a 2020 undergraduate student majoring in Polymer Materials and Engineering, currently serves as the Deputy Secretary of the Fourth Party Branch of Teachers and Students at QMES. He has planned and organised a variety of thematic Party Day activities for the branch, characterised by distinctive themes and diverse formats. Zhang actively plays a key role in guiding and mentoring, organising senior branch members to share their experiences on academic development with first-year students, and inviting distinguished alumni to return to campus for exchanges, thus showcasing the exemplary role of student Party members. He has also arranged visits for branch members to major national defence units, allowing them to deeply appreciate the qualities of “modesty and pragmatism, inclusiveness, profound accumulation, and forging swords for the nation” typical of top talents in chief engineer roles, nurturing a sense of national pride and commitment to serving the country. Zhang Xicheng proactively cooperates with the branch secretary to carry out work, uniting and serving fellow students. He utilises various methods such as “personal self-study”, “Three Sessions and One Lesson”, and “Thematic Party Days” to promote the study of the Party’s innovative theories, guiding branch members to strengthen their ideals and beliefs and enhance their Party consciousness. He remains committed to staying rooted in the campus and serving society, participating in a range of volunteer activities. As a student ambassador, he actively promotes the advantages, characteristics, and achievements of NPU and QMES, earning widespread recognition and praise from both faculty members and students.
(Text: Song Jiayin, Yuan Menglei, Zhang Xicheng, Huang Quanxiang; Photo: Song Jiayin, Yuan Menglei,
Zhang Xicheng; Edit: Han Huichun; Translate: Shen Xinyi; Review: Cheng Yin)
