Recently, the School of Materials Science and Engineering (SMSE) and QMES have jointly held a distinctive experiential career-themed class meeting. Taking the form of an innovative “undercover debate”, the session sparked a lively and spirited discussion on whether university students should prioritise employment or further studies. The event, marked by an engaging atmosphere and witty exchanges, was hosted by Zhang Yutai, counsellor of the Class of 2024 from SMSE, and Ge Qu, counsellor of the Class of 2024 from QMES, with more than 50 faculty members and students attending.
At the start of the meeting, the innovative “undercover debate” format immediately drew the attention of teachers and students. In this debate, participants on both sides were required not only to engage rigorously with the central topic—“Should university students prioritise employment or further studies?”—but also to identify potential “undercover” members within their own teams, who could subtly undermine their arguments. Debaters had to think strategically, maintain a smooth flow of discussion, and seize opportunities to reverse the situation when necessary. By combining strategic thinking with role-playing, this format enhanced both the challenge and engagement of the activity while encouraging students, during preparation, to explore employment trends, professional development, career planning, and further education paths. The exercise also helped enhance their logical reasoning and critical thinking skills throughout the debate.
After the debate, both counsellors commended the participants’ performances and offered remarks on the theme of the meeting. Zhang Yutai highlighted that SMSE and QMES have been working hand in hand for years, leveraging their respective strengths and sharing resources in talent development and academic competitions, thereby forming a uniquely complementary partnership. He expressed hope for closer collaboration and deeper exchanges between the two schools. Ge Qu praised the innovative format of the event, noting its novel approaches to cooperation, efficient organisation, and strong focus on students’ practical concerns. In closing, drawing on their own experience, the two counsellors shared sound advice on employment issues of broad concern to university students and addressed the questions raised by the participants.
Going forward, the two schools will capitalise on their respective strengths to enhance collaboration and exchange in areas including academic studies, student development, graduate education, and career advancement. They will encourage students to build solid professional foundations, plan their career paths early, and grow into well-rounded talents with both patriotic commitment and a global perspective.
Text: He Gonglue, Ge Qu, and Zhang Yutai
Photo: Zhang Hongze and Duan Jianfeng
Editor: Zhang Yuchen and Chen Xinyan
Translator: Fang Jie
Reviewer: Cheng Yin
