This was a farewell to youth, a great lesson in ideological and political education, and furthermore, a passing of HUST’s spirit to the future students. Teachers, alumni, students and their parents gathered together to reminisce about the past, share deep feelings and discuss the development of our country and envision the future, sending off the graduates with warmth. On the afternoon of June 20, 2024, the Graduation Ceremony and Degree Conferral Ceremony for the 2024 Graduates of Harbin University of Science and Technology was held in the school gymnasium. All university leaders attended the graduation ceremony.
Members of the University Academic Degree Evaluation Committee, heads of functional departments, deans, party secretaries and deputy secretaries of each school, representatives of mentors, counselors of all graduates, and representatives of alumni and parents were present to together witness that 2024 graduates have successfully completed studies and would embark on a new journey in life. The graduation ceremony was presided over by Zhao Shuishan, the deputy secretary of the University’s Party Committee.
A Farewell to Youth
Before the graduation ceremony, faculty representatives and parents sent their best wishes to the audience and graduates via a video message. A meticulously arranged medley of songs performed by teachers, administrative staff, current students, and kindergarten children surprised the audience and conveyed deep emotions. An original video titled “Looking Back” brought all the graduates back to their youthful days spent on campus, creating a warm and nostalgic ambiance.
The graduation ceremony commenced with the solemn playing of the national anthem and the new version of the school song. During the ceremony, announcements were read out regarding “The Decision on Awarding Bachelor’s Degrees to the 2024 Undergraduate Graduates,” “The Decision on Awarding Degrees to the 2024 Graduate Students,” and “The Decision on Honoring the Outstanding Graduates and Top Ten Graduates of Harbin University of Science and Technology for the Year 2024” and awards were also presented to the Top Ten Graduates.
University leaders and members of the Academic Degrees Evaluation Committee awarded degrees and flipped the tassels for representatives of doctoral, master’s, and undergraduate graduates, as well as representatives of graduates unable to attend the graduation ceremony in previous years, and took photos with them.
Four faculty representatives jointly delivered a speech titled “Pursuing Dreams with Diligence, Embarking on a New Journey with Accumulated Strength,” on behalf of all faculty and staff and expressed their best wishes for a prosperous future for the graduates.
Representatives of undergraduate students, master’s students, doctoral students, and international students collectively gave a speech themed “Harbin University of Science and Technology, I Love You No Matter How Far I Leave,” expressing their unified commitment to uphold the university’s motto of “Unity of Knowledge and Action, Reaching Forward with Erudition and Virtue” and to demonstrate the vigor and vitality of their youth in the great practice of building a powerful country and realizing national rejuvenation.
A Great Lesson on Ideological And Political Education
President Liu Xia delivered a wonderful “final lesson on ideological and political education” at the graduation ceremony. First, on behalf of the university, he extended sincere congratulations and best wishes to all the graduates. And he also expressed heartfelt gratitude and high respect to the parents and teachers who have been diligently guiding the students’ growth.
President Liu pointed out that during their youth, the students have witnessed one important historical moment after another in the development of the party and our country in the new era. They have also seen the continuous breakthroughs in the university’s development and knew that numerous efforts have been made to improve students’ learning and living environment. In these students, President Liu saw the image of the HUST’s students of the new era and the brightest hue of youth. Every student of Harbin University of Science and Technology is courageous and forward-looking. He believes that all of them will root in the places where the country and the people need them most in the future, refusing to settle for mediocrity and never giving in to the attitude of “letting things slide.” Instead, they will gather the power of “ordinariness” to create “extraordinary” achievements and shoulder the social responsibility of Harbin University of Science and Technology students in the great journey of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and of building a prosperous and powerful country.
He exhorted the students to have a great love for our country and develop a broad perspective, as dreamers to pursue their goals with determination; to keep abreast of the times and broaden our horizons, being striving individuals who do not let their youth pass in vain; to engage in practical work and acquire practical skills, being pragmatic doers who strive for long-term achievements.
Finally, President Liu Xia offered his blessings to every Harbin University of Science and Technology alumnus wherever they are: “May you hold tightly to your sixpence while still having the bright moon in your heart. May your journey be filled with beautiful flowers, unafraid of the scorching heat, embarking on a racing life, and vigorously writing the youth chapter of taking on the responsibilities for China’s modernization with courage and determinations.”
A Passing of HUST’s Spirit to the Future Students
In order to implement the important guiding principles delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping during the May 4th celebrations this year, Harbin University of Science and Technology specially organized a graduation ceremony themed “Passing HUST’s Spirit to Future Students” to bid farewell to the graduates while also inspiring and guiding the current students at HUST to actively settle down the places where the country needs them most, contributing their youthful strength along the direction pointed out by General Secretary Xi Jinping.
Five alumni shared their experiences and insights from the frontlines of national development in five areas: technological innovation, rural revitalization, green development, social service, and border defense. As the inheritors, promoters, and practitioners of HUST’s spirit, they reported to the university and shared with the graduates about their personal struggles, as well as the commitment to honoring HUST and serving the country.
The major instructors and ideological and political teachers, Cai Wei, You Bo, Li Qinghua, Shan Lina, and Luo Zhongming, attended the event to exchange greetings with the alumni. On behalf of the teachers, Cai Wei, sharing his own experiences, encouraged the graduates to cultivate a profound sense of patriotism, carry forward HUST’s spirit, acquire solid skills, and contribute to the motherland with their knowledge and abilities.
Zhao Shuishan, the Deputy Party Secretary of the university, presented certificates of appointment as mentors for career planning to the alumni on behalf of HUST and presented hand-drawn works designed by current students as gifts.
Party Secretary, Zhao Lin, presented flags to the graduate representatives in the five fields of technological innovation, border defense, green development, rural revitalization, and social service. In his speech, he pointed out that as students were about to pack their bags and embark on another journey in life, our university was bidding them farewell through the theme of “Passing the HUST’s Spirit to Future Students”, which was not only a demonstration of the love from our university and reluctance to let go of its students but also its expectations and instructions for the young graduates from HUST. He urged the students to consistently uphold the Daheng Spirit of “loyalty to the motherland, dedication to science, indifference to fame and fortune, and pursuit of excellence with courage,” as the core of the spectrum of HUST’s spirit, and to pass it to future students. They should consistently follow the direction pointed out by General Secretary Xi Jinping, being innovative in scientific research, strive and persevere in rural revitalization, being pragmatic and realistic in green development, selflessly dedicating themselves to social service, and demonstrating loyalty and responsibility in border defense. By continuously expanding the spectrum of HUST’s Spirit and enriching its cultural connotation, they should strive to write more brilliant chapters of science and engineering and shining moments of youth in the great cause of building a powerful nation and national rejuvenation. Finally, Party Secretary, Zhao Lin wished the HUST students a magnificent transformation and further success in their lives, with a flourishing journey ahead and smiles upon reunion. He also asked the alumni associations across the country to take good care of the youngest alumni, which received commitments from the alumni through online platforms.
At the end of the graduation ceremony, all the leaders and teachers turned on the flashlight of their mobile phones to illuminate the path ahead for each graduate, bidding farewell to the 2024 graduates as they stepped onto a new stage in life. HUST thoughtfully prepared a gift for every graduate: a music box playing the song “My Motherland and Me” and engraved with the university emblem and motto, hoping that all 2024 graduates will always cherish their love for our country, keep in mind the instructions of the university, and continue to play triumphant melody in their lives. The graduation ceremony was held in a hybrid format combining both online and offline, with the main venue located in the West Campus Gymnasium and a satellite venue set up in the Rongcheng Campus. And the graduation ceremony was broadcast live online through the university’s network platform.
