{"id":173627,"date":"2025-09-27T20:59:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T20:59:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/173627\/"},"modified":"2025-09-27T20:59:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T20:59:09","slug":"fueling-hangzhous-global-ai-rise-zhejiang-university-leads-the-way-in-nurturing-ai-trailblazers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/173627\/","title":{"rendered":"Fueling Hangzhou\u2019s Global AI Rise: Zhejiang University Leads the Way in Nurturing AI Trailblazers"},"content":{"rendered":"

HANGZHOU, CHINA \u2013 Media OutReach Newswire<\/a> \u2013 27 September 2025 \u2013 As east China\u2019s digital tech hub Hangzhou is gearing up for the 4th Global Digital Trade Expo (September 25\u201329), a globally watched digital gala centered on \u201cdeep integration of digital trade and AI,\u201d many would wonder who are the creators of the world-leading computing infrastructure, large models, embodied intelligent robots, and over 100 AI application scenarios showcased at the expo.
\n \"Caption:<\/p>\n

Caption: A ZJU student works on robot development at ZJU\u2019s Innovation Practice Base of Robotics and Intelligent Equipment <\/p>\n

The pioneers making Hangzhou\u2019s reputation as what The Wall Street Journal called \u201cglobal AI competitor\u201d hail from talent cultivation from top institutions like Zhejiang University (ZJU). The rise of entrepreneurs such as ZJU alumnus Liang Wenfeng, founder of DeepSeek, vividly testifies to the university\u2019s AI education success. From early explorations decades ago to today\u2019s systematic innovation, ZJU has long nurtured batches of AI \u201cpioneers.\u201d <\/p>\n

ZJU\u2019s AI roots trace to 1978, when it established its Computer Science Department. Founding director He Zhijun prioritized \u201cAI theory research and new computer design\u201d in the department\u2019s blueprint, making ZJU the first in China to enroll AI master\u2019s students and sow the seeds of AI research. <\/p>\n

Seizing the opportunity from the 2017 national new-generation AI development plan which mandated AI undergraduate programs, ZJU became one of China\u2019s first 35 universities to launch an AI undergraduate major in 2018. It followed with the nation\u2019s first interdisciplinary AI program in 2019, and in 2024, secured China\u2019s only national AI textbook base. <\/p>\n

Now ZJU has built integrated teaching resources\u2014textbooks, courses, faculty, and training platforms\u2014and forged a complete talent pipeline spanning undergraduates to postgraduates for AI professionals and \u201cAI+other majors\u201d, fostering an ecosystem where \u201ceveryone can learn AI anywhere, anytime.\u201d This year, it expanded AI enrollment to welcome more young explorers. <\/p>\n

As a general-purpose technology akin to the internal combustion engine or electricity, AI inherently drives interdisciplinary collaboration\u2014whether solving scientific\/engineering challenges via AI (e.g., AI for Science: predicting 3D protein structures) or optimizing AI through science (e.g., Science for AI: refining neural networks via statistical physics). Future breakthroughs will largely emerge from such intersections. Today, AI is as accessible as water and electricity, thanks to natural language interfaces. Understanding, using, innovating AI, and upholding human-robot ethics have become core competencies for the intelligent age. <\/p>\n

In September 2024, ZJU pioneered hierarchical, compulsory AI general education courses and a textbook series\u2014General Education of Artificial Intelligence \u2014the first of its kind in China, tailored for STEM\/agriculture\/medicine, social sciences, and humanities\/art. No more \u201cshying away\u201d from one-size-fits-all content, medical students can find AI-assisted diagnosis insights while art students can explore AI-driven creation. <\/p>\n

Interdisciplinary training is ZJU\u2019s forte. In 2021, it co-founded China\u2019s first inter-university \u201cAI+X\u201d micro-major with five other leading universities. Targeting non-computer students, it acts as a \u201cpathfinder\u201d for interdisciplinary talent development. Polished over years, this model upgraded to \u201cAI+X 2.0\u201d in 2025. <\/p>\n

ZJU also partnered with China Academy of Art on the \u201cintelligent art and design\u201d micro-major, incorporating cutting-edge fields like \u201cembodied intelligence\u201d and \u201cdigital-intelligent organizations\u201d to explore disciplinary paradigm shifts and unlock \u201cX+AI\u201d potential. <\/p>\n

Nurturing talent requires elevating faculty and student quality. ZJU released a series of guidance, requiring students to use AI, innovate AI, and uphold ethical boundaries while urging teachers to uphold educational values, master AI knowledge, reform teaching models, and assume social responsibilities. <\/p>\n

To deliver AI general courses, ZJU assembled an interdisciplinary teaching team from 40 colleges and trained teachers in intelligent education. It also launched 11 episodes of the DeepSeek online public course, drawing over 50 million views to spread AI knowledge beyond campus. The first national \u201cQizhen Wenzhi\u201d AI model & agent competition will launch later this year, encouraging inter-university teams to practice in real scenarios. <\/p>\n

Classroom AI innovation enlivens learning: In the class of Computer Architecture, AI teaching assistants act as digital doubles\u2014explaining concepts, generating PPTs, answering questions 24\/7, designing quizzes, and mapping knowledge. Medical AI class uses generative platforms for heuristic questioning, generative exploration, and focused discussion, with AI as an inspiration assistant for drug design. Even job-hunting gets support from \u201cXiaoye,\u201d an AI career mentor offering insights and resources. <\/p>\n

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Caption: Students in an AI-related course <\/p>\n

ZJU is also strengthening its AI education ecosystem. The 2024-established Artificial Intelligence Education Research Center coordinates campus-wide reform. In March 2025, it launched an AI-empowered education project called \u201cAI STEP\u201d (Start-Train-Explore-Progress), which features \u201cScience, Technology, Engineering & Enterprise, Philosophical & Social Science\u201d interdisciplinary integration, and build a new model for fostering top AI innovators. <\/p>\n

As Hangzhou\u2019s expo showcases the AI industry\u2019s vitality, it stands on ZJU\u2019s education-built talent reservoir. From alumni like Liang Wenfeng to campus AI explorers, ZJU\u2019s practice fuels the AI industry with steady talent supply, aligning education and industry to create more \u201cDeepSeek moments\u201d in the AI era.
Hashtag: #ZhejiangUniversity<\/p>\n

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.<\/p>\n

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