The Ocean University of China in the coastal city of Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, held a grand ceremony at its Laoshan campus to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its founding on Oct 25, where students, faculty, alumni, and friends from around the world gathered both in-person and online to mark this significant milestone.

Over the past 100 years, the OUC has persisted through hardships and advancements, with a central theme of striving to support national development through science, education, and maritime innovation.

The OUC has embarked on a new journey to build itself into an internationally recognized university with distinct characteristics, continuing to enhance its core disciplines and boost comprehensive development. The OUC is among the 36"double first-class" universities in China, with marine science and aquaculture disciplines ranking among the world's highest. The university's unique mission is to cultivate leading talents and core strengths for the national marine industry.

Over the past century, it has remained committed to training leaders and specialists for the national marine industry, producing more than 360,000 outstanding graduates and establishing itself as a significant hub for global marine talents.

Notably, 16 alumni have become academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and four have served as directors of the State Oceanic Administration. Its graduates have contributed significantly across various fields, including space exploration, polar expeditions, marine science, national defense, and sustainable fisheries. Today, the university has four campuses with over 35,400 students enrolled.

The university has also developed a unique, comprehensive ocean-related academic system that integrates marine science, life sciences and technology, engineering, humanities, and basic sciences, creating a coordinated and distinct academic structure. It boasts one faculty, 20 colleges and one teaching center for fundamental courses and has more than 4,100 faculty members, including 16 academicians, 89 nationally leading talents and 610 other talents of importance.

Additionally, the university is striving to achieve high levels of sci-tech self-reliance and focuses on building core strategic capabilities in the marine sector.

Currently, the OUC hosts more than 40 provincial and ministerial research platforms, including national key laboratories and engineering technology research centers.

It has three research vessels, including the Dongfanghong 3, the world's largest 5,600-metric ton silent-class research training ship, and launched major scientific initiatives including transparent ocean, blue grain basket, and the blue medicine storehouse to support national strategies.

In recent years, the OUC has partnered with more than 300 institutions from more than 50 countries and regions, establishing a collaborative innovation platform for global marine science and education to enhance China's openness, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the global marine community.

Additionally, it supports regional economic development. Recently, it collaborated with other Chinese universities, research institutions and enterprises to establish the Shandong modern marine higher education community and released the China Ocean University Service Shandong High-Quality Development Action Plan (2024-28).

The university also partnered with local entities to establish new research institutions such as the Marine Biomedical Research Institute of Qingdao and the Qingdao Institute of Blue Seed Industry to bolster modern marine economic development.

The Ocean University of China is located in Qingdao, Shandong province. CHINA DAILY