As summer blossoms, the farewell song of graduation resonates as scheduled. On the morning of June 17th, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology (JUST) hosted its 2025 Graduation and Degree Awarding Ceremony. A total of 5,510 undergraduate students, 1,689 doctoral and master’s students, and 148 international students from 34 countries participated in the time-honored tassel-turning ceremony, attending their final university lecture before embarking on new journeys. Armed with heartfelt advice and blessings, the graduates set forth to write their own legends. The university presented each graduate with an exclusive gift, a “Piece Together the Future, Brick by Brick” cultural creative set. Notably, 19 graduates celebrating birthdays received a special surprise as the university marked their dual occasion with cake and heartfelt wishes for a joyful graduation and birthday celebration.
The warm-up video “Mountains and Seas Always Meet” guided all graduates through a nostalgic journey of their campus memories. Meanwhile, students paraded around the venue holding the university banner aloft, capturing the attention of all.
At 8:30 AM, the graduation ceremony commenced to the solemn notes of the national anthem. The main venue was located at Zhenjiang University Town Shared Gymnasium, with a live broadcast sub-venue at Zhangjiagang Campus. The ceremony was simultaneously streamed through the university’s official WeChat Channel, Bilibili, Douyin, and Weibo platforms, enabling faculty, alumni, and students to witness this ceremony from the cloud.
Secretary of CPC Yang Jianxin, President Ji Chunyan, 2010 alumna and Dalian University of Technology professor and doctoral supervisor Sun Wen, along with university leaders Ren Nan, Hu Aixiang, An Xiangwei, Li Muwang, Shi Weidong, Ye Yonglin, Standing Committee members Zhou Chunyan and Liu Xinbo, members of the Degree Committee, leaders from relevant departments, and the 2025 graduates, counselors, faculty representatives, alumni representatives, and parent representatives gathered at the main venue.
Pan Jinquan, Member of the Standing Committee of CPC and Vice President, and Li Hengchuan, Member of the Standing Committee of CPC and Secretary of CPC Suzhou Institute of Technology (Zhangjiagang Campus) Committee, attended the ceremony at the Zhangjiagang Campus sub-venue. Over 1,200 graduates, together with heads of relevant campus departments, faculty representatives and parent representatives, participated the ceremony.
As graduates embark on new journeys from campus to society, President Ji Chunyan delivered the farewell address “Riding the Waves: Crafting Legends as Voyagers”, offering three aspirations for the Class of 2025. First, serve the nation and answer the call of the times. Upholding the noble mission as JUST alumni, you should become defenders of the Party’s policies, catalysts for progress, and champions of justice. Second, persevere with sustained intellectual curiosity. You should maintain lifelong learning to stay competitive, pursue meaningful research passions, engage in continuous reflection, and weave fragmented knowledge into a cohesive network that transforms into enduring capabilities. Third, grow upwards to embrace life’s vitality. You should cultivate authenticity and resilience by grounding yourselves firmly while reaching skyward. In the currents of this era, live with flourishing vitality.
Vice President Hu Aixiang, Member of the Standing Committee of CPC, presided over the graduation ceremony. On behalf of the university, he extended warmest congratulations to all graduates who have pursued their dreams and achieved remarkable accomplishments, and paid highest tribute to faculty members for their dedication to education and nurturing students.
Vice President Ren Nan, Member of the Standing Committee of CPC, and Vice President Shi Weidong separately announced the university’s decisions to confer undergraduate degrees and grant doctoral and master’s degrees. University leaders and supervisors then presented graduation certificates to student representatives, awarded certificates of honor to outstanding graduates, and distributed commemorative gifts during the ceremony.
Gratitude flows from the source, and teachers’ kindness is unforgettable. Graduate representatives presented bouquets to faculty members, counselors, class advisors, and representatives from administrative and logistical support departments, expressing heartfelt appreciation for all staff’s dedication in passing the torch of knowledge and nurturing future talents.
The ceremony witnessed growth, while speeches embodied responsibility. Undergraduate representative Liu Yixin from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences pledged to navigate life’s challenges with unyielding courage. International student representative Jonathan from Côte d’Ivoire delivered a touching speech in fluent Mandarin, expressing profound gratitude for his alma mater’s cultivation. Master’s representative Shen Yu from the School of Energy and Power Engineering shared aspirations to realize the lifelong dream of contributing to China’s maritime industry.
As departure nears, teachers’ words carry even stronger affection. Professor Xu Sheng from the School of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering delivered farewell remarks on behalf of all faculty, urging graduates to “bravely shoulder the historical mission of the younger generation, and prove through concrete actions that JUST alumni will forever keep pace with the times and advance alongside the motherland”.
Sun Wen, a 2010 alumna, professor, and doctoral supervisor at Dalian University of Technology, shared life lessons from her career journey, advising graduates to “stay grounded for steady progress; pursue lifelong learning to forge core competence; remain true to original aspirations with eternal gratitude”.
Ji Chunyan addressed to the graduates: “Your radiant, youthful, and passionate spirits are forever etched in the scenery of Jiangsu’s most beautiful campus, leaving me deeply moved. As the tide of new quality productive forces surges forward, remember this: true navigators never lose their bearings in storms, they only grow stronger through challenges. Your alma mater will always be your enduring haven. May your journey ahead be adorned with blooming opportunities!”
Amid the president’s blessing, petals in colors of blue and white drifted gently from above, adorning the dazzling moment with vibrant splendor. As the entire audience joined in singing the school anthem, the graduation ceremony concluded. During the intermission, the University Art Troupe expressed their heartfelt wishes for the graduates with a dynamic dance and song performance.
The solemn degree awarding ceremony commenced with a shower of golden confetti cascading from above, as the Degree Committee mentors entered the venue amid thunderous applause.
The graduates ascended the stage one by one to receive their degree certificates, while mentors from the Degree Committee turned their tassels, formally completing the degree conferment process.
Offstage, the graduates cherished moments with friends and family, embracing and posing for photographs to commemorate these fleeting memories. As part of the university’s commitment to practical student services, the Publicity Office of CPC captured these unforgettable moments for every graduate, with photos to be distributed through respective colleges post-ceremony.
The horizon beckons, and futures glow with promise. May all JUST Class of 2025 graduates pursue aspirations that transcend boundaries, honor youth with purpose, forge ahead with optimism, and usher in new legends!