On June 15th, WUT held the 2024 Commencement and Degree-conferring Ceremony at the South Lake Gymnasium, to warmly send off all graduates as they embark on a new chapter in life! All current school leaders and members of the Higher Degrees Committee attended the ceremony and conferred degrees on the soon-to-be graduates. Zhang Di,Vice President of WUT, presided over the ceremony.

On behalf of all faculty members and other students of WUT, Yang Zongkai, President of WUT extended the warmest congratulations to the graduates! He also expressed heartfelt thanks to the teachers, parents, and corporate mentors who had meticulously nurtured and cared for the students as they studied in WUT.

Yang Zongkai, using the Digital Cockpit, reviewed the extraordinary academic journey with the graduates and highlighted their outstanding achievements: the 2024 graduates visited the Smart Library 1.733 billion times, participated in the "Ideological and Political Course" 172,800 times, joined the online "Science and Engineering Wisdom Course" 1.43 million times, and took part in flipped classrooms and hybrid classrooms 2.895 million times. A total of 5,359 students participated in 5,335 research projects, 4,333 students published 5,726 papers, 6,338 students applied for 12,302 patents, and 4,111 students won awards in science and technology innovation competitions at the provincial level or higher. Among the 2024 graduates, 3,980 students would pursue further studies, 1,610 graduates will root themselves in grassroots, and 3,840 graduates would join key national sectors.

At the time of parting, Yang Zongkai offered three pieces of advice to the 2024 graduates, wishing them a steady and far-reaching future. First, he encouraged them to accurately recognize changes and remain steadfast in their original aspirations, becoming dream chasers of the era who uphold the WUT spirit of "sound in morality, broad in learning and pursuing excellence", maintain confidence, and stay determined to contribute their youthful energy to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Second, he urged them to proactively seek change and become innovative practitioners who pursue truth and uphold rationality, acquiring true knowledge and honing real skills, and to welcome the era of intelligence with an open vision, shared attitude, and passionate quest for knowledge. Third, he advised them to actively adapt to changes, becoming societal leaders who constantly renew and explore themselves, establishing lifelong learning habits to become outstanding talents who lead in technological frontiers, industry innovation, and regional development.

Xin Sijin, Secretary of the CPC WUT Committee, presented honorary certificates to outstanding graduates and presented them with "alumni lifelong learning cards". WUT alumni would always be accessible to the online platform of "Science and Engineering Wisdom Course", future learning centers, library reading services, digital library resources, art gallery, etc.. WUT, together with its alumni would jointly create a metaverse university that was always there for all the alumni.

Professor Bao Shenxu, a national high-level talent and dean of the School of Resources and Environmental Engineering shared his experiences of studying and working, encouraging all graduates to always be patriotic, vow to serve the country, and contribute to the dream of building a strong country. He emphasized nurturing a broad-minded attitude by remembering the unity of family and country, fostering ambition through hard work, and cultivating a spirit of excellence, urging everyone to be positive and respectable WUTers.

Zhang Guoliang, chairman of Lianyungang Yingyou Textile Machinery Group Co., Ltd. and Zhongfu Shenyi Carbon Fiber Co., Ltd., a Grade 1977 alumnus, discussed life insights with graduates. He said that patriotism was the foundation of a person's career. Young people carried not only their own dreams but also the responsibility to promote social progress and national development. Life was full of possibilities, and he hoped that students would use practical actions to bridge the gap with their dreams and stride forward into a life journey being full of flowers and brightness.

Liao Yalin, a student representative from the School of Transportation and Logistics Engineering, reviewed the unforgettable journey of university life, expressing gratitude and reluctance of leaving to teachers, classmates, and best wishes to the alma mater. He called on young students who were about to embark on various professions to bravely shoulder the mission entrusted by the times, firmly grasp the baton of the era, and contribute their youth and strength to the great journey of building a strong country and national rejuvenation.

Amid cheerful music, graduates successively stepped onto the red carpet and onto the stage, where school leaders turned the tassels and presented the diplomas to the graduates.

As the Song of Excellence started, the commencement and degree-conferring ceremony came to a successful conclusion. The graduates of the class of 2024 were carrying the expectations of their alma mater, teachers, and families, setting sail for a new journey, and being ready to shoulder responsibilities and set off again. Relevant leaders of the school's functional departments, the main leaders of the Party and Administration Office of each school, the deputy party secretary in charge of student affairs, the graduation class counselors, enterprise mentors, alumni, parents of graduates, and the class of 2024 gathered together to share the grand graduation ceremony.

Reported by: Yang Guangping

Rewritten by: Zou Yingqi, Wang Jingjing

Edited by: Yu Mengmei, Li Tiantian

Source: Office of Student Affairs