Zhejiang University welcomes 2023 graduate students
On the evening of September 16, Zhejiang University held a grand opening ceremony for the 2023 graduate student cohort. The ceremony took place On Zijingang Campus and had satellite locations at the Ocean College, the School of Software Technology, the International Joint Institute, and the International School of Medicine.
Over 13,000 aspiring students from across the country gathered in Qiushi Yard, brimming with youthful vigor, determined to pursue their dreams and ready to embark on a brand-new journey in life.
Prof. DU Jiangfeng, president of Zhejiang University, extended a warm welcome to the new graduate students and delivered an inspiring speech. In his speech, he stressed the dynamic nature of today’s world, teeming with opportunities and challenges. He highlighted the nation’s new path to Chinese-style modernization and the shaping of a new form of human civilization. He encouraged the young students of this era to act confident, dream big, and shoulder loftier responsibilities as a driving force that will shape the future world.
DU Jiangfeng emphasized that to turn their dreams into reality, the students should prioritize their learning, delve into their academic research, and apply their knowledge and skills to tackle real-world problems. He urged them to sharpen their innovative faculty and hone their problem-solving abilities through academic exploration, to accumulate practical knowledge by overcoming difficulties, to transcend themselves by serving national strategies and addressing global challenges, to better understand the world and transform it through the unity of knowledge and action.
Academicians and senior liberal arts professors shared upbeat messages with the new students through video presentations. They called on them to uphold the spirit of “Seeking Truth and Pursuing Innovation”, dedicate themselves to academic pursuits, expand their horizons, and scale new heights, thus making positive contributions to the nation with Chinese modernization in a comprehensive manner.
FAN Xiaohui, a professor from the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, spoke on behalf of faculty and staff. He shared his personal experience of studying and working in Qiushi Yard. He inspired the new students to come to terms with failures, transcend obstacles, and strive for success the confidence and conviction captured in the poem “Someday, with my sail piercing the clouds; I will mount the wind, break the waves, and traverse the vast, rolling sea.” He assured them that the faculty would do their utmost to create a dream space for them, enabling them to tackle more challenging research tasks and reach unprecedented peaks.
YANG Chengyue, a third-year doctoral student from the School of Public Affairs, expressed a vision shared by many in the Zhejiang University community. “I hope that we can always carry the mission of ‘being worthy of the new era and youth’, maintain single-minded devotion and unwavering commitment, and have the global vision of ‘building a better country and a better world together in Qiushi Yard. We will contribute our intelligence and strength to technological progress and human development,” said YANG.
From this day onwards, the new graduate students will share the honorable title of “ZJUers”, joining a prestigious lineage of scholars and thinkers in history. Together, the Zhejiang University community will stand united to shoulder the responsibilities of the nation and society together, committed to shaping a brighter future.