On November 29, 2019, under the leadership of Yujue Wang, associate professor and class professional instructor, 2018-grade undergraduates majored in Archival Science of School of Information Management celebrated their alma mater's 126th birthday in a unique way—professional cognitive social practice activity.

On the morning of November 29, teachers and students of 2018-grade Archival Science started their first station at the Suzhou Archive. First, with the guidance and explanation of Director Fang Wu and Director Xin Chen of Suzhou Archive, they visited four temporary exhibitions. The Archive has rich and unique collections, its exhibition hall and exhibits layout are designed with characteristics of Wuzhong Water Village. This visit broke traditional and rigid impression of archives and opened up students’’ thoughts.

Exhibition at Suzhou Archive.

Then, in the meeting room, the exchange with Mr. Jianmin Bu, Deputy Director of Suzhou Archive and Director of Suzhou Industrial and Commercial Archives Management Center, benefited teachers and students a lot. Mr. Bu first expressed his welcome to the exchange and learning of teachers and students, and introduced the history and collections of Suzhou Archive, emphasized the Chamber of Commerce's "Treasures of the Hall", and the special archives of educational collections. He put forward his thinking about some problems in current cooperation between archives and scientific research institutions, such as colleges and universities, and specifically introduced important tasks have been doing by Suzhou Archive, such as the building up of Juveniles' archives, China Silk Archives, and follow-up work of the World Memory Project.

China Silk Archives Exhibition.

In the afternoon, students and teachers arrived at the "Center of Soochow University-Suhang Preservation of Data". Professor Zhaoyu Zhang described the reason and objectives of building the data storage center and its operation. He also led the teachers and students to visit the engine room and equipment, carefully explained the algorithms of protecting electronic files security, which greatly increased students' understanding of electronic archives and data protection.

In the evening, teachers and students of Archival Science of Wuhan University held an exchange meeting with teachers and students of Archival Science of Suzhou University to share their experience and reflections on their professional study.

Exchange meeting with teachers and students of Archival Science of Suzhou University.

So far, this social practice was successfully completed. The students wrote affectionately in the report that the social survey which out of classroom showed them with a different and vibrant Archival Science discipline, which kept up with the development trend of the times and had the courage to change, and dared to make its own unique path at the appropriate time. This social survey also made them realize that the development of Archival Science should not be an isolated island between institutions or disciplines. Each part was a combination of the complete continent of Archival Science. Diversity and comprehensiveness depended on the intersection and the integration between various institutions and related disciplines. More communication and cooperation could make this discipline more vigorous and vibrant.

Although the social practice was over, reflections brought during the social practice will motivate students to pay more attention to pioneering thinking, positive innovation and the combination of theory and practice, and let them strive to grow up to a comprehensive talent, and undertake the mission of the nation and the times.

Group photo of teachers and students of 2018-grade Archival Science of School of Information Management, Wuhan University.

Photo by: Mei Yong, Qiaoling Li, Weijun Zhang