SCBC holds opening ceremony for freshmen of 2021
As the opening ceremony was held for 2021 freshmen on morning of September 12, a new journey filled with new hopes began to set sail. Apart from the freshmen, also present in the ceremony were members of university leadership, heads of schools, faculty, departments, and divisions, and counselors for new students. Party Secretary and Vice President Xu Zhichao presided over the ceremony.
Executive President Wang Hua delivered a speech. On behalf of all the returning students and faculty, he expressed a warm welcome to the 1637 new students. He said that as the freshmen of 2021 opened the door to their university education in the year of the centenary of the CPC, it would be high time to acquaint themselves with the great history of the Party, absorbing the wisdom of the past and present to build up their character, and learning to think scientifically, acquire the methods of truth-seeking, and master the skills of making something of their own in the future.
Wang’s speech was structured with three inspiring questions, starting with “Why do you want to go to college?” He used a set of data and quoted many answers given by Chinese and foreign scholars to the question, and then offered his own take: A four-year university experience can change a lot of things for a person, such as his/her temperament, thinking, aspiration, circle of friends, vision, family, future and the next generation. In a great era of unprecedented change unseen in a century, the country and society have high expectations of the young today. So college students should strive harder to become the leaders of the society and take up the great responsibility of promoting the economic development of the country and the innovation of the socialist culture. Wang Hua hoped that in four years he would see all freshmen grow into good citizens with sound personality, self-confidence, respect for others and a sense of social responsibility who have cultivate themselves to be decent members of society who are knowledgeable, beautiful in their own way, honest to seek truth from facts, and righteous to uphold justice.
The second question was “What kind of university is South China Business College?” In answering this question, Wang gave an overview of the College in terms of its educational philosophy and vision, campus environment, pedagogical goals and quality, requirements for teachers and students, humanistic pursuits, etc.. He said that the College will, according to the framework set in the 14th Five-Year Plan, prioritize the improvement of student training quality, while also paying more attention to individual students’ needs and aspiration, moral standards, and their comprehensive development. Moreover, the College will also create first-class academic platform and favorable conditions to attract top-level faculty, building a harmonious environment and a unique campus culture to help bring out the greatest potential of students for future success.
The last question was “what and how to learn in the four years of college?” Wang Hua made four pieces of advice for the new students. Firstly, be ambitious and patriotic; secondly, study diligently and think independently; thirdly, be pragmatic and apply what has been learned into practice; and finally, learn to be sincere, tolerant, and good at communication. Wang Hua spoke to the audience earnestly: “University is a place full of outstanding young people, and only by continuous learning can you become better, and only by continuously overcoming challenges can you excel yourselves. Improving the ability to learning is the top task that one has to keep renewing in the four years of college, the one thing which when acquired will be a benefit of a lifetime.” He hoped that all freshmen are ready for the new era and the new journey, sailing and moving forward towards their goals and dreams.
At the opening ceremony, Professor Wang Tian from the School of Management, Lin Ying from the School of Chinese Language and Culture who is also an Outstanding member of the National Youth League, and Lai Liuying from the School of English Language and Culture spoke as representatives of teachers, returning students and new students respectively.