Westlake University

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Westlake University

西湖大学
Type	Private, non-profit, and research-oriented
Established	October 20, 2018 2016 for WIAS
Students	334
Postgraduates	334
Location	Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
Website	www.westlake.edu.cn

Westlake University
Simplified Chinese	西湖大学
Traditional Chinese	西湖大學
showTranscriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Xīhú Dàxué

Westlake University (Chinese: 西湖大学) is a non-profit, private research institution located in Hangzhou.^[1] It is the first of its kind in the People's Republic of China.^{[citation needed]}

Westlake University is governed by the Board of Trustees.

History[]

In March 2015, Yigong Shi, Shiyi Chen, Jianwei Pan, Yi Rao, Yingyi Qian, Hui Zhang and Jian Wang submitted A Proposal for Piloting a New Private Research University to the central government and received endorsement. After the Strategic Cooperation Agreement on the Establishment of Westlake University was approved, the seven proponents formed a committee and registered the Westlake Education Foundation as the organizer of Westlake University. The predecessor of Westlake University, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, was then established in Hangzhou on December 10, 2016.^{[citation needed]}

In March 2017, the interim Yunqi Campus was opened. On February 14, 2018, Westlake University was established with the approval of the Ministry of Education of China.^[2] Following the approval, the construction of a new campus for Westlake University, the Yungu Campus, was launched on April 3, 2018. On April 16, 2018, the first Board of Trustees met, where Yigong Shi was appointed as the first President of Westlake University. On April 20, 2018, the University Council was established. On October 20, 2018, Westlake University held a large-scale founding ceremony where prominent speakers (including five Nobel Laureates) attended the ceremony and the following Westlake Education Forum and the Westlake Forum on Higher Education. The events attracted global attention from the media.

Governance System[]

Westlake University Communist Party Committee[]

On April 20, 2018, the Communist Party Committee of West Lake University was formally established. Dong Qingyuan (Chinese: 董清源) was named the Communist Party Secretary, Sun Youyou (Chinese: 孙幼幼) the Deputy Secretary, and Yang Wenzhu (Chinese: 杨文铸) the Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee of the University.^[3]

Westlake University Board of Trustees[]

Westlake University is headed by the University President under the guidance of the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees consists of educators and scholars from China and overseas, representatives of donors and representatives of the government, making decisions on major issues such as the strategic planning of the university. It also appoints the University President which executes the decisions of the Board of Trustees.^[4]

• Honorary Chair: Chen-Ning Yang, Nobel Laureate in Physics and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Chair: Yingyi Qian, Dean of the School of Economics and Management and Professor at Tsinghua University

Administration[]

The University President is Yigong Shi^[5] and its chair professors include Tian Xu,^[6] Min Qiu, Xiaoyun Zhu and Qingke Ji.

Westlake University has established 14 central administrative offices, and the University has established three schools that set up their own administration. The University has an advisory body and think tank for strategic development and major decision-making.

The sources of funding for Westlake University include funds from the organizer, the Westlake Education Foundation, government funding, university income, competitive research grants, and talent support funds. The daily operational expenses of Westlake University (including faculty salaries and fringe benefits, etc.) are mainly underwritten by the Westlake Education Foundation. Established in 2015 as a private fundraising organization, Westlake Education Foundation is the organizer of Westlake University and the main fundraising vehicle for the Westlake University Endowment Fund.

Schools and Academic Disciplines[]

Westlake University established three schools: School of Life Science, School of Science and School of Engineering. The Schools have set up laboratories and research projects that focus on advancing fundamental sciences and innovating cutting-edge technologies.

School of Life Sciences[]

The School of Life Science pursues questions fundamental to our understanding of biology and diseases. It also develops enabling technologies and methods to improve human health and life.

The University has launched the Advanced Biomedical Technology Core Facility and the Laboratory Animal Resource Center. The Core Facility has established a series of research platforms.

School of Science[]

The School of Science comprises disciplines of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry and plans to recruit around hundred tenure-track and tenured faculty within the next five years.

The School of Science is also supported by the Instrumentation and Service Center developed by the University that is composed of Core Shared Facilities for Chemistry and Core Shared Facilities for Physics.

School of Engineering[]

The School of Engineering is devoted to meeting global demands for the strategic development of new industries. The School of Engineering currently has three innovative research centers: the Intelligence Information Science and Engineering Center, the Nanotechnology and Energy Engineering Center, and the Environmental and Resource Engineering Center. The Westlake Center for Micro/Nano Fabrication is also a strong supporting facility for the School.

The School is establishing eight key laboratories.

Scientific Research[]

Research Platforms[]

The Center for Research Equipment and Facilities at Westlake University provides shared scientific instrumentation, laboratory facilities, and expert staff support to enable multidisciplinary research and education. The Center is setting up four major research platforms.

