On November 20, the nation's first national-level offline stage play practice base for the project "Pillars of the Nation" was inaugurated at Qingdao Binhai University. The base was jointly awarded by the National Institute of Education Sciences, the Institute of Curriculum and Textbook Research under the Ministry of Education, and the Central Audio-visual Education Center. That same evening, the offline stage plays "Qian Xuesen" and "Huang Lingyi," part of the "Pillars of the Nation" series, successfully premiered at the university.

"Pillars of the Nation" is a national key project. It uses the stage play format to focus on outstanding figures who have made exceptional contributions to the nation's development, promoting the spirit of scientists and patriotism. It holds significant educational and artistic value.

To advance the implementation of this project, the university established a project team in early October. Teachers with experience in musical performance and artistic direction were selected to form a directing group. Open auditions for actors were held among all enrolled students, attracting over 200 participants for the lead roles alone. Ultimately, three lead actors and a team of over 60 people (including more than 30 performers and crew members) were finalized. The actors studied their roles by watching video materials and researching biographies. To better highlight the protagonists, the directing group intentionally added some supporting roles. Through collective collaboration and rigorous rehearsal, the dramatic tension of the productions and the project team's execution capabilities were comprehensively enhanced, laying a solid foundation for the successful premiere and the establishment of the base.

The premiere productions focused on the life stories of Qian Xuesen and Huang Lingyi, showcasing their heartfelt patriotism and dedication to serving the country through scientific research. Each play lasted approximately 90 minutes. Over a thousand teachers and students attended the live performances, immersing themselves in the scientists' patriotic sentiments. During key scenes recreated on stage, applause resonated throughout the auditorium, lasting and rising wave after wave. The teachers and students conveyed their sincere admiration and emotional resonance for these national pillars through their heartfelt applause.

"The successful establishment of this base is inseparable from the university's solid foundation in moral education, as well as the enthusiasm, hard work of these non-performance major students, and the university's high level of execution," introduced Xu Zhaojuan, Secretary of the University Youth League Committee. "Since the base's preparation began, the university has organized a performance team through open auditions, facilitated efficient rehearsals for the directing team, simultaneously strengthened diversified publicity, and planned for multiple touring performances in the future. These measures and plans highlight the characteristic of holistic education involving all members and solidly promote innovation in moral education and cultural cultivation."

Compared to traditional didactic moral education, the stage play practice base has established an immersive educational pathway. Zhang Qiyue, a 2023 Fusion Education major who portrayed Qian Xuesen, expressed: "I am deeply honored to have had the opportunity to portray Mr. Qian Xuesen. It allowed me to step into his shoes, personally experience and comprehend the mental journey of overcoming formidable challenges, which enabled me to grasp the spiritual essence of the nation's pillars more profoundly than through written stories or films." Yang Xinxin, a 2024 Marketing major and audience member, was also deeply moved: "Watching the performance on stage felt like traveling through time and space to meet the scientists. Their pursuit of science and love for the motherland deeply moved and inspired me, and made me more aware of the responsibilities and mission of our younger generation."

Subsequently, the university will progressively launch public welfare tours within its secondary colleges, neighboring primary and secondary schools, and communities. It plans to complete 20 performances by the end of March 2026, allowing the spirit of scientists to permeate the campus, extend beyond it, enter communities, and inspire society. Building on this, the university will gradually expand the base's development to various colleges and student clubs, encouraging more students to participate in performances or attend live shows, immersing themselves in the spirit of scientists. Simultaneously, it will promote a tiered approach where teachers and students pass on the torch, developing this project into a new distinctive moral education initiative and brand for the university, driving the university's moral education work to continuously deepen and solidify.