Time: May 13, 2015  

Source: News Center  

Publisher: Lu Jianmin

(Prof. Huang Dehong)

The distinguished economist Huang Dehong, a JNU professor and doctoral supervisor, died on May 12 at the age of 100. His will reads "I wish to leave the world without bothering others: no rite, no obituary and no memorial service; sorry about that, my dear friends and students."

As an economist, Huang, devoted himself to studying the development of Guangdong's economy, influencing reform of the economic structure of South China and the whole country in the long run. As a founder of JNU's doctoral program in industrial economy, he worked hard and conscientiously, setting an example for all JNU teachers and students.

Huang was born in Jiangyang City, Guangdong province. Abiding by the motto "Pursuing knowledge and focusing on studies for the motherland's prosperity," he first studied medicine, then learned sociology and finally conducted research on economics. Before coming to JNU, Huang successively served as associate professor or professor at Sun Yat-sen University, Zhongnan University of Finance and Economics, and Hubei University.

As early as the beginning of the 1960s, Huang started studying the effects of industrial investment, putting forward four factors of fundamental socialist industrialization. In the early 1980s, he further advanced six basic ways to increase industries' economic benefits in detail. Recognizing and praising Guangdong's industrial achievements since its reform and opening-up, he made a general prediction for Guangdong's industrial development – large but not so strong. He also gave strategic formulation and relevant tactics for realizing Guangdong's industrial growth from large size to strong momentum. Furthermore, he was the first to advocate the spirit of industry.

"Neither would such excellent students be cultivated nor would those talents contribute to Guangdong's economic growth without the establishment of JNU's doctoral program in industrial economy," Huang said.

In his 70-year academic career, Huang not only embraced outstanding academic fruits but also shaped his own philosophy and methods of talent cultivation. Learning to be a man of virtue before being a man of knowledge, he often warned students not to be arrogant, not only in their daily lives but also in study, since being conceited and too self-satisfied detract from the real state of study. Huang set an example for students and guided them by being strict with himself.