Tsinghua SEM held its first collective commencement ceremony for all degree programs in the Tsinghua University Sports Center. Participants of the ceremony include 2010 graduates, the faculty and staff of SEM, graduates’ family members and friends.

193 undergraduates, 109 master’s students, 389 MBA students, 177 EMBA students and 45 Ph.D. students graduated from SEM with degrees.

Faculty of SEM and the guest speaker singing national theme at the ceremony

The ceremony was hosted by Professor QIAN Yingyi, Dean of SEM. Five graduate representatives were invited to deliver valedictory addresses. They are ZHANG Wei (undergraduate), REN Xiaoze (master’s), ZHANG Bo (MBA), LIU Weidong (EMBA) and SUN Ruijun (Ph.D.). Students recollected their time in Tsinghua, and expected a promising future.

“Two best things we’ve taken from SEM are the friendship with fellow students and the outlook and values we learnt,“ said ZHANG Wei.

From 2010 on, SEM will invite one guest speaker each year to deliver a commencement speech for students. On this year’s ceremony, QIN Xiao, Chairman of China Merchants Group and Adjunct Professor of SEM, talked about the ongoing social transition in China and intellects’ responsibilities in the process.

According to QIN Xiao, universities are not only for academic and professional education, but also a place to pass on the cultural heritage. Graduates should concern public affairs, and devote themselves to uphold human dignity and social justice.

Analyzing problems and debates brought by the Chinese transition, QIN Xiao raised three economic issues for students’ consideration: the proper function and role of government, the status of state-owned assets and the appropriate mode of urbanization.

After the ceremony, Dean QIAN Yingyi took photos with each graduate individually. Meanwhile, a SMS channel was opened for the audience, who sent nearly 600 messages for display on the big screen, expressing their joy and nostalgia upon graduation.