The journey of a 'sunny youth' at SUAT

Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology (SUAT) recently welcomed an international delegation of over 30 expats, including members of the Z10 Club and international residents of Guangming District. During the tour, freshman Li Zhicheng (David Li) impressed visitors with his confident and comprehensive introduction to the university.

Li guided guests through SUAT’s academic structure, enrollment process, departments, educational philosophy, faculty team, research achievements, and campus life. He has also engaged in in-depth and friendly conversations with international students from CUHK-Shenzhen and other universities. Idrees Muhammad, a Pakistani Ph.D. student from Shenzhen University, remarked, “I can see that he must have made a lot of preparation for his work today.”Li Zhicheng. Photos courtesy of the interviewee

This event is one of over 10 occasions where Li has served as a student host for international delegations. Reflecting on his experiences, he told Shenzhen Daily, “I have had the honor of welcoming several distinguished international figures, including Robert Engle, a Nobel laureate, John Wood and Alex Gould, fellows of the U.K. Royal Society, and Denis Tikhonenkov, chief scientist at the Russian Academy of Sciences.”

Despite his growing experience, Li said he would still dedicate time to thoroughly understanding the guests’ background.

Student ambassadors

Motivated by his hosting experiences and encouraged by classmate Ye Gulin and other supportive peers, Li now leads the SUAT Student Ambassadors Project. This initiative aims to create a team of student ambassadors who represent the university’s student body, welcome international guests, and provide bilingual (Chinese-English) guided tours.

“We have held several training sessions focused on presentation skills and improving English proficiency, especially the ability to clearly express ideas,” Li explained. The project currently includes six core members.

SUAT’s student ambassadors also play vital roles in the university’s admissions efforts by conducting online engagement events and hosting guided campus tours for prospective students and their families.

The extraordinary journey of a prodigy

To many parents, Li epitomizes the “other parents’ child” — a prodigy whose academic journey defies convention. Born with exceptional intellect, Li entered elementary school just past age three and rapidly accelerated through each level. By 6, he had been interviewed by China Central Television (CCTV), and at 7, he started middle school. At 10, he progressed to high school, breaking age norms at every stage.

At 12, Li received an admission offer from the prestigious University of Toronto. The following year, he became the youngest freshman ever accepted by CUHK-Shenzhen, where he gained valuable academic experiences. Last year, at 15, he embarked on a new chapter at SUAT, beginning research under the guidance of doctoral advisors. He expressed gratitude to both universities — CUHK-Shenzhen for enhancing his international communication skills and SUAT for nurturing his research capabilities.

His accomplishments extend well beyond academics. Li has volunteered extensively, leading live-streamed sessions that have guided over 1,000 families through the college admissions process. Last year, he compiled and published three poetry collections — “David Li’s Selected Poems in SFLS,” “David Li’s Selected Poems in CUHK-Shenzhen,” and “David Li’s Selected Poems in SUAT” — featuring more than 300 original poems documenting his growth.

A dynamic campus life

At SUAT, students enjoy a dynamic and integrated approach to learning and campus life. “We use a ‘Three-in-One’ model combining faculties, research institutes, and residential colleges,” Li told Shenzhen Daily. “In faculties and research institutes, academic work is our focus. At residential colleges, we engage in diverse extracurricular activities.”

He leads both the Dawning English Club and the Dawning Outdoor Club. Of these, the English Club — launched in September 2024 with strong support from Prof. Zhu Dijian, Li’s mentor and SUAT Party secretary — brings him the most fulfillment.

Li Zhicheng and his schoolmates pose for a photo during an outing.

The club hosts English salons where international and local students discuss topics of interest in English, fostering communication skills. David explained, “We encourage everyone to share and express themselves fluently.”

The Outdoor Club emphasizes fitness and perseverance with programs like Dawning 1,000, which challenges students to exercise one hour daily, aiming for 1,000 hours over four years. “Last year, many of my schoolmates logged impressive distances,” Li said.

