University Council Chairperson Guo Yurong

September 10 2017

Dear distinguished guests, professors and students,

Good morning! In September every year, the date of the arrival of new students has been the liveliest and the most exciting day at the Southern University of Science and Technology. Here, I would like to extend my sincerest congratulations and warmest welcome to all undergraduate students, graduate students and overseas students of 2017. Today is a special day. It is the 33rd Teachers’ Day. I suggest everyone give a round of applause for all our professors and employees who devote themselves without any complaint.

Just as President Chen Shiyi said, all new students present here are deservedly outstanding persons. Your excellence and wisdom are embodied not only in the results of your national college entrance examination and your potential for academic development, but also in your resolution on choosing Southern University of Science and Technology. During your military training, I saw neat queues and excellent performances by students. I think you are the best. In the four years starting from today, all our people in Southern University of Science and Technology shall stand together through storm and stress and work together to create a brilliant future.

Dear students, the Southern University of Science and Technology was born at the right time. Its birth and development enjoy good timing, geographical convenience and good human relations, as the state provides plenty of support in the development of higher education, and the university is located in the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, which has attracted many domestic and overseas high level talents. At present, it is one of the fastest growing universities in China and abroad and is becoming an innovative university with a strong sense of the times and the spirit of reform in China. The construction of the university was initiated in 2007 and approved in 2010. The university started to enroll students in 2012. After several years of rapid development, the university is forging ahead towards the goal of establishing a world-class institution. In a short time, we built up a beautiful campus covering an area of nearly two square kilometers, established a high standard international-oriented teaching group comprising more than 300 professors, and set up a complete discipline system with focus on science and engineering, featured with emerging disciplines and cross-disciplinary research. According to Nature Index 2017 Tables, Southern University of Science and Technology ranked No. 31 among universities in China mainland, and entered into the global top 500, referred to as a “dark horse” among Chinese universities. One media outlet praised the university, saying it was a miracle that was happening in the development of higher education after Shenzhen created the miracle in industrialization, urbanization and modernization.

Dear students. Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up. Looking back at when the Party Central Committee determined to establish the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, Comrade Deng Xiaoping explicitly told leaders of the special economic zone: “Lead the way, be our trailblazers”. Though the great man has gone, his words still ring in our ears. In the last 40 years, with courage to reform, open-mindedness, market power and innovative measures, Shenzhen developed rapidly and made continuous breakthroughs. Once a poor and backward frontier town, Shenzhen has developed itself into a world-known innovative city, which fully embodies the vitality and achievement of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Just like Shenzhen became a pioneer in reform and opening-up in China, on the vibrant land of the Special Economic Zone, Southern University of Science and Technology was granted a great mission by the state government to explore the modern university system with Chinese characteristics and the innovative talent cultivation model. Benefited by material and spiritual achievements of the Special regime of the region, Southern University of Science and Technology is marching forward bravely. We deem it our duty to cultivate top-notch talents with “patriotic feelings, global vision, comprehensive quality and innovation ability”. More than 540 graduates have walked out of the campus with a deep imprint of Southern University of Science and Technology left on them, studying at different places all over the world, working and creating businesses in China. Today, you came to Southern University of Science and Technology to study. You will also definitely live an exceptional chapter of your life and gain valuable life experience, develop an innovation spirit and will grow with the university, advance with Shenzhen.

Dear students. Starting from today, you will embark on a new journey from a new starting point. At the new age of a new round of technological revolution around the world, General Secretary Xi said, “Today, we are closer to the target of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation than any other time in history. If China’s new generation has dreams, aspirations and a sense of responsibility, there will be endless youth power to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” I hope that while studying and living in Southern University of Science and Technology, everyone is determined to study and fight for a prosperous and rising China, adhere to and carry forward the founding spirit of the university which is “Dare to try, seek the truth, reform and innovate and pursue excellence”. You must respond to the call of the times, develop your abilities, overcome laziness and inertance, be your own master today and be the master of the country in the future.

Dear students. Young students like you, a young university, vigorous youth, and a dynamic city form a combination that people could only dream of. You came to Southern University of Science and Technology with your dream and you are sure to grow and make progress here. Just like what you may have read in the welcoming banners, I hope that everyone can “do your utmost effort to realize your purest dream in the most beautiful age”. You are entering into the university just as the campus phase II project is at a critical period of its construction. The construction is in full swing in the campus. The university is experiencing a special entrepreneurship period. While you are studying and growing every day, the university is growing too. This will be an extraordinary experience for you. We are witnessing and participating in the fast-changing construction and development of the University. After 20 or 30 years when you come back to the university, you could tell the most touching story about the change of the university. At last, I would like to offer best wishes to you who came here with your dream. I hope that you can write brilliant chapters worthy of our times, our history and our life with youth, wisdom and sweat, in the course of realizing your life ideal, realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, while Southern University of Science and Technology is creating a world-class university.

Translated by: Jeremy Welburn

Proofread by: Xia Yingying