During the period of epidemic prevention and control, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) further promoted the transformation of education management concepts and methods for graduate students and started online degree application and supervisor selection for spring semester. Recently, 18 degree evaluation sub-committees completed degree reviews for 527 students with doctor, master and bachelor degrees and qualification reviews for 205 supervisor, realizing the management model of postponement without delay in studying.

The dissertation review and defense system is fully realized online. Graduate students submit their dissertation through the only system and the degree office check the repetition rate later. Then, experts review the dissertation online. After the revision, students apply for the defense through the system and the degree office then organize the defense using video only system. Finally, the committee members vote online. The relevant staff of the degree office will participate in the online defense throughout the process.

The selection of supervisor has achieved a paperless review and the online system was designed and developed, replacing the transmission of paper-based materials and reducing the staff turnover and ensuring the health and safety of teachers and students.

Online meeting room

Starting from March 19th, 18 degree evaluation sub-committees have successively held meetings, 12 degree evaluation sub-committees of them using online video to hold the meeting. Each degree evaluation sub-committee listened to the detailed reports on the course study, scientific research work, degree dissertation review, defense and innovative scientific research achievements of degree applicants by the subject points, focusing on the central goal of improving the quality of graduate education. After detailed examination, 101 doctoral degrees, 412 master’s degrees, and 14 bachelor’s degree applications have been approved, which will be submitted to the school degree evaluation committee for final review. What’s more, each degree evaluation sub-committee listened to the report of the subject point on the newly added doctoral supervisor, and after a detailed and serious discussion and review of the applicant's scientific research ability, the ability to guide graduate students and recent representative achievements, members of each degree evaluation sub-committee voted online, and finally selected 205 supervisors from 336 applicants for submission to the school degree evaluation committee for final review.

Practicing an online defense in the meeting room

During the epidemic prevention and control period, the degree office accelerated the construction of informatization, and realized the online review of each link in the process of degree award and supervisor selection. At the same time, the supervision of all link was strengthened to improve the efficiency of work and ensure the quality of degree award. The degree office will adhere to the conviction of being prudent and unremitting, unswervingly pay close attention to all management services, timely summarize the innovative management experience during the epidemic prevention period, and make persistent efforts to ensure the smooth progress of the degree award and supervisor selection.

(Written by LU Hongyu, edited by JIANG Pengcen, USTC News Center)