Inaugural Graduation Ceremony of Xi an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

(XJTLU, China-6th Aug 2010)Invited On August 6, Xi an Jiaotong-Liverpool University welcomes its first inaugural graduation ceremony. Over 500 people attended this grand ceremony, General Secretary of Party Committee of Xi an Jiaotong University Professor Jianhua Wang, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool Professor Sir Howard Newby, Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences Professor Wenquan Tao, Executive President Professor Youmin Xi, founding Executive President Professor Michael Fang, Director of Dushu Lake Higher Education Town Administrative Office Mr Feng Ye also were present. External tutors and representatives of Industrial Advisory Committee, students parents and staff representatives joined the event as well.

This first graduates were granted two Bachelor s Degrees from both Xi an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and Liverpool University, UK. All 136 graduates graduated as Bachelors of Engineering, Bachelors of Sciences, Bachelors of Economics and Bachelors of Management. 67 of them were granted First Honors degrees which are almost five times of the average percentage of total university graduates in 2008-2009 academic year in the UK.

As much as 97% of all the graduates will pursuit their Masters or PhDs in world renowned universities. The students received letters of admission from prestigious universities like Oxford University, Cambridge University, Imperial College London, the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Liverpool University etc.; among which, 5 of them will continue their studies straight-forward to PhD program with full or half scholarships.

The Executive President of XJTLU Prof. Xi declared the ceremony open by delivering the opening speech.
Today s event is genuinely unique, he said: it is the first time that students will graduate from our university. It is also an historic event because it marks the culmination of over 6 years of work in the planning and development of our university, and because it is the first time ever that students anywhere in China will graduate from a Sino-UK university with a Chinese degree. President Xi paid special tribute to Suzhou Municipal Government, Xi an Jiaotong University, Liverpool University as well as the staff, students and their parents for their moral, emotional, financial support and their encouragement through the difficult times in achieving the successes of XJTLU.

Professor Sir Howard Newby, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool retrospected the history of academic cooperation between Liverpool University and China and spoke highly of the mode of education and teaching quality. Students who have transferred from XJTLU to the University of Liverpool have demonstrated this strength and self-confidence in their activities within the University of Liverpool Guild of Students and in the Liverpool City community through their personal and collective contributions including through volunteering activities, he said,

XJTLU students are tremendous ambassadors for China and have made a wonderful impact on the University of Liverpool achieving very high academic success. The excellence of our XJTLU students is already well-known in China, making a major contribution to the popularity and rapidly-growing reputation of the University.

As a parent, I m so glad for making the right choice by choosing XJTLU four years ago. I have seen the progress of my son in every aspect from learning how to study to how to deal with people. I have seen my son grown up, become confident and independent. Parents representative Mr. Fang, father of graduate Fang Lei, said in his speech. Fang Lei has been accepted in University of St Andrews, alma mater of Prince Williams with a full SICSA scholarship of nearly RMB 1 million to study straight-forward for his doctorate degree.

The Inaugural Graduation Ceremony lasted for 2 hours; Vice President of XJTLU Prof Minzhu Yang presented all the graduates to Executive President Prof Xi Youming to grant them with their Bachelor s Degree in person.