As of November 13, it was reported by Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) that the central government has approved Chen Jie as the new Party Secretary of HIT. Born in July 1965, Chen holds a doctorate in engineering, is a professor, a member of the Chinese Communist Party, and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. He has previously served as a vice-president at Beijing Institute of Technology, the president of Tongji University, and deputy minister at the Ministry of Education.
With Chen Jie taking on the role of Party Secretary, he will partner with Han Jie Cai, the current president of HIT and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, establishing a dual-academician leadership at the university.
Currently, several other universities in China have also adopted this dual-academician configuration for their Party Secretary and President roles. These include:
- Tsinghua University: Party Secretary Qiu Yong and President Li Luming, both academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
- Beijing Institute of Technology: Party Secretary Zhang Jun and President Jiang Lan, both academicians.
- Nanjing University: Party Secretary Tan Tieniu and President Tan Zheming, both Chinese Academy of Sciences academicians.
- Northwestern Polytechnical University: Party Secretary Li Yanrong and President Song Baowei, both academicians.
- Dalian University of Technology: Party Secretary Xiang Changle and President Jia Zhenyuan, both academicians.
- Huazhong University of Science and Technology: Party Secretary Zhang Guangjun and President You Zheng, both academicians.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences: Both positions held by Vice President Zhou Qi, an academician.
- Shenzhen University: Party Secretary Li Qingquan, an academician, and President Mao Junfa, also an academician.
- Jiangxi Agricultural University: Party Secretary Huang Lusheng and President Wei Fuwen, both academicians.
With the recent appointment of Chen Jie at HIT, the total number of universities in China with a dual-academician leadership configuration has reached at least ten. This trend reflects a strategic move to enhance the academic leadership and research capabilities of these institutions, ensuring that top scholars are guiding their respective universities.