“Although we are in Tianjin, our hearts are with you in Hubei.” February 28^th, a special online meeting was held. Nankai University’s President Prof. Xuetao Cao met 61 teachers and students in Hubei online and encouraged them to be confident and determined in winning the battle against the epidemic.

These 61 teachers and students are from different schools and colleges, including undergraduates, master and doctoral students, and teachers and faculties. They shared their health conditions and study/work at home, and expressed their support for the prevention and control work and gratitude for the university’s concern.

“I send my best wishes to you on behalf of Nankai University, Chancellor Qingshan Yang, and all teachers, faculties, and students of Nankai University. I feel delighted when I see your vivacious and energetic faces. I know you are studying hard, actively joining in volunteer works, and showing the responsibility and characters of Nankai people. I am so proud of you!” During the communication, Prof. Cao said everybody is experiencing an unforgettable winter holiday. Confronting with the epidemic, Nankai University is always concerned about the safety of all teachers and students and decides to take the responsibility in the prevention and control work. Since last month, all teachers and students’ hearts have been with Nankai people in Hubei all the time and they also take actions to make contributions.

“Wuhan! Hubei! China! Keep fighting!” In the end of the meeting, all teachers and student called it out, expressing their firm belief in winning the battle against the epidemic.

At present, 757 Nankai students are from Hubei, including 457 undergraduates (including 2 temporarily absent from school) and 300 graduates (including 1 temporarily absent from school). Nankai University has always put the life and health of all teachers and students at first, caring for them in a practical way, especially the ones in Hubei.

Since the Spring Festival, the university has fully collected the physical and mental conditions of students in Hubei and those who have recently visited Hubei and created a separate file for everyone during the special time. Now the university keeps tracking the health condition of students in Hubei and according to the report no one has been infected with the NCP virus till now.

After the epidemic breaking out, the university sent “A Letter to All Nankai Students” and two letters for students in Hubei. The university also granted a temporary special subsidy of 1,000 yuan to students in Hubei, totaling 757,000 yuan. In addition, the university establishes a psychological service team to provide public psychological services.

The university also calls on all faculty members to take the lead in complying with the provisions on epidemic prevention and control, and sets up special funds for the work, so as to coordinate and solve the practical difficulties encountered by faculty members in the process of epidemic prevention and control in a timely manner. At present, the university is making statistics on the situation of the family members of faculties as the front-line medical staff fighting against the epidemic in Hubei, Tianjin and other places, and will carry out assistance in the future.

(Reported by Jici Nie, Translated by Yuchen Shi, Edited by Davide Francolino and JianjingYun)