In the spring semester four years ago, a wave of excitement swept through the students at Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) with the launch of a groundbreaking online course. The course was led by an esteemed 89-year-old academician who took his first steps into online teaching. With a broad perspective, rich content, and eloquent delivery, he made the profound subject of "System Theory and Artificial System Design" easily understandable and fascinating.

"The elder lecturers should also keep up with the new trends. Making good use of the advantages of the internet to provide students with more knowledge nourishment is something a teacher should strive for", said Wang Yue, the 89-year-old academician.

Wang Yue, an academician of both the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, is the former BIT president. He is also a strategic scientist, engineering educator, and an expert in radar and communication systems.

Wang Yue (right) exchanges views with his colleagues.

Dating back to his early days after Wang was admitted to the School of Engineering at Dalian University majoring in Telecommunications, he continuously overcame challenges in the field of scientific research. He engaged in long-term research on fire-control radar systems, information systems, and their security countermeasures. He led China's military information technology from inception to the forefront, developed "China's first fire-control radar 301 system", and achieved numerous firsts in China and globally. He received multiple prestigious awards including the National Science and Technology Progress First Prize and the National Science Conference Award.

After assuming the position of president at BIT, Wang stated, "It is an undeniable duty to cultivate talents for the country, and there is absolutely no room for excuses!"

With a keen eye on the urgent need for information security in national development, Wang took the lead nationwide in establishing the "Information Countermeasure Technology" major. Starting from scratch, he built a team, authored textbooks, researched teaching methods, and nurtured faculty members. After two years of dedicated preparation, the major successfully started enrolling students.

Focusing on the demand for high-end strategic talents in national development, Wang proposed the establishment of engineering experimental classes in advantageous disciplines such as mechanical and information engineering. By implementing reforms in talent development, he paved the way for exploring directions in engineering talent cultivation in Chinese universities.

Even at the age of 86, Wang continued to teach undergraduate courses. As long as he stayed healthy, he insisted on standing on rostrom to give lectures, sometimes continuously for three hours, earning admiration of his students.

Now, his physical conditions only allow him to guide students in front of the screen. The talents he has nurtured wholeheartedly have already spread far and wide, continuing to strive in various key areas of the national defense science and technology industry, shouldering national responsibilities...