Organized by the International College of the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), the inaugural “Living & Growing in USTC” International Alumni Sharing Session was held on October 24 in Room 307 of the International Building. As the inaugural event in the International College’s effort to build a sustained international alumni engagement program, the session created a regular forum where returned graduates and current students could connect directly—sharing career planning insights and academic experience to help students chart clearer development paths. Ms. Yizhu Shen, Deputy Director of USTC’s Office of International Cooperation, attended and delivered the opening remarks.
In her remarks, Ms. Yizhu Shen emphasized that the international alumni form a vital component of the university’s global alumni network, and serves as the most direct point of reference for current international students seeking to understand the range of paths open to them after graduation. She noted that the International College will take this sharing session as a starting point to further strengthen its alumni outreach program, regularly inviting outstanding international alumni from a wide range of fields back to campus for exchanges. This, she said, will create a sustainable channel for passing on experience from one generation of students to the next, and offer more targeted support to international students at every stage of their studies.
Designed to address the real-world growth and planning needs of international students, the session placed a strong emphasis on practical value and meaningful exchanges. Three outstanding USTC international alumni, each distinguished in their respective field, were invited as keynote speakers to share their experiences and engage directly with the audience.
Sahaza Delis Rakotondrasoa, a scientific visualization photographer, drew on his extensive frontline experience documenting major national scientific facilities—including the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST, or “Artificial Sun”)—to lay out how scientific content and visual art can be integrated in practice, offering STEM students a clear career reference point for those interested in cross-disciplinary paths.
Dr. Arif Ullah, Special Appointment Professor at Anhui University (PhD in Physical Chemistry), focused on the postdoctoral phase—covering capability building, the logic behind academic output, and the requirements for transitioning into faculty roles at local universities. He broke down the core challenges at each stage of a research career, mapping out a concrete, actionable pathway for students planning to pursue academia.
Dr. Ataullah Kiani, Assistant Professor at Wenzhou-Kean University (PhD in Management), shared his first-hand experience of international academic publishing and cross-border appointments. He walked the audience through the standards for submitting to international journals, the dynamics of cross-cultural scholarly collaboration, and the essentials of building an overseas academic network, delving into the academic planning questions international students ask most often.
After the formal program concluded, many students remained in the hall for one-on-one conversations with the three alumni, consulting them on specific questions related to their individual career and academic plans.
Marking the launch of USTC’s signature international alumni events, this session accomplished its core objectives. Moving forward, the International College will draw on feedback from this first gathering to refine both content and formats for future sessions, to sustain regular international alumni exchanges.