Over the past six years, the community of Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) has grown increasingly prosperous. Three cohorts of students have transitioned from students to alumni, while the support from their alma mater remains unchanged. This embodies the core value and cultural gene advocated by a university, and also the cohesion and inheritance that is passed on from one generation to the next.

The bond between GTIIT teachers and students takes root at campus and blossoms all over the world. In the eyes of GTIIT teachers, their education and influence on students go beyond the classroom, their care for students are transcend the academic years, and their friendship will last a lifetime.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival this year, Prof. Daniel Tan from GTIIT Materials Science and Engineering Program, made a special trip to Zurich, Switzerland. He took time from meetings in Europe to meet with GTIIT graduates studying at ETH Zurich and EPFL.

"Prof. Tan asked us in Wechat group whether we were in Zurich at the beginning of September, and said he wanted to come and meet with us. On the morning he arrived, Gao Jiajie and I picked him up at the airport and accompanied him on a campus tour. Besides the students studying in ETH, two other students came from Lausanne, which is 200 kilometers away," shared Lin Qia, a GTIIT graduate who is currently studying at ETH.

During the gathering, Prof. Daniel Tan cared about each student and emphasized the importance of mutual help among GTIIT students studying abroad. "We learned a lot from Prof. Tan's stories about his school days and challenges faced in the United States," said He Hanglin from the Class of 2021, who is the first student to be admitted to ETH. This reunion makes him feel a great sense of belonging.

"GTIIT has more than a dozen highly qualified students pursuing graduate studies here, working and conducting academic research together with the best students in China and Europe, including whom from Tsinghua University, Peking University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. This is inseparable from students' hard work and talent, as well as the high-level education provided by GTIIT. As a teacher, I am pleased and proud of them. As a member of GTIIT faculty, I am inspired by the great progress our university has made over the past six years." Prof. Daniel Tan cherished the relationship with his students. He also flew to Germany to meet Zhang Zihan, the first GTIIT student studying in Darmstadt, to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, share his overseas experience, and encourage him to study hard.

Passing down excellence, experience and knowledge is the spiritual power that invigorate GTIIT. Yuan Chunlin, a graduate of Class of 2021, invited his supervisor in the National University of Singapore - Technical University of Munich joint postgraduate program to give an academic lecture to GTIIT teachers and students. He also initiated a liaison group with his junior fellow Mi Tianhuan to help future students. During the admissions period, GTIIT graduates shared their experiences of studying at GTIIT with high school students and parents, and answered their questions patiently and enthusiastically in different cities. During the graduation season, senior students shared their experiences on employment and studying abroad through various forms such as online lectures and interviews.

"Dream it, do it" is the spiritual core behind GTIIT's progress. The alma mater plants the seeds of pursuing wisdom in the hearts of students, and the students take actions to contribute back to GTIIT. Graduates attending world's top universities excel in their studies and competitions; some devote themselves to scientific research and publish articles in internationally renowned journals; some also study for PhD degree to pursue their goals and dreams. For students who are already employed, they demonstrate excellent professional qualities and comprehensive abilities, practicing GTIIT spirit in their respective fields. GTIIT students study hard and work hard, hoping to realize their dreams and contribute to the society in the country. "The teachers and classmates at GTIIT have taught me the ability to persevere, to be brave, to innovate and dare to question. These qualities will benefit me throughout my life," said Huang Xinyi, a graduate of Class of 2021, who has received a master's degree from EPFL.

In the eyes of students, GTIIT nurtures their aspirations and dreams, and witnesses them from ignorance to personal growth. It plays the role as a strong supporter and the spiritual home that has a lifelong influence. Without a doubt, GTIIT cares every student, cheers and blesses them, and always illuminate a guiding light on their path.

Text/Photos: GTIIT News & Public Affairs