On September 21, the opening ceremony for the 2020 freshmen of DHU was held at the East Stadium of Songjiang Campus and the Lawn of West Zhongshan Road Gate of Yan’an Road Campus. More than 6,500 new undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students had their first lesson and started a new journey together.

(Site of the opening ceremony at Songjiang Campus)

Attendees of the ceremony included Liu Chenggong, secretary of the Party Committee of DHU, Yu Jianyong, president of DHU and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Zhu Meifang, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and dean of the Material Science & Engineering School of DHU, Cui Yunhua, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of DHU, Vice Presidents Qiu Gao, Qing Fengling, Chen Ge, Chen Nanliang, Shu Huisheng, and Li Wei, alumni representative Luo Qinglan, general manager of Shanghai LEVSON Network Technology Co., Ltd., and Chen Hongchao, member of the Board of Directors and CEO of Ningbo Peacebird Fashion Co., Ltd., as well as heads of schools and related departments, teacher representatives, full- and part-time counselors and all the new students. The ceremony was presided over by Shu Huisheng, and was broadcast live on multiple platforms such as xuexi.cn APP, People’s Daily APP, Official Weibo Account of DHU, Tik Tok, and Bilibili, achieving nearly 120,000 online views.

(Site of the opening ceremony at Yan’an Road Campus)

Message from the President: Dream, Ability and Responsibility

Before the ceremony, the recitation programme “Burning” was performed, describing the former President, Professor Qian Baojun’s dream of serving the country by applying scientific and technological knowledge, and praising his dedication to the chemical fiber industry in China. Accompanied by the impassioned National Anthem of People’s Republic of China, the striking members of the national flag guard team raised a bright Five-starred Red Flag, which marked the beginning of Opening Ceremony for 2020 Freshman Students.

(Yu Jianyong delivering a speech at the opening ceremony)

At the opening ceremony, Yu Jianyong, president of DHU and academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, introduced the 69 years’ glorious history of the university to the new students. He told the pioneering contributions made by the former President Qian Baojun in the course of China becoming a big producer of chemical fiber, and introduced DHU’s prominent accomplishments on docking national strategies in the field of textiles, clothing, materials, design etc. He hoped that the students could inherit the spirit of their predecessors and contribute to the future development of DHU. He delivered message to all the new students with the theme of the promotion of dream, ability and responsibility. He hoped that the students could stick to their ideals and beliefs, care a lot about the country, and devote themselves to realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; the students could increase knowledge and skills, and realize the value of life in a spirit of striving for excellence; the students could remember their responsibilities and missions, be strict in self-discipline, and do every ordinary thing well. Yu finally pointed out that “time is the most expensive luxury in the world as well as the fairest sculptor.” He hoped that students don’t waste time. In the days of studying at DHU, they should establish aspirations, increase skills, dare to carry responsibilities, forge ahead, and make everyday even more wonderful.

(Shu Huisheng presiding over the ceremony)

A very fruitful lesson: We are all the “recipients”

 “If we have a belief in our heart, we can go farther away.” “When filling out the answer sheet of youth, strive to write the mission and responsibility of Donghua People!” The programme “We Are all the ‘Recipients’ in the New Era” was performed attractively by the Student Group of Theory Propaganda as a unique “first class for freshmen” that inspired all the audience.

(Site of the “first class for freshmen”)

From the perspective of friends, the five speakers led the new students to review the three letters from General Secretary Xi Jinping in reply to the graduates of the Karamay campus of China University of Petroleum, all the “post-90s” party members of the Peking University’s medical aid team to Hubei and all members of the Party Member Volunteer Service Team in the Exhibition Hall of the Communist Manifesto of Fudan University. Following the footprints of the Donghua people’s outstanding contributions in the fields of aerospace, clothing design, epidemic prevention and control, and pairing poverty alleviation in recent years, the speaker said “As long as you have ideals, you can gain strength. Only after experience can you remember your original intention and feel the true essence of mission”. The short class made every new student feel the positive energy of ideological and political education.

Message from teachers, senior students and alumni: Aim for the highest, make steady progress, then create a brilliant future

 “No matter what kind of life you are pursuing, making arduous efforts is the only golden key to open the door to the happiness,” said the teacher representative, Professor Jin Xiangyu of Textile School. He said that after the outbreak of COVID-19, Donghua people quickly made their contributions to fighting against the epidemic through scientific research. DHU has first-class educational resources and would help students realize their dreams and build a better future. Another teacher representative Professor Li Jun, dean of the Fashion & Art Design School, said that generations of “Donghua people” used their noble conduct and rich knowledge to create the glorious history of Donghua. He hoped that the students could aim for the highest, love DHU, be proud of it , and study hard in order to serve the country.

(Teacher representatives Jin Xiangyu (left) and Li Jun making the speech)

An alumni representative, Luo Qinglan, general manager of Shanghai LEVSON Network Technology Co., Ltd., used the experience of the young entrepreneur to describe the dream-building process of a “network security man” who untiringly struggled for technological innovation. Chen Hongchao, a member of the Board of Directors and CEO of Ningbo Peacebird Fashion Co., Ltd., told about his “history of struggle” based on his rich experience and broad vision, showing the “post-20s” new students the power to fight for dreams.

(Alumni Luo Qinglan (left) and Chen Hongchao making the speech)

Current student representatives, Pan Pan, a second-year graduate student of the Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology School, and Zhu Hangfeng, a second-year graduate student of the Fashion & Art Design School, warmly welcomed the new students and send them a sincere message: do not forget the original intention, keep the faith, become a down-to-earth person, and make arduous efforts to write a unique and beautiful chapter in DHU.

(Current student representatives Pan Pan (left) and Zhu Hangfeng making the speech)

The new students said youth full of struggle and responsibility would be more splendid

 “To realize the dream of youth, one should hold himself to a high standard but also think about others. Through hard work, we will contribute to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the development of the country.” A new student representative Liu Xiao from the Material Science & Engineering School, called on everyone to set great goals, look for the truth and be practical, and make arduous efforts to achieve goals. Another new student representative Shi Yi of the Glorious Sun School of Bussiness and Management expressed her expectations for university life, and demonstrated the pursuit and the spirit of taking on responsibility of young students in the new era.

(New student representatives Liu Xiao (left) and Shi Yi making the speech)

This is the first opening ceremony of DHU held outdoors in branch campus in recent years. “By live broadcast, parents can share our joy for kicking off the campus life, see our high-spirited state of mind and also witness our new beginning!” Sun Xiaorui, a first-year graduate student of the Textile School, told the reporter. After reading the motivational verse by former President Qian Baojun, Zhang Wanfang, a new student of the Science School had respect and high expectations for Donghua. Li Qianyao, a new student of the Glorious Sun School of Bussiness and Management, said youth is like fire, burning with passion, the opening ceremony allowed us to set aspirations, and “the society is like a boat, and everyone shall be getting ready to steer the boat.” We are in the right place at the right time, and we should forge ahead, be open-minded in learning, and contribute to the future development of Donghua.

(Site of the recitation programme “Burning”)

(Site of the opening ceremony)

(A new student wearing university badge)

When all the new students wearing the university badge with a sense of ritual, they felt that they had truly become the Donghua People of new era! With the singing of “My Motherland and Me” by all people, the opening ceremony came to a successful conclusion. Being a new generation of Donghua people, the new students of 2020 will forge ahead in their new life journey, dare to carry responsibilities, write a beautiful chapter in DHU, and contribute to realizing the great Chinese dream.