Recently, CCTV News program Morning News (Zhaowen Tianxia) presented an in-depth report on new models for cultivating interdisciplinary and innovative talents in higher education. Xu Yuyan, a PhD student from the first cohort of the SJTU Paris Elite Institute of Technology (SPEIT), appeared on screen as a student representative, showcasing the institute’s cutting-edge exploration and remarkable achievements in nurturing top innovative talents.
Xu Yuyan (center) at the research site
Xu Yuyan is a PhD student in Electronic Information enrolled in 2024 at SPEIT, under the supervision of Professor Gong Helin. Upon her application and the institute’s recommendation, she was successfully selected in the first cohort of the Zhongguancun Institute and went to Beijing in 2025 to carry out her research. With joint supervision from her home advisor and the Zhongguancun Institute, she quickly engaged in research, focusing on high-dimensional coupled physical field prediction and reduced-order modeling for complex systems.
Recently, her research was published in the top-tier (CAS Zone 1) journal Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence.
Overview of the Research
This study lies at the intersection of mathematics, artificial intelligence, and engineering applications. It focuses on the challenging problem of long-term prediction of multiphysics fields during transient processes in reactors. The research proposes a latent-variable coupled neural network model based on sparse observations.
This work significantly improves both the accuracy and efficiency of predictions in high-dimensional physical fields for complex systems. Moreover, it provides strong foundational algorithmic support for the safe operation and digital twin development of major industrial facilities such as nuclear reactors, demonstrating the solid capabilities and innovative potential of SPEIT PhD students in tackling complex engineering challenges.
China–France Integration
- Building a Community for Innovative Talent Development -
In response to the new wave of technological revolution and industrial transformation, SPEIT aligns with national strategic needs and the forefront of international engineering education. The institute systematically introduces the core principles of the French engineering education system and integrates them with China’s higher education talent cultivation requirements.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are embedded throughout the educational process. With a focus on student competency development, SPEIT conducts skill decomposition and curriculum mapping based on the French CTI accreditation standards, forming a distinctive knowledge structure of “engineering core + humanistic extension.”
In terms of training pathways, the institute continuously strengthens collaboration with domestic and international universities, research institutions, and industry partners. It promotes an ecosystem of “collaborative leadership and joint cultivation,” accelerating the establishment of a future-oriented international community for engineering talent development. The goal is to nurture top innovative talents equipped with interdisciplinary perspectives and the ability to solve complex engineering problems.
University–Industry Collaboration
- Building a New Highland for Talent Development -
SPEIT integrates the traditional strength of deep industry participation from the French engineering education system into its practices, continuously expanding a high-level “industry network.” Since its establishment, the institute has maintained partnerships with more than 40 renowned domestic and international companies through its corporate club mechanism.
In recent years, SPEIT has co-established a joint training base for outstanding engineers with Airbus, jointly creating a sustainable ecosystem for aviation talent development. It has also deepened cooperation with Dassault Systèmes to promote the digital transformation of engineering education.
Through diversified approaches such as joint course development, internships, and research projects, SPEIT ensures precise alignment between talent training and industry needs, providing students with a full-chain development platform from classroom learning to real-world engineering practice.
Innovative Model
- Empowering Comprehensive Student Development -
The case of Xu Yuyan represents the phased achievements of SPEIT’s first cohort of PhD training and reflects the institute’s student-centered philosophy and full-process support mechanism.
SPEIT encourages graduate students to engage in frontline research as early as possible, discovering and solving problems through practice. As highlighted in the CCTV report, this model shifts students from “learning before research” to “learning through research,” effectively enhancing both innovation capability and research efficiency.
At the same time, the institute continues to expand access to high-level academic resources and actively recommends students to participate in top domestic and international innovation platforms, further broadening their academic vision and industry awareness.
SPEIT will continue to deepen reforms in talent cultivation, firmly upholding its educational philosophy of “solid foundation, diversified development, and global vision,” and striving to cultivate more top innovative talents with strong theoretical foundations, outstanding engineering practice abilities, and international perspectives.