On April 19^th, the Expert Forum of Innovation and Entrepreneurship on the theme of the “Optimal Way Leading to Excellence for College Students” was held in the Gymnasium. Zhang Rui, the CEO of the Universal Education Group and also one of the top ten outstanding figures in Chinese private education, gave a speech to nearly 2,000 teachers and students. Deputy-secretary of the CPC Committee of JISU, Miao Jing, hosted the lecture.

Zhang Rui, Ph.D. of Management in Renmin University of China, a member of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Steering Committee of the Ministry of Education, CEO of the Universal Education Group, and co-founder of Beijing Hua Fu Jia Chen Investment Funds, once worked as a mentor in innovation and entrepreneurship in Renmin University of China, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sichuan University, Jilin University, Nanjing University, Zhejiang University and other Chinese universities. He also worked for several companies like Garage Cafe as chief strategic adviser. He was rated as an outstanding figure in Chinese education by Xinhua News Agency, Tencent, Sina and other media for five years in a row for his remarkable achievements in research and practice of business incubator and innovation and entrepreneurship education. Furthermore, the Universal Education Group he founded is one of the top ten education groups in China.

In the lecture, Zhang Rui talked about how to lead college students to success and what motivates them to start up a business. He noted that successful and experienced entrepreneurs can deliver knowledge and ideas to the young. Young entrepreneurs need to identify their clients in time for profits and improve products at the same time. It is imperative to build core teams of common interests and equal capabilities. They also need to find investors in the initial phase.

He also suggested that emphasis should be put on the training of college students’ vocational abilities. He pointed out that they need to develop abilities to create values for companies in a direct way as most of them will seek jobs in companies, which is of great significance for future growth of companies and the youth.

In the end, he made it clear that the key to success is to set goals first, then take actions and move towards them.

The lecture was warmly welcomed by teachers and students. They felt “the ‘Internet Plus’ Competition” is a chance for them to improve themselves. They realized that they need to practice more and challenge themselves so as to make progress. They want to make innovations, to charter a new course for the future, and to open a new chapter for life.