Advanced Biomedical Technology Core Facility[]

Located in the School of Life Sciences, the Advanced Biomedical Technology Core Facility serves biomedical research and teaching within the university. It provides technical support for cutting-edge basic research, development of innovative technologies and training for students and researchers.

Closely aligned with the development of research programs at Westlake University, the Facility has currently established a series of technological platforms from dissection of biological macromolecules to generation of animal models.

Laboratory Animal Resource Center[]

The Laboratory Animal Resource Center (LARC) provides a variety of services including animal breeding (mice and rats), rederivation, Tg or Cas9-mediated gene KO/KI/CKO by microinjection, IVF for rescue and expansion, cryopreservation and resuscitation, and quality control of laboratory animals.

LARC has a 1,600 m² barrier system for animal breeding, holding and experimentation. LARC interacts closely with the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) to satisfy guidelines for the care and use of animals in research. On April 12, 2018, LARC was approved by Zhejiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology Agency. LARC will have a 4,500 m² space facility at the Yungu Campus.

Instrumentation and Service Center for Physical Sciences[]

The Instrumentation and Service Center for Physical Sciences (ISCPS) is composed of Core Shared Facilities for Chemistry and Core Shared Facilities for Physics. Each host state-of-the-art instrumentations that meet routine instrumental needs and help faculty and students develop new instrumental technologies and methods to address problems emerging from dynamic, cutting-edge research.

In the future Yungu campus, ISCPS will be expanded to an area of about 7,000 m². The Center will be accredited by China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) and China Metrology Accreditation (CMA).

Westlake Center for Micro/Nano Fabrication[]

The Westlake Center for Micro/Nano Fabrication is equipped with advanced micro/nano fabrication facilities and is managed by a group of experienced engineers. The Center houses Suss mask aligner, Raith e-beam lithography (EBL) system, Samco ICP etching system, deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) system, ULVAC thin film deposition system, etc. Such equipments endow a fabrication capability for silicon and organic micro/nano devices that can fulfill the requirements of Physics, Chemistry, Electronics, Photonics, Biomedicine, Materials Science and other research disciplines. Furthermore, the Center owns focused helium ion nanofabrication, femtolaser writing and laser direct writing tools, and offers great flexibility for creating novel complex 3D nanostructure for both scientific researches and industry prototyping projects.

Research Events[]

Westlake University frequently organizes a variety of academic events including the Westlake Master Forum, the Westlake Interdisciplinary Luncheons, the Westlake Salons, the News & Ideas Sessions, and discipline-specific conferences.

Westlake University has been able to continuously invite top scientists and influencers within respective fields to speak to their students and faculty.

Students[]

Westlake University adopts a flexible admission system and implements individualized and interdisciplinary training programs for graduate students. The programs emphasize the development of the independent research ability of the students. The university actively pursues international exchange and collaboration to provide students with a diverse exposure in science and culture.

• In 2017, 19 doctoral students were enrolled at Westlake University.
• In 2018, 120 doctoral students were enrolled at Westlake University.

Faculty[]

As of the first quarter of 2019, Westlake University has recruited nearly 100 principal investigators.^{[citation needed]} Westlake University has implemented a tenured/tenure-track appointment system for its assistant professors, associate professors, and full professors (including chaired professors).

Campus and Campus Life[]

Westlake University is located in Xihu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province in China.

Yunqi Campus[]

The Yunqi Campus is located in Yunqi Town, in the southern part of Xihu District of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. This interim campus satisfies the basic needs of Westlake University in its initial stages.

Covering an area of 11.5 acres with a total construction space of 106,000 m², the Yunqi Campus consists of four research buildings, one administrative building and two student residence halls, which were put into operation in March 2017. The Yunqi Campus features a small sports field with a basketball court and fitness equipment, a gym, a two-floor dining hall, a café and a campus store. Furthermore, a running track along the campus border has been laid in 2019. Regular leisure activities are organized by different clubs, the Union of Faculty and Staff and the Office of Academic Services and Student Affairs.^[7]

Yungu Campus (Main Campus)[]

The Yungu Campus is located in the Yungu Block of Zijingang Science and Technology City in Xihu District. The first phase of the Yungu Campus covers an area of 246 acres, whereas the first phase of construction covers 104 acres. The construction space of the first phase is about 446,000 m² and is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.

The campus planning and design of Westlake University was conducted by Henn GmbH from Germany, with the concept of synergy, unity, interdisciplinarity, collaboration and curiosity, focusing on the interdisciplinary cooperation and communication, whereas the functional structure of the campus shows a certain degree of centrality.

The campus consists of three loops: a natural loop, an academic loop and a residential loop. There is a circular water system and 12 bridges shape a natural waterfront. This water or natural loop surrounds the academic loop, consisting of the connected school buildings where the teaching and research will take place. Outside the water loop, the residential loop provides space for social life and leisure activities between academic studies.

References[]