Tsinghua University held its commencement ceremony for graduates on June 26th.
During the ceremony, which was held outdoors, the university awarded doctoral degrees to 3,168 graduates of the class of 2021. 5,650 graduates were awarded the master’s degree. 87 doctoral graduates and 78 master’s graduates were awarded the title of “outstanding graduates“.
The commencement ceremony was live-streamed across the world on different media and social media platforms. Graduating students and their families who were not able to join the ceremony in person attended via video link. The university also invited some students who were unable to attend the graduation ceremony last year, due to the pandemic, to experience graduation day on campus.
In his congratulatory speech, Tsinghua’s President Qiu Yong extended his warmest congratulations to all the graduate students.
“2021 is a very special and important year. On April 19th, on the eve of the 110th anniversary of Tsinghua University, President Xi Jinping visited the campus, and delivered an important speech,” President Qiu said. “Fellow students, you have witnessed the strength of China moving forward courageously through challenges, and witnessed the new style of Tsinghua endeavor, and you have also witnessed and withstood the severe test of the pandemic.”
“I believe that you will continue to work even harder and continue to grow in the years to come and become outstanding talented people who can carry on the grand tasks of the times,” said President Qiu.
He asked them to reach the height of life in the practice of deeds that speak louder than words, grasp the present time, cherish the years of youth, and strive for a higher and more exciting life.
Ai Liqiang, a graduate of the School of Aerospace Engineering, delivered a commencement speech on behalf of the graduate students of the class of 2021.
Ai thanked Tsinghua for cultivating him for more than 10 years, training him from an undergraduate to a PhD, and realizing his aerospace dream.
“The colorful life and strict academic atmosphere of Tsinghua has provided me with a platform for all-round development and strengthened my ambition to fight for building China into a country with strong aerospace power,” said Ai.
Wu Beili, who graduated from Tsinghua’s Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology in 2006 and worked at the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Science, as a researcher, delivered her speech at the commencement ceremony as the alumni representative.
Wu reviewed her life in Tsinghua with her classmates and tutors and her experience of learning and making experiments on protein in labs. She thanked Tsinghua for influencing her with its academic spirit of perseverance that guided her to make bigger accomplishments in her future work and research.
She also advised the graduate students to cherish their time and always take Tsinghua’s pursuit of excellence as their life creed to make greater contributions to the country and the world.
Editors: Li Han, Sangeet, John Olbrich
