Dongguan has officially inaugurated Great Bay University, a pioneering higher education institution designed to serve as an intellectual engine for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The university celebrated its formal opening on Saturday with an inauguration ceremony attended by founding President Tian Gang, an esteemed academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Strategically positioned within the pilot zone of the Comprehensive National Science Center near Songshan Lake, the university benefits from proximity to world-class research infrastructures including the China Spallation Neutron Source and the Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory. This location also places it adjacent to leading technology enterprises like Huawei, creating a vibrant ecosystem for innovation.
President Tian articulated the institution’s distinctive educational philosophy, describing it as “a science and engineering-based, small yet elite, high-level research-focused institution.” The curriculum is specifically designed to address the GBA’s development needs through six focused disciplines: materials science, advanced engineering, life sciences, information science and technology, fundamental science, and financial management.
The university has adopted an innovative pedagogical approach where first-year students delay declaring specific majors to focus on self-exploration before selecting their specialized fields in the second year, with opportunities for cross-disciplinary minor programs.
Currently operating with its inaugural cohort of 80 students selected from 53 middle schools across 16 cities in Guangdong province, the institution has assembled a distinguished research faculty of over 300 members, all holding doctoral degrees with more than 70% possessing international study or work experience. The Ministry of Education formally approved the university’s establishment on June 19, with operations commencing in August.