On June 20, Shenzhen University (SZU) celebrated its 2025 graduation ceremony at the Yuanping Stadium of Yuehai Campus.
The ceremony was held simultaneously at four satellite venues across both the Yuehai and Lihu campuses, with live streaming on multiple official SZU media platforms. Over 10,000 graduates, along with their families, friends, and members of the community who support the development of SZU, witnessed this moment filled with achievement and hope, both online and in person. Together, they celebrated and wished the graduates success in finding their "place" in life, encouraging them to be bold and take action in the future.
Record number of graduate students
During the ceremony, Li Qingquan, Secretary of the Party Committee of SZU, presented certificates to outstanding graduates. Mao Junfa, President of SZU, officiated the tassel-turning ceremony and conferred bachelor's, honorary bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Vice President Wang Yongcheng announced the decision to recognize outstanding graduates, while Vice President Zhou Hui read the official decisions to award bachelor's, honorary bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Vice President Chao Naipeng provided an overview of the 2025 graduation statistics for both undergraduates and graduate students.
This year, SZU graduated a total of 6,799 full-time undergraduate students.By June 20, a total of 5,208 undergraduate students had completed their professional studies as per the curriculum requirements, and successfully obtained their graduation certificates. They met the criteria for conferment of bachelor's degrees, which were granted following approval by SZU's Academic Degree Evaluation Committee.Among them, 202 students were awarded honorary bachelor's degrees, 79 received bachelor's degrees in minors, and 43 obtained certificates in minors. A total of 333 students were named SZU's 2025 Excellent Undergraduate Graduates.In addition,2,102students were awarded bachelor's degrees in adult higher education.
In 2025, SZU had a total of4,815 graduate students, setting a new record for the university. Of these, 107 were doctoral graduates, and 4,708 were master's graduates. The former received 101 awards, while the latter gained the following honors: 302 were recognized with the National Scholarship, 4 with the Liyan Excellence Scholarship, 34 with the Pengcheng Scholarship and Tencent Founder Innovation Scholarship, 222 with the Outstanding Postgraduate Cadre Scholarship, and 331 with the title of Outstanding Graduate Student.
In terms of further education and employment, as of May 28, nearly 30% of the 2025 cohort of prospective graduates (excluding those from Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Macao SAR, and Chinese Taiwan) had been admitted to master's degree programs at prestigious universities and research institutions such as Tsinghua University, Peking University, and the University of Oxford. By June 9, of the graduate students who had confirmed their post-graduation plans, 23% had signed contracts with government agencies and public institutions, 70% had secured positions with companies such as BYD, Huawei, SiCARRIER, and Tencent, and 4%had been admitted to top domestic and international universities like Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore).
In terms of innovation awards,undergraduates from the 2025 cohort excelled in various competitions, earning a total of 1,886 awards, including 64 international, 699 national, and 1,123 provincial or ministerial-level prizes. According to the2025 College Student Competition Index for Regular Higher Education Institutions, SZU ranked 39th in China and 2nd in Guangdong Province. In the China International College Students' Innovation Competition 2024, SZU ranked 15th nationally and 2nd in Guangdong Province in terms of the total gold awards, underscoring its students' innovative abilities. Graduate students from the 2025 cohort also showcased exceptional innovation capability across various disciplines, securing a total of 206 awards, including 128 at the national level and 69 at the provincial level.Additionally, 107 doctoral students published 265 academic papers as first authors, with two appearing in prestigious journals.
"Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?"
Will you still love Shenzhen University tomorrow? At the graduation ceremony, President Mao Junfa delivered a speech titled "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" As they bid farewell under the willow trees at the pavilion, he and the graduates exchanged their hopes and heartfelt sentiments, offering the warmest congratulations and best wishes to the Cohort of 2025. He also left them with a final thought-provoking question.
In his speech, Mao painted a vision of SZU's future and posed a question to the graduates to reflect on their own answers. "For Shenzhen University, how impressive the rankings or indicators may be merely external signs of the university’s progress. Ultimately, what truly matters is your love and support. When you think of your alma mater, feeling proud and warm inside—that is the core driving force behind Shenzhen University's unwavering commitment and continuous pursuit of excellence." He assured the graduates that SZU will continue to strive forward with vigor, supporting their new beginnings, enriching their journeys, and brightening their futures.
This year, SZU presented a unique graduation gift: a camping chair that embodies the spirit of "daring to act and daring to rest", offering a moment of peace amidst the hustle and bustle. President Mao explained, "This gift encourages you to venture boldly in the wilderness of life while reminding you to maintain balance in other areas of life. Between the extremes of 'striving for success' and 'lying flat', there will always be a cherished treasure from Shenzhen University by your side, unwavering and loyal."
At the end of his speech, Mao revealed the answer, "I know your final choice is to continue loving Shenzhen University tomorrow. I believe you also know the university's choice—its love for you will remain unwavering tomorrow."
The graduates of the Cohort of 2025 responded with thunderous applause, "We will always love Shenzhen University!"
Alongside the chair, many graduates shared their thoughts on the "invisible gifts" they received from SZU.
"What I'll never forget is the sound of success that followed the 'beep' when I swiped my card on the Liyuan shuttle!" said Fang Ruijie, a graduate from the College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, with a touch of nostalgia.
Jia Ning, a master's graduate from the School of Humanities, shared that the most valuable "invisible gift" she received was from her philosophy writing professor, whose guidance greatly enriched her academic and intellectual development.
Tian Leyuan, a master's graduate from the College of Materials Science and Engineering, reflected that the best gift she received was the friendships she formed in the university. "No matter where life takes us in the future, our light will always shine on each other."
He Yiting, an undergraduate from the School of Government, said the greatest gift she received was the value of "self-discipline", as reflected in SZU's motto. "In the free and diverse environment of Shenzhen University, I truly came to understand that 'self-discipline is freedom'."
Chen Guojie, a PhD graduate from the College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, shared his reflections on his five years at SZU, where he completed both his master's and doctoral studies. The most cherished "invisible gift" he received was his all-around growth and transformation. "Here, I gained not only knowledge, but also the ability to think independently, handle pressure, and maintain an open, inclusive mindset." He added, "This 'soft power' will become the most valuable asset in my future life."
