In order to strengthen communication between undergraduate students and faculty, the College of Statistics and Management officially implemented a student life mentor system in 2014, integrating it with the cultivation of research talents and ideological education. This initiative aims to nurture first-class statistics talents with firm beliefs, strong political stances, solid foundational knowledge, and robust research capabilities. In 2023, based on past experiences, our college specifically created the "Teacher Talks & 'Language' for Your Growth" faculty-student seminar as a special activity to further enhance the participation of teachers and students. The college provides a unified platform, using a format that allows for teacher applications, student registrations, and simultaneous activities in multiple venues. Through ample discussions during the seminars, life mentors can gain a deeper understanding of students' learning and living situations, and in conjunction with professional studies and talent cultivation goals, they introduce and address questions regarding research competitions, major allocation, curriculum design, internships, and professional development prospects. The aim is to strengthen students' professional identity and enhance their awareness of skill improvement. On April 23, our college successfully held the second student life mentor seminar, with 16 faculty members participating alongside nearly 100 first- and second-year undergraduate students. During the seminar, life mentors engaged in warm and in-depth discussions with students, offering their advice and assistance regarding the challenges students face in their academic and daily lives.
Teacher Feng Xingdong provided students with many learning strategies and techniques, recommended various resources offered by the school, so that students could fully utilize these resources to enhance their abilities and help them plan their future life paths. Teacher You Jinhong gave a relatively clear introduction to the whereabouts of graduated seniors and the general situation of pursuing further studies domestically and internationally, and outlined the process of learning statistics from the basics to advanced topics as well as its connections to other fields. Teacher Huang Tao emphasized to students that the most important task at this stage is to determine their development direction and make plans in advance, making targeted arrangements during the four years of undergraduate study, while ensuring a correct and positive learning attitude. Teacher Luo Sirong engaged in an in-depth discussion with students about future paths, telling them that regardless of the path chosen, the most important thing is to be well-prepared in advance, think carefully, and clarify and strengthen objectives in order to achieve stable and long-lasting progress.
Teacher Chang Ning suggested that students learn to manage their time, encouraging them to cultivate interests and hobbies, participate in extracurricular activities, and make full use of their university time for comprehensive development. He hopes that students will strive in the present and not feel anxious about the future. Teacher Li Weiming kindly inquired about everyone's study and life situation, explaining the essence of statistics in an accessible way, making students feel warmth and hope for their future university life. Teacher Qiu Yixuan addressed students' doubts regarding academics, competitions, and internships based on her own experiences, encouraging them not to let others define them, but to define themselves. Teacher He Xin engaged in a discussion about the confusion and challenges students encounter in their current studies, providing an in-depth introduction to feasible directions and professional prospects, allowing students to have a deeper understanding of their future learning goals.
Teacher Zhao Haibing invited Senior An Zhongde, who has graduated and been admitted to the institute for postgraduate studies, and Senior Guo Xin, who is pursuing a master’s and PhD combined program, to participate in the discussion with the students. They introduced different development directions to the students, providing them with a clearer understanding of their future plans. Teacher Liu Xu interpreted the current employment trends for graduates and suggested that everyone should lay a solid mathematical foundation, asking several "whys" when encountering mathematical problems, changing existing thought patterns, innovating, and striving for improvement. Teacher Zhang Zhiyuan conducted an in-depth analysis and provided answers to the problems faced by everyone, stating that time must be squeezed out like from a sponge, and that undergraduates should learn to carve out time for in-depth study and reflection. Teacher Han Miao inquired about and addressed the questions students had regarding their studies and daily lives. He suggested that lower-year students should build a solid mathematical foundation and also shared his understanding of the field of statistics along with his research in biostatistics.
Teacher Wang Gang enthusiastically shared valuable advice on pursuing graduate studies, doctoral programs, choosing an academic path, or entering the workforce. He encouraged students to have vision, be driven by interest, make long-term plans, and achieve significant development in their beloved academic fields. Teacher Cui Xiangyu hoped that students would acquire more knowledge beyond their courses, encouraging them to pay attention to interdisciplinary areas, choose related electives, and explore their interests, while developing corresponding skills based on their career plans. Teacher Chen Ying suggested that students cultivate skills purposefully while laying a solid academic foundation, improve their competencies, and strive to become professionals. She also encouraged everyone to make steady progress step by step. Teacher Zhao Hongbiao advised students to build a solid foundation during their undergraduate years and learn more specialized knowledge. He also provided in-depth answers to students' questions about internships during their undergraduate phase, future development, and research directions.
Through participating in this student-mentor symposium, students have developed a more concrete vision and expectation for university life, as well as a clearer direction for their academic and career planning. The undergraduate mentor program at the School of Statistics and Management is an effective way to strengthen the connection between teachers and students in the college. Through regular communication, mentors gain a more comprehensive understanding of the academic life of their students, allowing them to provide more targeted guidance in the educational process, thereby fostering positive interactions between teachers and students and truly building a collaborative environment for holistic education. In the future, the college will continue to optimize the mentor work mechanism and improve the face-to-face communication format between teachers and students, laying a solid foundation for creating a first-class model for cultivating versatile talent in statistics.
