Focusing Minds and Energies on Development, Setting Sail for a New Journey —— Gaoling Artificial Intelligence Academy Holds New Semester Work Exchange and Deployment Meeting

**Abstract: High-Level Meeting at Highdimension Artificial Intelligence Academy, Renmin University of China, Kicks Off New Semester with Strategic Focus** On February 24, 2025, the Highdimension Artificial Intelligence Academy (HAI Academy) at Renmin University of China (RUC) convened a significant work exchange and deployment meeting for the new semester at the Multipurpose Hall on the 18th floor of Lide Building. The meeting was attended by several high-ranking university officials, including Qing Geletu, the party deputy secretary of RUC; Zhu Xiao, the minister of the Party Teacher Work Department and director of the Talent Work Leading Group Office; Wang Yapeng, the director of the Science and Engineering Discipline Construction Office; Bu Lijun, the director of the Personnel Department; and Li Jing, the deputy director of the Development Planning Office. Additionally, the entire faculty and staff of the HAI Academy, led by its party secretary Li Yanli, executive dean Wen Jirong, deputy deans Dou Zhicheng and Zhang Guofu, and party deputy secretary Zhang Yuming, were present. The meeting, chaired by Li Yanli, began with a comprehensive report and new semester work deployment by Wen Jirong, the executive dean of the HAI Academy. Wen highlighted the academy's achievements over the past year, which included significant progress in discipline construction, platform development, talent cultivation, and high-level scientific research output, all under the leadership of the university's party committee and the support of various departments. For the new semester, Wen outlined three key strategic areas of focus: 1. **Alignment with National Strategic Needs**: The academy aims to establish itself as a leading center for innovation in the foundational theories of artificial intelligence (AI), closely aligned with national strategic demands. 2. **Holistic Talent Development**: There is a strong emphasis on nurturing top-tier AI professionals and interdisciplinary talent, contributing to both national and institutional development. 3. **Research and Talent Mechanism Reform**: The academy will strive to become a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in AI and smart governance by advancing organized research and reforming talent mechanisms. Following Wen's strategic overview, 24 full-time faculty members of the HAI Academy presented their reports, focusing on three main dimensions: research breakthroughs, teaching innovations, and social services. These presentations provided a detailed account of their academic achievements, course reforms, and progress in industry-academia collaboration, as well as outlined their priorities and goals for the upcoming period. Li Yanli emphasized the importance of the meeting, noting that it not only served as a platform for showcasing the academy's accomplishments but also as a rallying call to unite the faculty and staff in their collective mission. She quoted, "With the wind in our favor and the tide calm, we must set sail and break through the waves; with a heavy burden and a long journey ahead, we must spur our horses and gallop forward," underscoring the academy's commitment to contributing to RUC's vision of becoming a world-class university with Chinese characteristics and its readiness to take on the challenges and opportunities presented by the AI revolution. Qing Geletu, in his concluding remarks, expressed a deep appreciation for the faculty's contributions and the academy's growth over the past five years. He acknowledged the academy's vitality and achievements in various domains such as discipline development, talent cultivation, platform construction, exchanges and cooperation, and social services. Qing also conveyed the university's strategic plans and key focuses for the new semester in the realm of AI, urging the academy to remain at the forefront of innovation and to actively respond to the rapid changes in the AI landscape with a sense of urgency and dedication. The meeting was a clear demonstration of the HAI Academy's strategic direction and its commitment to leveraging AI to drive both academic and societal advancements. It set the stage for the academy to continue its trajectory of excellence and innovation in the new academic year, aligning with national and institutional goals to foster a new generation of AI leaders and contribute to the broader development of smart governance and technology.