2008 Graduate School Opening Ceremony

On the morning of Sep. 17, SISU held the 2008 Graduate School Opening Ceremony at the stadium of Songjiang Faculty and Students ActivityCenter. 661 new graduates together with their families and friends witnessed this historical moment.

The ceremony started in the solemn national anthem at 10:00 in the morning. Leaders of SISU such as Prof. Wu Youfu, Prof. Li Yuesong, Prof. Feng Qinghua, Prof. Wang Jing, etc. were present. Prof. Wang Xiaoling, Vice Dean of the GraduateSchool hosted the ceremony.

Zhao Mu, Chair of the Graduate Students Union, delivered a speech on behalf of all graduates. Drawing from his own experience at the GraduateSchool, he said, I deeply feel that SISU s tradition offers us a cultural foundation, which includes a positive attitude towards life, a strong sense of achievement, and a fresh strength. He encouraged new students to clarify their directions during their academic pursue here, to equip themselves with knowledge and skills, and to increase their competence in competitions. On the stage of SISU, every one of us can find our own place to show our passion and abilities.

Shen Min, new students representative majoring in English language and literature, gave a speech, too. She said that the new students would earnestly practice what the SISU motto advocated Personal Integrity and Academic Excellence . They would carry forward SISU s tradition and keep on writing an outstanding chapter for SISU s future. In order to be self-reliant and outstanding SISU graduates, the new students will sail in the wind of their sense of responsibility, with the paddles of diligence and dreams in their minds. Shen Min said, In the next two years, we will work hard to consolidate our knowledge base, explore the academic field, and enrich our practical experience so as to fill away as SISU talents.

Prof. Chai Mingjiong, Dean of Graduate Institute of Interpretation and Translation welcomed the new students on behalf of the faculty at SISU. He said, It is a necessity for SISU to become an internationally advanced, multi-disciplinary and research-teaching university that SISU s graduates should enhance their academic study level and research ability on the whole. He hoped that all the students would be ready and willing to challenge academic authorities, be ambitious, aim high, grasp scientific methods, work hard and achieve the best in their studies. Prof. Chai said, Many other teachers at SISU are like me, who will try their best to be your mentors and friends on the way to success. We would like to create a good academic environment for you, to do research together with you, to achieve more and to make our contributions to help SISU become a prestigious university.

Prof. Wu Youfu, Secretary of SISU Communist Party Committee and Director of School Affairs Committee, reviewed SISU s nearly 60-year history and introduced SISU s achievements in graduate education. He also expressed his four wishes for the new students about how to do better in their research studies:

First, He wished that all of them could follow SISU s motto and dedicated to be a man of integrity, to be expert on both national and international thoughts, prudent and ambitious; to be a man who will contribute to social development; to be a man of good health and noble interests; to be a man of aspirations and strong will; and to be a capable and competent man who can serve both his family and nation.

Second, He hoped that all of them could be broad-minded and self-disciplined. Students should have noble goals, care about the society, strictly discipline themselves in their studies and treat others kindly. They should create together a harmonious learning environment for studies and living. While facing conflicts and difficulties, they should know themselves well, challenge themselves, and win over themselves. At the same time, the new students should also form good habits and observe rules and regulations instead of lowering demands on themselves and their studies after being admitted to the graduate school.

Third, He hoped that all of them could study hard, challenge themselves, enhance their profession knowledge, quality and academic research ability. They are expected to follow the example of SISU graduates, treasure their time at SISU, participate actively in academic research under tutors supervision and cultivate the correct spirit for pursuing studies--- It is better to have no empty words in one s article even at the cost of 10-year hard work alone . Students should be observant and thoughtful, pursue the truth rather than follow doctrines, uphold science instead of superstition, dare to criticize, eager to correct, and strive to discover and participate. They can learn from communication and cooperation, on the other hand, through studies, they will gradually learn how to communicate and cooperate, gain knowledge from multi-channels and various angles so as to enhance their humanity quality comprehensively.

Forth, he hoped that the students would foster their competitive edge and enhance their comprehensive competence. The greatest advantage that SISU graduates have is their foreign language proficiency and outstanding intercultural communication skills. However, with the development of economy and the society as well as other universities competition, this traditional advantage has been challenged, and comparatively speaking, lost its edge. We must consider this fact, consolidate our advantage, and at the same time expand our knowledge base to build a much broader academic performance platform. Language usage and research should be the starting point for us and we need improve our overall competence to better serve the society.

Prof. Wu wished that all the students of 2008 will be confident to face the challenges as SISU maintains its great momentum. Let s be innovative, strive for a brighter future of SISU with our effort, energy, knowledge and persistence. Let s write the most magnificent chapter of our life with our wisdom, industry and passion!

(Text: Miao Xun and Cao Yuan; Photo: Hu Xinhua)