On September 17, more than 10,000 new undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students of Southeast University gathered on the Great Lawn of the Jiulonghu Campus for the 2026 Opening Ceremony. The ceremony was simultaneously held at sub-venues on the Wuxi and Suzhou campuses. Wu Xiaocheng, Secretary of the CPC Committee of Southeast University; Sun Youhong, President of Southeast University and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Miao Changwen, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Liu Jiaping, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Director of the Academic Committee of Southeast University; Hong Wei, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Peter David Lund, Foreign Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Fan Heping, Senior Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences; university leaders including Gao Liguo, Zhong Wenqi, Qiu Haibo, Sun Litao, and Wang Chengxiang; Chen Mian, alumnus representative and founder of Evoken; and representatives of key source high schools attended the grand event. Xing Jihong, Deputy Secretary of the CPCCommittee, presided over the ceremony.
The ceremony began as the solemn national anthem played. The Southeast University Flag Guard escorted the Five-Star Red Flag into the venueinsteady steps. Allfaculty and students stood at attention, gazing respectfully at the flag, and sang the national anthem in unison, creating a solemn and spirited atmosphere.
Sun Youhong delivered a speech entitled Striving Forward for a Promising New Era — Anchoring the “Four Dimensional Coordinates” of Youth at Southeast University. On behalf of the university, he first extended congratulations and a warm welcome to more than 15,000 new undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students, who have come to realize their dreams at Southeast University with great passion. He also expressed gratitude and respect to parents and faculty members who have wholeheartedly supported the growth of these new students. He quoted General Secretary Xi Jinping as saying that as we forge ahead with the great endeavor of building a powerful country and realizing national rejuvenation, it is a prime time for the younger generation to display their talents and give full play to their abilities. Southeast University is a time honored institution steeped in profound heritage and the pursuit of excellence. Over its 124 year legacy, it has fostered a spiritual ethos defined by sincerity as its foundation, solid competence as its backbone, andstriving forperfection for lofty aspirations. Choosing Southeast University means inheriting weighty historical glory, stepping onto fertile ground where dreams can take root and flourish, and embarking on a path ofstriving forperfection that keeps pace with the times and strives for excellence.
Standing at a historic juncture marked by both changes and opportunities, Sun Youhong put forward four expectations to encourage the new students:First, study diligently and think critically to build substantial depth for your youth. Make good use of intelligent tools without over reliance, and absorb knowledge extensively without blind obedience. Consolidate your knowledge foundation to gain the confidence to address real world problems; dare to break conventional mindsets and cultivate the drive to propose innovative solutions. Second, break barriers and pursue innovation to broaden the horizon for your youth. Dig deep to draw nourishment from specialized knowledge, and reach outward to break ingrained mental boundaries. Be bold in innovation and fearless of trial and error on the boundless fertile ground of Southeast University.Third, stay passionate to nurture the warmth of youth. Stay true to yourself when making choices, and identify a cause worthy of your devotion and dedication. Maintain an optimistic mindset, foster resilience, and keep physically fit. Cherish your family, respect your teachers, and value your friends. Let sincere relationships accumulate warmth and strength for your life journey. Fourth, forge ahead with perseverance to scale new heights in youth. Aspire to contribute to building a powerful nation, and equip yourselves with the tenacity to confront hardships head on. Forge ahead on the Long March of the new era, and let your youth thrive and rise to new heights.
“The youth should strive for accomplishment and forge ahead to open a new chapter.” Sun Youhong addressed the new students. From this moment on, the course of your lives becomes closely interwoven with Southeast University. May you set your course in your youthful years at SEU, become better versions of yourselves in the pursuit of excellence, and, on the great journey of national rejuvenation, write a passionate, inspiring chapter for your generation.
Chen Mian, an alumnus of the School of Economics and Management, Class of 2018, looked back affectionately on his campus days in his speech. He shared the two fold growth brought to him by Southeast University: fulfilling the dreams he held before turning eighteen and forging new dreams for life after eighteen. He urged new students to seize the present and hold fast to their dreams, to live each day earnestly, and develop authentic and one of a kind selves. He encouraged them to turn dreams into visions, set forth with courage, and reach their destinations through perseverance.
Speeches delivered by faculty and student representatives revolved around the theme “What Defines Southeast University: Striving for Perfection.” This session was structured into three chapters: “First Encounter with SEU: Setting Sail in Youth”, “Taking Root at SEU: Integrating Knowledge and Action”, and “Making One’s Mark from SEU: Shouldering Responsibility for the Country and Society”. Nine representatives of faculty and students took to the stage one after another.
Miao Xuan, an undergraduate student of the Class of 2030 from the Chien Shiung Wu College, recounted his youthful choice of cycling 706 kilometers over 10 days together with his father to reach Southeast University. Liu Jingru, a master’s student from the School of Humanities, shared her reflections on participating in the development of Wendao, the world’s first system level vertical large language model for ethics. Sheng Renwang, a doctoral student from the Medical School, looked back on his eight year interdisciplinary journey shifting from clinical medicine to research on silk biomaterials and intelligent interventional robots.
Sofia, an international undergraduate student of the Class of 2028 from the School of Architecture, shared her experience of growing up in China and pursuing her dreams at SEU. Her heartfelt message is that “there is no standard blueprint for growth.” Zhong Xinyu, an undergraduate student of the Class of 2027 from the School of Mathematics, told of her perseverance in delving into pure mathematics and engaging in interdisciplinary research such as UAV path planning. Sun Yutai, a doctoral student, from the School of Information Science and Engineering, presented his story of tackling technical challenges: designing baseband chip architectures with artificial intelligence to shorten the design cycle of chip bit width.
Fang Siyuan, a young faculty member from the School of Energy and Environment, recounted her decision to return to China after completing her overseas studies and join Southeast University. She addressed new students with the message: “Draw on global wisdom to lay the foundation for our motherland.” Academician Miao Changwen, Professor of the School of Materials Science and Engineering, looked back on his 40-year-long bond with Southeast University and building materials. He was among the first cohort of college students following the resumption of China’s college entrance examination. Drawing on his decades long experience of tackling tough problems in concrete research, he told new students: “As SEUers, we must have the mettle to gnaw at hard nuts and venture into uncharted territories. We also need the resolve to challenge the impossible and the courage to step onto the global stage.” Professor Gu Wei from the School of Electrical Engineering shared his experience of responding to national energy transition by conducting experiments on industrial front lines. He encouraged new students to uphold the aspiration of “Making One’s Mark,” accumulate strength through exploration, and deliver value through solid practice.
The ceremony was permeated with warm sentiments. New student representatives held bouquets, bowed and presented flowers to parent representatives and high school principal representatives, to express gratitude for the tremendous support they had received along their journey of growth.
A university badge represents a sense of belonging. At the end of the ceremony, all new students stood up and solemnly pinned the badge to their chests, making a youthful pledge to the 120-year-old Southeast University through a collective oath.
As the melody of the Southeast University anthem rang out and its songechoed across the venue, it witnessed the new SEUers embarking on a new chapter of their life journey.
Source: SEU News Network
Translated by: Melody Zhang
Proofread by: Li Dai
Edited by: Leah Li
