On the morning of June 20th, the 2025 Commencement and Degree Conferral Ceremony of JISU was held in the university gymnasium. President Qin He, along with all university leaders and members of the Academic Degree Evaluation Committee, were seated on the rostrum. The ceremony was attended by heads of various units and departments, faculty representatives, the graduating class of 2025, and some parents of graduates.
The commencement began solemnly with the national anthem.
President Qin He conferred academic degrees to representatives of the graduates and turned the tassel for each of them.
President Qin delivered the “last lecture” to graduates under the theme “Three Decades of Legacy, Forging Ahead to a New Chapter”. She began by extending congratulations on behalf of the university to the graduates who had completed their studies, and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the faculty for their years of care, guidance, and dedication in nurturing the students. Reflecting on the past four years, President Qin highlighted the achievements and milestones of the Party, the nation, the university, and the graduates themselves.
She emphasized that during their university years, students had progressed alongside the nation and grown together with the university, embodying the spirit of the university motto, “Stronger Will for Solid Souls, Better Communicators across Words and Cultures”. Among the graduates, 511 Party members have taken pioneering roles in rural revitalization and technological innovation; 518 students have won gold and silver medals in competitions such as the “Huazheng Cup” National Legal Translation Contest; and 220 students have engaged with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, showcasing China’s image. Additionally, 13 graduates have chosen to contribute at the grassroots level in western China. These seemingly ordinary achievements, President Qin noted, exemplify the university’s educational philosophy of “Everything for Students’ Growth, Competence, and Success” and its commitment to “student-centered, responsibly-run education.” It is this enduring spirit that has propelled JISU to remarkable milestones: ranking first for six consecutive years in the Soft Science Chinese Private University Rankings, being honored as a National Model Campus, and advancing into the A+ category of doctoral degree-granting institutions in Jilin Province.
President Qin emphasized that as the university celebrates its 30th anniversary, graduates are embarking on a new chapter in their lives - a grand voyage of youth and a continuation of its enduring legacy. “One should be able to establish himself at the age of 30.” - this signifies standing firm in spirit, embracing responsibility, and establishing one’s moral compass. “Long, long is my road, and far, far is the journey; high and low, up and down, I’ll search with will,” a timeless reflection from over two millennia ago, embodies the spirit that contemporary youth should uphold. As this new journey begins, President Qin shared three hopes with the graduates as their president and teacher:
First, take patriotism as the foundation of your endeavors. Patriotism is the bond that unites the Chinese people in struggle and resilience, a cultural gene deeply rooted in our blood. May you move in step with the times, aim high, and strive with purpose. Join hands to build a new discourse system, and let the world hear the voice of China’s youth in the new era!
Second, embrace knowledge through practice. May you always retain the passion for exploration, excel at critical thinking, and dare to innovate; adhere to the unity of knowledge and action, and apply what you have learned; temper your abilities in practice, and elevate your horizons by responding to the needs of the times; serve the nation with genuine talent and practical learning, contribute to society with innovative wisdom and infuse the construction of a modern socialist China with the power of youth!
Third, strive steadfastly toward the future. Faced with the defining question of our time - ”Can the youth of the new era shoulder the national rejuvenation?” - the answer lies solely in striving: rooting yourselves in our motherland through dedication and responsibility, and realizing your value through resilience and steadfast action. May you pursue excellence with unyielding determination, strive to become your one-of-a-kind self, and write the extraordinary story of your life, brimming with limitless possibilities!
President Qin concluded with deep emotion: “Dear students, today’s ceremony is not only a celebration of your graduation and a gathering of blessings but also a call for new journeys. May you always retain that pure heart, and spread the spirit, character, and mission of JISU across every corner of our motherland. We sincerely wish that you persevere and sail far, achieving greater brilliance in the years to come!”
Vice President Yang Chunmei and Vice President Zhang Yangzhi respectively announced the decisions regarding the completion of studies, degree conferral, and academic honors for the undergraduate and graduate students of Grade 2025. Upon deliberation and approval by the University Academic Degree Evaluation Committee, 3,028 students (including international students) including Xu Kaitong were conferred bachelor’s degrees, and 530 graduate students (including international students) including Feng Yanrong were conferred master’s degrees. Additionally, theses by 79 students including Yuan Shengjie were recognized as “University-Level Outstanding Undergraduate Theses,” while dissertations by 50 students including Yong Zhenzhen were awarded “University-level Outstanding Master Theses.” The title of “Outstanding Undergraduate Graduate” was conferred upon 100 students including Pang Yaqi, and the title of “Outstanding Postgraduate Graduate” was awarded to 27 students including Xin Yuchi.
University leaders presented certificates and commemorative gifts to representatives of recipients of the university-level outstanding theses and outstanding graduate awards.
Recipients of the university-level outstanding undergraduate theses receive their certificates and commemorative gifts.
Recipients of the university-level outstanding master theses receive their certificates and commemorative gifts.
Representatives of the outstanding undergraduate graduates receive their certificates and commemorative gifts.
Representatives of the outstanding postgraduate graduates receive their certificates and commemorative gifts.
