Cool fall comes, a new cohort arrived on campus. On the afternoon of September 7, Zhejiang University - University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign Institute (ZJUI) held a welcome ceremony at the International Campus Auditorium. The 207 undergraduate and doctoral freshmen will start their new university life on the international campus.
Prof. Li Erping, Dean of ZJUI, Prof. Philip Krein , Executive Dean, Prof. Ma Hao, Associate Dean, and ZJUI faculty and staffs organized and took participated in the event. Prof. He Lianzhen, Vice President of Zhejiang University and Dean of the International Campus, ZJU, Professor Fu Qiang, Assistant President of Zhejiang University, Secretary of the Party Working Committee and Vice Dean of the International Campus, ZJU, Prof. K.C. Ting, Vice Dean of the International Campus, ZJU, Prof. Philippe Geubelle, Executive Vice Dean of of the Grainger College of Engineering at UIUC, Erhan Kudeki, Associate Head for Undergraduate Affairs/Chief Advisor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; at UIUC, Anthony Jacobi, Head of Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at UIUC, David Lange, Representative of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Umberto Ravaioli, Director of Academic Affairs for UIUC-ZJU Partnership, Lap-Chee Tsui, Master of Residential College, representatives of relevant departments of Zhejiang University, and directors of departments of the International Campus were invited to attend the ceremony. ZJUI undergraduate and doctoral freshmen and their parents, around 400 people in total, participated in the grand event.
Prof. He Lianzhen, introduced the concept of running the international campus to the participants, and send message to freshmen on behalf of ZJU to encourage new students to stay thirsty for knowledge, to be open up; pursue excellence and create the future; persist in seeking truth and serve the world.
Philippe Geubelle, Executive Vice Dean, led the guests to a comprehensive understanding of the GraingerCollege of Engineering from the perspectives of profiles, research, alumni, and training concepts.
After introducing the institute's cross-disciplinary innovation education, Dean Li Erping also raised four hopes for the new students: Learning a set of core intellectual capabilities, developing character , pursuing rich positive experiences , self-definition. . He also stressed that, in addition to having a good grasp of specialized knowledge, students are also expected to have a broad vision, a comprehensive understanding of knowledge in other fields, and hope that everyonecan form and learn critical thinking, innovation, global view, independent life-long learning, communication and teamwork, leadership, feelings of nation and country and other core qualities.
Cucurbit flute (Chinese traditional instrument), classical dance, poetry recitation, singing songs, band performances... The talent show prepared by freshmen is so exciting that the audience applauded continuously. Wearing badges, exchanging letters… The new students' gratitude to their parents was very warm, and the audience was also moved by the parents' wishes and concerns.
Jiang han, the freshman representative, explained his thoughts when he first entered the university. He wanted to make more friends and socialize. He also expressed his determination to seize opportunities, study diligently,embrace the difficulties and forge ahead. Mo Kanya, a senior representative, shared his experience in studying life in ZJUI, and used this to remind and help freshmen adapt to life in college more quickly.。
Associate Professor Wee-Liat Ong, representative of ZJUI faculty, shared the differences between university and high school with the students. He emphasized that university needs students to learn independently, diligently and be responsible for what they do, he also expresses that all the professors will try their best to provide help and guidance to students.
At the end of the event, Professor Philip Krein, executive dean of ZJUI, sent blessing to all students. He invited the students to review the earth-shaking changes that science and technology brought to us in the past 100 years. From the dark days when there was no electricity to the popularization of intelligent life, all the changes came from the efforts of generations of engineers. Engineering has put wings on human dreams and carries people’s yearning for a better life. He also pointed out that in the next 100 years, science and technology will continue to innovate and change dramatically, and what kind of life people will enjoy in the next 100 years depends on every student.
After the welcome ceremony, the students will begin their new college life in this young but creative and vibrant institute. Hope all of students in ZJUI can care about the world, have the courage to explore and innovate, and make contributions to the progress of the global society. The future can be expected, let’s forge ahead together!
