In line with the important directives of the 20th National Party Congress on "prioritizing mental health and psychological well-being," and to further foster an educational environment that supports psychological development, USST held the inaugural "WE Group Counseling" Competition for the 2025 "Hujiang Med-Ed Cup" on May 23.
This competition is also the first of its kind in Shanghai targeting peer group facilitators and applications in classroom settings. The event, organized by the University's Psychological Education and Counseling Center, hosted by the College of Foreign Languages, and co-organized by the Yangpu District Mental Health Center, was launched in April. After a rigorous process including preliminary college-level evaluations and recommendations, followed by a joint review by on-and-off campus experts, three finalists from both the student and faculty categories advanced to the finals. The judging panel consisted of experts from within and outside the university, and the event also brought together dedicated teachers as well as psychological committee members from various colleges.
During the competition, the contestants took to the stage in sequence, delivering group counseling facilitation demonstrations. Within 40 minutes, focusing on classroom group counseling, each contestant guided the volunteers through a whole session—comprising warm-up, thematic, and closing phases—utilizing diverse methods such as interactive activities, OH cards, body sculpture, role-playing, and meditation. These approaches led the participating students on a journey of self-exploration, enabling them to learn emotional awareness, to master techniques for coping with stress, and to cultivate an appreciation for happiness. Their outstanding performances earned resounding applause from the faculty and students present.
After intense competition, Ms. Su Yuyan, an advisor from our college, secured the First Prize in the Faculty Category. Sun Jingrong, Head of the Psychological Department within the college's Student Union, was awarded the Third Prize in the Student Category. Furthermore, our college was honored with the “Outstanding Organization Award” in recognition of its meticulous efforts in hosting the event.
