In the refreshing golden autumn, the fragrance of osmanthus fills the air. On the morning of September 3, 2026, the opening ceremony for the 2026 undergraduate students of the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) was held at Runyang Stadium. Over a thousand new undergraduates, full of dreams and expectations, began a new chapter in their lives. The ceremony was attended by the Council Chairperson Hong JIANG, President Qikun XUE, other university leaders, representatives of academicians, heads of various departments and colleges, and other representatives. Vice President and Provost Hongwei FANG presided over the ceremony.

The ceremony kicked off with the whole audience singing the national anthem. Chairperson Hong JIANG and President Qikun XUE pinned the school badges on representatives of the new students.

This year, SUSTech admitted over 1,400 undergraduate freshmen from 25 provinces, including more than 50 international students from 10 countries. There were also new students from Hong Kong and Macao admitted through the Joint Entrance Examination for Chinese Universities, as well as many students who entered the elite programs such as the Turing Class and Fields Class with outstanding performance.

Qikun XUE delivered a speech titled “Climbing High to See the World, Broadening Horizons to Embrace the Future,” encouraging students to re-examine themselves and define the world. He stated that this year marks the beginning of SUSTech’s bold stride toward becoming a world-class university with broad influence. At this historical juncture, the arrival of the students is timely and comes with great responsibility. From now on, students are no longer mere onlookers from afar but active participants in the era and creators of the future.

In response to the call of the times, Qikun XUE outlined three expectations for the students. First, base yourself in learning to build a solid and broad knowledge perspective. He hopes students will have both the confidence that comes from extensive reading and the perseverance to endure solitary, rigorous study. Second, cultivate virtue to shape a moral and benevolent spirit. True vision is not just about seeing the expansive external world but also about developing a broad and clear-minded inner character. He hopes students cultivate generosity and composure within, and learn empathy and compassion outwardly. Third, act to go far and foster a vision rooted in devotion to family, nation, and humanity. He hopes students turn knowledge into action and action into knowledge, contributing to the country through science and innovation, and approaching life with a broad vision to benefit the world.

Qikun XUE emphasized that one must climb high to see far and push oneself to go far. The fertile ground of SUSTech provides students with a platform to view the world. When students repeatedly verify a data point in the lab, passionately debate a perspective with peers in the discussion room, or confront real engineering challenges on the frontlines of industry with the knowledge they’ve acquired. These seemingly ordinary moments are exactly when horizons expand, bit by bit. He hopes students base their learning on broad knowledge and focused pursuits, building their own knowledge system through exploration. Cultivate virtue and benevolence, nurturing inner composure through exchanges and challenges, and serve the country through pragmatic action, responding to the call of the era and writing their own youthful chapter in the dynamic era of national development.

Associate Professor Mark James Hopwood from the Department of Ocean Science and Engineering spoke on behalf of the faculty. Speaking with a lot of energy and humor, he looked back on his own educational journey and shared the mental journey of challenging himself when choosing his major. He said that without challenges, there is no growth. True strength comes from inner resilience, power, and drive, which allow you to bounce back and start again time and time again. He encouraged the students to face difficulties head-on and bravely take on more daunting “mountains.”

Yi LIU, a graduate of Zhixin College and the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, spoke on behalf of the alumni. He is now an assistant professor at Griffith University in Australia, focusing on AI security. He shared three pieces of advice with the students. First, answers are getting cheaper while questions are becoming more valuable; what really matters is having an eye for good questions and the ability to solve them yourself. Second, you can let AI do the work for you, but don’t let it think for you. Third, college is the cheapest place in life to make mistakes, so make the most of it.

Zheyu ZHANG, an undergraduate at Zhicheng College, spoke on behalf of the new students. He shared his own story with SUSTech and explained the responsibilities that the new generation of SUSTech students should take on. To dare to choose the “difficult but right” path. To develop the real ability to “turn ideas into reality.” To integrate personal aspirations into a broader historical context. He said he will strive to take root in the school, aim for excellence, achieve the best results possible, and live up to both his youth and the era.

Akhmetkireyeva Ramina, a freshman from Zhiren Academy in Kazakhstan, spoke on behalf of the international freshmen. She said that the school motto, “Virtue, Truth, Advance,” serves as her guiding compass. She encouraged her classmates to always stay curious, cherish and make the most of this journey, and use the knowledge gained at SUSTech to contribute to making the world a better place.

The opening ceremony concluded with all the faculty and students singing “Ode to the Motherland” together.

Before the ceremony started, attendees watched a welcome short film, and enjoyed performances by freshman counselors and other warm-up acts. The new students from each college also took part in a cheer song activity.