Westlake University

Overview

Westlake University

Type	private, non-profit, and research-oriented
Established	October 20, 2018
Students	139
Postgraduates	139
Website	www.wias.org.cn

Westlake University (Chinese: 西湖大学) is a new type of non-profit and research-oriented university supported by public and private funding in China. With its predecessor Westlake Institute for Advanced Study established in 2016, Westlake University is the first private research university in the history of the People's Republic of China. Supported by philanthropists and the Chinese government, Westlake University emphasizes interdisciplinarity, creativity and academic freedom. Unlike most other Chinese universities and colleges, Westlake University is governed by the Board of Trustees, which selects the University President and decides on all strategic matters relating to the development of the University.

History

• In March 2015, seven prominent individuals including 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.
• In March 2017, the interim Yunqi Campus was put into use.
• On February 14, 2018, Westlake University was established with the approval of the Ministry of Education of China.
• Following the approval, the construction of a new campus for Westlake University, the Yungu Campus, was launched on April 3, 2018.
• On April 16 in the same year, the first Board of Trustees met, whereas 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.

Development

Westlake University started from postgraduate education. With the aim to be a world-class research and education institution, the university is committed to attracting the globally leading professors, developing state-of-the-art disciplines, cultivating world-class talents and making fundamental discoveries.

By 2026, Westlake University is expected to have about 5,000 full-time students (including 3,000 graduate students and 2,000 undergraduate students), 300 assistant, associate and full professors (including chair professors), 600 research, teaching, technical support and administrative staff, and around 900 postdoctoral fellows.

Within 10-15 years, Westlake University aims to have globally leading research programs in specified disciplines significantly contributing to fundamental research, technological innovation and translation.

Governance System

Westlake University Board of Trustees

Westlake University is headed by University President under the guidance of the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees consists of prominent 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 and also appoints the University President which executes the decisions of the Board of Trustees.

• Honorary Chair: Chen-Ning Yang, Nobel Laureate in Physics and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
• Chair: Yingyi Qian, the 4^th Dean of the School of Economics and Management and Distinguished Professor of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences of Tsinghua University
• Members of Westlake University First Board of Trustees (in the order of phonetic alphabet of the family name): David Baltimore, Jia’er Chen, Shiyi Chen, Charles Chen, Yueguang Chen, Chun Cheng, Jianyue Dong, Qingyuan Dong, Heyang Guo, Beau Kuo, Qide Han, Jian Li, Yidi Li, Jianwei Pan, Yingyi Qian, Yinglin Qin, Yi Rao, Yigong Shi, Yiming Xu, Qingjun Ye and Lei Zhang.
• Honorary Trustees of Westlake University Board of Trustees (in the order of phonetic alphabet of the family name): Ting Cao, Feng Deng, Ying Deng & Quping Hou (couple), Jianying Du, Hang Ge, Hongjia Gong, Guangchang Guo, Changhua Huang, Gang Lin, Song Liu, Pony Ma, Liangzheng Ni, Yuehua Shen, Yongqiang Su, Donghui Wang, Yajun Wu, Guoping Xiao, Jiaxing Xing, Haizhao Xu, Jingxia Xue, Tingdong Yang, Zhongliang Yao, Yongjun Zhang, Xinzhu Zhao, Yan Zhou, Xianfu Zhu and Xinhong Zhu.

Administration

University Heads

• President: Yigong Shi
• Vice President: Tian Xu, Min Qiu, Xiaoyun Zhu, Qingke Ji

Administrative Departments

Westlake University has established 14 central administrative offices currently. Furthermore, the University has established three schools that set up their own administration.

Advisory Board

The Advisory Board is an advisory body and think tank of Westlake University for strategic development and major decision-making. It is composed of world- renowned scholars and educators (in the order of phonetic alphabet of the family name).

David W. Leebron	Academician of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, President of Rice University
Richard C. Levin	Academician of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Former President of Yale University
Arnold J. Levine	Academician of the United States National Academy of Sciences, Professor of Systems Biology at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton University, New Jersey
Jia'er Chen	Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Former President of Peking University
Qide Han	Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Vice Chairman of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)
David Ho	Academician of the United States National Academy of Sciences, Irene Diamond Professor of the Rockefeller University
Xin Lu	Former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education, Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Committee Coordinating Small Group for Xinjiang Work
Guowei Sang	Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Vice Chairman of the 11th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
En'ge Wang	Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Former President of Peking University
Xiaodong Wang	Academician of the United States National Academy of Sciences, Director of the National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing
Xiaofan Wang	Foreign Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Donald and Elizabeth Cooke Professor of Cancer Research of Duke University
Zhizhen Wang	Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Vice Chairman of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)
Chia-Wei Woo	Founding President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Xiaoliang Xie	Academician of the United States National Academy of Sciences, Director of the Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center of Peking University
Chen-Ning Yang	Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nobel Laureate in Physics
Wei Zhao	Chief Research Officer (Vice President) of the American University of Sharjah in the UAE, Former Rector of the University of Macau
Zhongxian Zhao	Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Investigator of the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Funding Sources

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 Westlake Education Foundation.

stablished 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. The Westlake University Foundation Council consists of Yigong Shi, Shiyi Chen, Jianwei Pan, Yi Rao, Yingyi Qian, Hui Zhang, Yueguang Chen, Zhongxue Gan, Wei Zhao, and other prominent individuals. The Chief Executive Secretary of the Foundation is Minhao Liu.