The club also launched the 10 Peaks of Shenzhen hiking challenge based on the city’s iconic mountains, which were chosen by residents in 2020. “So far this year, we’ve climbed Wutong Mountain, Lianhua Hill, Yangtai Mountain, Tanglang Mountain, and Meisha Peak. We plan to complete the remaining five later this year,” he shared.

Beyond leadership roles, Li also joined other clubs like the soccer club and the debate club. He likes the Planting Club for Knowledge as Action, founded by his classmate Ye Gulin from Yuan Geng College.

“We manage the experimental field weekly, conducting hands-on planting activities,” he said. “Our approach is scientific, not just traditional farming.” The club even received lab-grown strawberry seedlings from Prof. Liu Zhongchi, a leading scientist in strawberry genome research.

Influence from distinguished figures

Li expressed deep gratitude for the opportunities he has had at SUAT. He has been able to engage with many world-renowned scholars through programs like Nobel Prize Navigation and Meet the Masters. Among these, Prof. John Hopcroft, a Turing Award laureate, left a particularly strong impression.

“Prof. Hopcroft proposed what is now considered the gold standard for evaluating algorithms — worst-case asymptotic analysis,” Li noted. “What moved me most was that this groundbreaking work stemmed not from a quest for achievements, but from pursuing his own interests.”

He added, “Prof. Hopcroft emphasized that research shouldn’t focus on publications or results but rather on developing soft skills and nurturing genuine passion.” Hopcroft also advised, “Don’t judge your choices as right or wrong too early. Instead, focus on sustained enthusiasm and perseverance.”

Li Zhicheng (L) and a schoolmate pose for a photo with Chen Xingjia (C), former Party secretary of Badong County in Hubei Province.

As part of his own learning journey, Li plans to interview 100 distinguished figures from China and abroad. Among the remarkable personalities he has met, Chen Xingjia, former Party secretary of Badong County in Hubei Province, stands out.

Chen resigned from his government post in 2016 and founded the Shenzhen Henghui Public Welfare Foundation in 2017. He pioneered the Love-Link Project, which provides holistic support to children with leukemia — from insurance access to nutritional education. This initiative helped leukemia drugs receive coverage under medical insurance schemes, saving patients millions annually.

Li was particularly inspired by Chen’s belief that “only a collaboration between government and society can explore systemic solutions” to poverty caused by illness. “His selflessness and innovation motivate me to integrate governance with technology to tackle social challenges. AI-powered public welfare will be a key future trend,” Li said.

‘A Sunny Youth of Generation Z’

Rejecting the label of “genius,” Li describes himself as “a sunny youth of Gen Z.” He explained, “The term ‘genius’ feels exaggerated — I haven’t reached that level. But being a sunny, positive young person better represents who I am and where I want to go.”

He credits his family environment and his parents’ education philosophies for shaping his path. “My parents have education-related careers, so they deeply understand how learning should be interest-driven and flexible,” Li shared. “They encourage me to develop my interests and strengths rather than just focus on exams. That’s why I chose artificial intelligence — it aligns with my passion.”

“They respect my individual choices. This freedom lets me pursue what I enjoy instead of following others’ expectations,” he added.

At SUAT, students follow personalized growth paths through a unique three-track (academic, engineering, and entrepreneurship) cultivation model. Li has chosen the academic track, with a focus on research.

“I aim to deeply engage in research,” Li said. “Each SUAT student is supported by six mentors — career, academic, resident fellow, industry, in-residence scholar, and residential tutor. This comprehensive guidance helps us find our direction.”

He acknowledged that he still has much room to grow in terms of research ability at his age and that he has a long way to go.

Li credits two mentors for their significant impact. “I often have meals and deep discussions with my career mentor, Prof. Zhu Dijian, to plan my future systematically. My academic mentor, Prof. Pan Yi, a renowned computer scientist, currently works with me on a project applying AI to empower medical imaging.”

Looking ahead, Li plans to enhance his interdisciplinary skills, including computer science and programming, to advance his research and achieve meaningful scientific results.