On September 23, the opening ceremony for 2020 international students was held at the International School, Beihang University (Xueyuan Road campus). New international students who have already registered on campus or currently abroad attended the ceremony through a combination of online and offline sessions for their first class.
During the ceremony, the new students watched a video clip to learn more about the history, philosophy, achievements, and culture of Beihang University.
On behalf of the faculty and students, Mr. Huang Haijun, Vice-president of Beihang University, extended a warm welcome to the new international students from more than 60 countries. He said: "As the first aerospace university in China, Beihang University is committed to building a world-class university rooted in China, and to cultivating young people with global perspectives. As the school's international reputation has grown over the years, it has attracted thousands of international students from more than 100 countries on five continents to study and live on campus. At this particular time, when the COVID-19 epidemic continues to spread around the world, and people of all nations are united in a concerted effort to address it, Beihang University will also provide quality education online and offline for international students in and out of China."
Vice-president Huang Haijun mentioned: "A university life full of hope and challenges has begun, a bright future is waiting for you to create. We hope all international students will take on the mission, hone your skills, and have a fulfilling and enjoyable time at Beihang University. You will learn about Chinese and Western cultures, technology and art, heritage and innovation, and become ambassadors for cultural exchanges between China and abroad. Study at Beihan, light up your dreams!"
Mr. Weng Jingnong, Dean of International School, gave "the First Class of the School Year" lecture to the new international students from four aspects, including the general introduction of Beihang University, international education, role models and expectations. He said: "The new Beihangers should not only look up to the stars, to pursue the truth and be good at learning, but also be down-to-earth, practical and innovative, combining theory and practice, and walking with the times. Dr. Weng also emphasized the five keywords "Calm, Cooperation, Courage, Cherish and Confucius", and hoped that the new students would continue to challenge themselves and keep up with the times in their pursuit of knowledge."
Professor Xu Ye, Supervisor representative, Vice Dean of School of Mechanical Engineering&Automation, BUAA, made a speech. He shared his experience of studying abroad, through which he not only received a first-class education but also gained a global perspective. He also said that Beihang University's faculty had accumulated a wealth of experience in reshaping teaching and curricula through online instruction, which will ensure that international students abroad can receive high-quality learning through online education. "In the face of a challenging start, we hope that international students will maintain their determination to learn new things and their confidence in pursuing their dreams. We believe that through their studies at Beihang University, international students will become a bridge between China and their homeland and make their unique contributions as citizens of a multicultural world."
On behalf of the new students, Xing Ye, an undergraduate student from Russia, expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the university's assistance in helping them adjust to life at Beihang University, as well as its efforts to ensure the physical and mental safety of the students during the period of epidemic prevention and control. He also expressed his desire for the next four years of study. Beihang University is the paradise of knowledge and the starting point for dreams to sail away. He said he wants to cherish his time at Beihang University, study hard and keep exploring. Mr. Li Min, a graduate student from South Sudan, speaking on behalf of the current students, shared his experience of studying and living in Beihang University for four years as an undergraduate and was full of expectations for his upcoming graduate studies. While always pursuing his dreams and fully committing himself to his goals, no matter how many times he falls, one can achieve the targets as long as he/she gets up and keeps going each time.
The opening ceremony for international students was synchronously online; Currently, more than 200 new students and their friends and relatives outside the country watched the ceremony via live webcast.
The opening ceremony ended with the school song's melody "Looking up to the Starry Sky," and the new international students officially began studying at Beihang University.