Founding Donors (in the order of Chinese strokes)

Ma Huateng Foundation Limited
Shuifu Wang	XIZI UHC Chairman
Donghui Wang	Chairman of United Electronics Co., Ltd.
Jianlin Wang	Chairman of Wanda Group
Ying Deng & Quping Hou (couple)	Chairman of Henan Xinshili Advertising Co., Ltd.
Feng Deng	Founder and Founding Managing Director of Northern Light Venture Capital
Baixiang Food Group
Jiaxing Xing	Chairman of Shanghai La Chapelle Fashion Corporation
Xianfu Zhu	Chairman of Henan Zhong Pin Food Co., Ltd.
Xinhong Zhu	Chairman of Peng Yu Investment Group
Yongqiang Su	Chairman of Tianjin Zhongyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd.
Jianying Du	Chairman of 3Js Investment Co., Ltd.
Guoqiang Yang	Chairman of Country Garden Group Board of Directors
Tingdong Yang	Honorary Chairman of Jiangsu Yanghe Brewery Joint-Stock Co., Ltd.
Yajun Wu	Chairman of Longfor Properties Co., Ltd.
Yuehua Shen	Chairman of Zhejiang Meihao Holding Group Co., Ltd.
Lei Zhang	Founder & CEO of Hillhouse Capital Group
Chen Yidan Foundation
Gang Lin	Chairman & CEO of China Medical System Holdings Limited
Yan Zhou, Lirong Zhang (couple) and their daughters Victoria and Sissi, and Amy Biotech & Vaccine Group	Amy Biotech & Vaccine Group
Song Liu	Chairman of Zhejiang Juzheng Asset Management Co., Ltd.
Yinglin Qin	Chairman of MU YUAN Food Co., Ltd.
Liangzheng Ni	Chairman of Sunon Group Co., Ltd.
Haizhao Xu	Chairman of Minsheng Pharmaceutical Group
Yiming Xu	Chairman of PRO CHINA
Guangchang Guo	Chairman & Co-founder of Fosun International Limited
Dun He Foundation
GUOFU Foundation
Zhongyi Group
Changhua Huang	CEO of Kingsignal Technology Co., Ltd.
Ting Cao	Chairman of Shanghai Discovering Investment
Hongjia Gong	Vice Chairman of Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd
Hang Ge	Chairman of B-SOFT LIMITED
Kerry Group Kuok Foundation
Jingxia Xue	Chairman of KONITA GROUP

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 in the following disciplines from different perspectives: Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Pharmacy, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Basic Medical Sciences, Computer Science and Technology, Electronic Science and Technology, Optical Engineering, Material Sciences and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Environmental Science and Engineering.

• 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.

To facilitate research and teaching, 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 including frozen electron microscopy, mass spectrum, flow cytometry, microscopy, genomics, metabolism, bioinformatics, general equipment and high throughout core facility as well as autoclave service and phenotype analysis cores.

The School of Life Sciences is establishing research programs in areas including structural biology, cell biology, stem cell research and therapy, neurobiology and behavior, developmental biology, bioinformatics, immunology and immunotherapy, epidemiology, nutrition, metabolism, aging and degenerative diseases, cancer research, plant biology, microbiology and other related fields.

• 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 has established laboratories and research projects on organic chemistry, theoretical physics, applied physics, material sciences, mathematics and several other interdisciplinary and related subjects. 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 focuses on computer science and technology, electronic engineering, materials science and engineering, optical engineering, mechanical engineering, and environmental science and engineering. The School is establishing eight key laboratories covering artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, marine studies, nanotechnology, new energy, environment and comprehensive utilization of resources, large-scale scientific computing and big data, bioengineering and other related fields.

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

Even though, Westlake University was just established in 2018, it already 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.

• By 2021, the number of full-time doctoral students at Westlake University is expected to reach about 1,200.

• By 2026, the total number of full-time students at Westlake University is anticipated to reach 5,000 (including 3,000 graduate students and 2,000 undergraduate students).

Westlake University has clearly stated that it will focus on quality rather than quantity; therefore, it will contain its growth in size after reaching the numbers. It aims to cultivate innovative and interdisciplinary graduate students and creative undergraduate students with a solid background both with a strong sense for social responsibility.

Faculty

Westlake University has already recruited globally leading senior scholars and young scientists. In line with international practices, the university has implemented a tenured/tenure-track appointment system for its assistant professors, associate professors, and full professors (including chair professors).

In the first quarter of 2019, Westlake University has already recruited nearly 100 principal investigators. By 2026, the number of assistant, associate and full professors (including chair professors) is anticipated to reach around 300, whereas the number of research, teaching, technical support and administrative staff will be about 600 and the number of postdoctoral fellows will reach about 900.

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.

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 which are organically integrated, and which enable faculty and students from different schools, disciplines and residential halls to run into each other. Overlooking the entire campus, a circular water system and 12 bridges shape a natural waterfront and harmonious landscape together, subtly distinguishing the campus functions. 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.