September 14th, 9,469 new graduate students start a new journey of life as graduate students of Sichuan University.
SCU held its 2020 opening ceremony for graduate students on the athletic field of Wangjiang campus on Sept 14. Jianguo Wang, chairman of the university council; Yanrong Li, the president of Sichuan University; and the three academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering: Jie Gao, Xingdong Zhang, and Yuzhong Wang attended the ceremony. Other attendees included SCU’s distinguished professors of Shunqing Cao, Shichuang Zhan, Wei Huo; the university administrators of Weilin Xu, Zhijian Chen, Shijing Yan, among others. All new graduate students of Class 2020 attended the ceremony. Vice President Bin Liang presided over the ceremony.
On behalf of the university, President Yanrong Li first welcomed the new graduate students and congratulated them on becoming graduate students of Sichuan University. He then gave the students their first lecture on "How can a graduate student develop expertise as well as a wide scope of knowledge" . In his lecture, President Li put forward three suggestions: First. Working as a graduate assistant is a shortcut on the way to developing expertise and a wide scope of knowledge. Second. Learning history of science and technology or history of civilization is an effective way to open up scientific research vision and cultivate strategic thinking. Third. Reading biographies and understanding how others reach the pinnacle in life is a useful way to stimulate the mission of innovation. He said that no matter where you come from or what major you study, as long as you learn to expand your knowledge boundary while going deep, you will surely become an excellent graduate student of Sichuan University.
Professor Zong’an Liang, winner of the “National Advanced Individual Against COVID-19” and head of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, told the story of SCU’s medical workers in the fight against COVID-19. He encouraged all new students to carry forward the great spirit of the anti-epidemic campaign, and integrate their studies and career into the great cause of national rejuvenation.
Professor Yi Li, the teacher representative and dean of the College of Literature and Journalism, said in his speech that the goal of graduate education is independent thinking and sound personality. The process of graduate education is just never-ending questioning and thinking. Sichuan University is a good university for students to learn to be masters of their ideas. He hoped that the students would plan their own life carefully, cherish every moment of their time at Sichuan University, leave a good memory for years to come, and become the history that the university is proud of.
In her speech, Jie Wang, the alumni representative and professor of Peking Union Medical College, reviewed her unforgettable experiences studying in West China School of Medicine and expressed her gratitude to her alma mater for her training. She hoped that the new students would harbor dreams, live up to the expectations of their teachers, schools, their country and nation, and advance to a new level in their studies and career.
Dayiheng Liu, a Class 2017 doctoral student of the College of Computer Science (School of Software) and the representative of graduate students, and Zijun Yan, a Class 2020 master student from the College of Chemistry and the representative of freshmen expressed their heartfelt thanks to teachers and parents in their speeches. They said that they would have lofty aspirations, broaden their horizons, and delve into study and research. They would move forward fearlessly towards their dreams and spell a wonderful mark of youth in Sichuan University.
At the ceremony, the university leaders, academicians and distinguished professors presented the school badge to the representatives of new graduate students of the year 2020. All new students have become officially a member of Sichuan University on this day. They all have a common name "People of Sichuan University" and will share the glory and responsibility of the people of Sichuan University, working together to create a new glory of Sichuan University.
