Tsinghua SEM held an Opening Ceremony for new undergraduates joining the School at the beginning of the 2010 fall semester.

The ceremony was hosted by Professor BAI Chong-en, Associate Dean of SEM. Present at the ceremony were Professor QIAN Yingyi, Dean of SEM, Professor ZHAO Dongqing, Associate Dean of SEM, JIANG Peng, Head of the School’s Student Affairs Group, and two newly-appointed class tutors for incoming undergraduates.

A shot from the Ceremony

According to Professor BAI Chong-en, the opening day for new undergraduates is “one of the most important days for the School.”

Professor BAI Chong-en hosting the Ceremony

The first speaker at the ceremony was SEM’s Student Union President LIN Wenchen, who began his speech with the following question: “what do you want out of the next four years?” He suggested the freshmen to take initiatives in the planning of their campus life, making full use of the opportunities and platforms of SEM’s undergraduate education. Besides, he also reminded the audience of their social responsibility, quoting GU Binglin, President of Tsinghua University: Tsinghua students should “undertake grand careers and be the corner stone of China.”

LIN Wenchen speaking to freshmen

TANG Chengyue, a representative of freshman undergraduates, reviewed the spiritual and cultural legacy in Tsinghua, and echoed with LIN Wenchen by re-stressing students’ public awareness and social responsibility. “Choosing Tsinghua means the devotion to China and life-long responsibility.”

TANG Chengyue speaking as a freshmen representative

Dean QIAN Yingyi also spoke at the ceremony, extending welcome to new freshmen. “Tsinghua SEM is not merely a dream.” he said. “It is much more than a dream.”

After a review of the School’s history, Dean QIAN Yingyi introduced the new undergraduate curriculum, which combines general knowledge with individual development. The aim of SEM’s undergraduate education, according to Dean QIAN Yingyi, corresponds with the expectation of Professor ZHU Rongji, Founding Dean of SEM, namely to promote students’ moral integrity before demanding academic excellence.

Dean QIAN Yingyi delivering speech at the Ceremony

Before the undergraduate Opening Ceremony of SEM, Dean QIAN Yingyi was also invited as a keynote speaker to talk at the collective Opening Ceremony of Tsinghua University.