On the morning of September 18, Shenzhen University (SZU) officially launched the 2024 academic year with a grand opening ceremony held simultaneously on its Yuehai and Lihu campuses.
The event featured prominent figures, including Li Qingquan, Secretary of the Party Committee of SZU and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Mao Junfa, President of SZU and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; and Academicians Fan Dianyuan and Meng Jianmin from the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Additionally, Wang Yuexing, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission at SZU, attended the event, along with Vice Presidents Li Yonghua, Wang Yongcheng, and Zhang Xiaohong. The ceremony attracted approximately 10,000 participants, including leaders from various colleges and departments at SZU, faculty representatives, distinguished alumni, and heads of government organizations, as well as leaders of teaching, research, and support units. Jointly hosted by Li Yonghua and Wang Yongcheng at the campuses respectively, the event marked a significant start to the new academic year.
Undergraduates come from across the country and the quality of both undergraduate and master's students continues to rise
Zhang Xiaohong shared details about the new student enrollment for the 2024 academic year. This year, SZU welcomed a total of 13,717 new students, including 7,470 undergraduates, 5,541 master's students, and 401 doctoral candidates. Additionally, 305 international students from 67 countries chose SZU as their destination for higher education.
President Mao Junfa's message to new students: never forget history, embrace change and innovation, strive for excellence, and aim high
A standout moment of this year's opening ceremony was the collective performance of the song "Along the Songhua River" by both faculty and students of SZU. This performance served as a powerful reminder for students to remember history and strive for self-improvement. Mao Junfa addressed the new students, "On this day 93 years ago, China embarked on a 14-year War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. This war was a pivotal part of the global fight against fascism and represented the first complete victory in our modern history against foreign invasion and in the struggle for national liberation." He highlighted that SZU selected this particular day for the opening ceremony to enhance students' awareness of their historical responsibilities.
"You have traveled from across China and many other countries around the world to Shenzhen, the frontier of China's reform and opening-up, and to the university that proudly bears the city's name—Shenzhen University. This marks an extraordinary beginning for you, and your future promises to be just as remarkable. On behalf of nearly 400,000 members of the SZU community, I extend a warm welcome and my heartfelt appreciation!" Mao Junfa entrusted the new students with three important missions:to drive reform and innovation, to strive for excellence, and to aim for a global impact.
Faculty and student representatives: embrace responsibility, pursue innovation, and follow your dreams
During the opening ceremony, Liu Liwei, Executive Vice Dean of the College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering and a recipient of the Outstanding Youth Science Fund, spoke on behalf of the faculty at the Yuehai Campus. Meanwhile, Liu Hongtao, Dean of the College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, addressed attendees as the faculty representative from the Lihu Campus.
Representing the new student cohort, Xie Junhao, an undergraduate of the Class of 2024 from the School of Humanities, delivered remarks on behalf of the Yuehai Campus, and Chen Qichun, a graduate student from the College of Economics, spoke on behalf of the Lihu Campus, sharing their hopes and aspirations for the future.
Alumni share their SZU stories to inspire new students to make the most of their university years and fearlessly chase their dreams
How should students make the most of their time at university? As those who have walked the path, alumni have invaluable insights to offer. Fang Guohao, a 2013 graduate from the College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, recipient of the NSFC Excellent Young Scholars Fund (Overseas), Ph.D. supervisor, and Distinguished Professor at SZU's Institute for Advanced Study, shared his experiences as the alumni representative for the Yuehai Campus. Liu Shuo, a 2007 graduate from the College of Economics, Associate Professor at Peking University's Guanghua School of Management, and recipient of the NSFC Excellent Young Scientists Fund, spoke on behalf of the Lihu Campus, recounting his journey at SZU to inspire the new students.
