Shenzhen has recently added two new talent development programs, marking a significant step in nurturing specialized professionals. The first, a national pioneering initiative, combines academic excellence with industry leadership, while the second brings a world-renowned mathematician's vision to the city.

The TENCENT and Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (Tsinghua SIGS) have jointly launched the country's first full-time master's program in "Large Model Science and Engineering," named the "Qingyun Class." The inaugural ceremony took place at Tencent's Binhai Building, welcoming 27 new students into the program. This initiative is designed to integrate academic foundations with industrial practice, accelerating the pipeline for AI talent. As a key component of Tsinghua SIGS's Engineering Innovation Talent Training Plan, known as the "Double Ten Plan," the launch signals a new phase in the school-enterprise collaboration for education and industry integration.

At the ceremony, Ouyang Zheng, Dean of Tsinghua SIGS, noted that the collaboration between Tsinghua and TENCENT responds to national strategy and deepens the integration of education with industry. Chen Shuanghua, Vice President of Recruitment at TENCENT, emphasized the company's commitment to providing real-world scenarios, top-tier mentors, and hands-on training. He encouraged students to develop AI-native, transformative ideas and persist in innovation despite potential setbacks. The "Large Model Science and Engineering" program, signed in July 2025, focuses on national AI development strategy, aiming to cultivate professionals with a strong foundation in large model theory, engineering skills, innovative thinking, and industry insight. The start of classes marks the tangible beginning of talent development, with Tsinghua SIGS planning to continue its focus on cutting-edge industry needs, partnering with leading companies and government innovation parks to align education, talent, industry, and innovation chains.

Meanwhile, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen) held the opening ceremony for its inaugural Yau Shing-Tung Class. The event featured a keynote speech via video link from Professor Shing-Tung Yau, the first Chinese Fields Medalist and a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He encouraged the first cohort to concentrate on their studies and courageously tackle fundamental questions. Vice President Professor Luo Zhiquan extended three expectations to the students: build a solid foundation, avoiding the rush to follow fleeting trends, as the most powerful ideas often stem from a thorough understanding of basic concepts; preserve their curiosity, as the best scholars know how to identify genuinely important problems; and aim high while remaining honest, since integrity is not a separate rule but the cornerstone of scientific work itself.

In his address, Professor Yau stressed that a nation's academic strength is rooted in basic science. He asserted that without basic science, there is no true applied science, nor world-leading enterprises, and that mathematics underpins artificial intelligence. He hopes the "Yau Class" will cultivate compound talents with deep theoretical knowledge and broad application insight, guiding the development of China's AI industry. CUHK-Shenzhen formally established the Yau Shing-Tung Class in 2026, selecting 37 outstanding students through a rigorous process. Looking ahead, CUHK and CUHK-Shenzhen will leverage their synergies to pool top global educational resources, creating a cross-campus, interdisciplinary platform for students, and contributing to the Greater Bay Area's development and the nation's strategy for technological strength, while advancing higher education in China.