Chen Yixuan from Class 2101 of Broadcasting and Hosting Arts in the School of International Arts delivered the graduation speech on behalf of all graduates, expressing heartfelt gratitude to the university. She stated, “These four years of study coincided with JISU’s remarkable development and rapid progress, while also representing a golden period of personal transformation for us. We extend our sincere appreciation to our alma mater for providing an environment conducive to learning and inquiry - where we honed our skills through specialized education, strengthened our convictions through refinement of thought, and put into practice the mission of “to be Chinese souls, to be foreign-language learners, to tell China’s stories well”.
Sun Jie, parent of Sun Dejia from Class 2102 of the German Language (Sino-foreign Cooperative Education) program in the School of Occidental Languages, addressed the ceremony on behalf of all parents, expressing admiration and gratitude for the university’s dedicated efforts in nurturing students. He shared, “I still remember September 2021, when Sun Dejia and I first stepped onto the JISU campus. The majestic presence of the Shiqiao Building, the Global Village, and the JISU library had all instantly revealed the stature and vision of this university. Seeing JISU students in their crisp uniforms - their foreheads glistening with sweat as they bent down to help newcomers carry luggage, their eyes filled with warmth and determination while giving directions - made us truly understand how the educational philosophy of ‘student-centered, responsibly-run education’ could be so vividly etched into everyone and everywhere. Dear students, always cherish the spirit that has nurtured you these four years, for it is the backbone that will support you when you navigate the world as students of JISU.”
On behalf of the entire faculty, Xiao Chuanguo, Dean of the School of Oriental Languages, addressed the graduates with his blessings. He said, “I would like to offer all graduates ‘Five Always-Remembers’: Always remember to treasure time as gold – only then can you live up to the prime years of your youth. Always remember to persevere with dedication – only then can you achieve progress and accomplishment. Always remember to keep healthy and strong – only then can your life flourish with vitality. Always remember to grow toward the sun – only then can you face hardships without fear. And finally, always remember this: JISU will forever be your spiritual harbor! May you set forth courageously with both your dreams and the aspirations of your alma mater. No matter how far you journey, JISU will always be your home! We look forward to hearing your good news from across the globe in the near future!”
Prior to the commencement ceremony, all faculty and students present watched the graduation commemorative video “JISU Moments: A Journey Through Time” prepared by the university for the Class of 2025, collectively reminiscing about their time at Jilin International Studies University.
Graduates and current students performed songs, expressing their attachment to the alma mater, gratitude towards their teachers, and their anticipation for the new journey about to begin. Graduates raised their phones to capture photos and videos. Applause and cheers intertwined with the singing, filling the venue.
Finally, the commencement ceremony concluded with the Class of 2025 chorus singing the school song “Tomorrow, Let Our School Be Proud of Us”. The venue erupted in applause, filled with laughter, blessings, and above all, deep emotion. Each heartfelt wish and warm farewell left an indelible mark on the graduates.
Graduation Reflections:
Yuan Shengjie, English, School of English:
“President Qin He’s address at the commencement ceremony left a deep impression on me, particularly the phrase ‘take patriotism as the foundation and set the course of your life’. During my time at JISU, I have realized that language serves as a bridge for cultural exchange, while patriotism forms the cornerstone of that bridge. In the future, whether I engage in translation, education, or any other field, I will utilize my expertise to tell China’s stories well and convey China’s voice.”
Li Chenrui, Hotel Management, School of International Culture and Tourism:
“President Qin He’s speech at the graduation ceremony was like a beacon, illuminating our path forward. The simple yet powerful spirit of ‘to be Chinese souls, to be foreign-language learners, to tell well China’s stories’ is deeply ingrained in the mind of every JISU student. It is the footnote to JISU’s enduring perseverance and the very source of our confidence and strength as we stride into the future.”
Xu Yicong, Artificial Intelligence, School of Artificial Intelligence:
“President Qin He emphasized the unity of knowledge and action. The intelligent robotics project I participated in ultimately succeeded only through thousands of sensor calibrations and tens of thousands of lines of algorithm optimization. This ethos of ‘striving for excellence’, inherent in our university’s spirit, has taught me that major national achievements begin with the smallest details, and technological breakthroughs are built upon accumulation. In the future, I will delve into my major with the ‘screw’ spirit, pursuing perfection in every detail to live up to the President’s exhortation for ‘striving for pragmatism and excellence’.”
Ding Yitong, Ukrainian, School of Central and Eastern European Languages:
“President Qin He’s exhortation resonates like a morning bell, awakening my spirit. The two words – ‘perseverance and responsibility’ – have become part of my very fiber. Through four years of diligent study, from linguistic foundations to cultural dimensions, our alma mater, with its vision of ‘Better Communicators across Words and Cultures’, has built within us a broad perspective. Choosing a career path that takes me far afield is precisely my response to the call to ‘dedicate our youth to humanity’s shared ideals’. JISU has endowed us not merely with tools for global communication, but with a mindset that embraces the wider world. On the long road ahead, I will use my expertise as a bridge to connect distant shores. May our alma mater forever ride the crest of the times, nurturing countless pillars of society!”
Cao Ruoyu, Chinese Language and Literature (International Media Experimental Class), School of International Communication:
“JISU taught me that university is not the endpoint of learning, but a new beginning where life truly blossoms. I will always remember standing on the stage for the ‘JISU Star Award’ as a representative of the ‘Academic Excellence Star’ – it was the first time I clearly heard the vibrant pulse of youth stirring within me. President Qin He reminded us that ‘the path of life will not always be smooth’. The road ahead may be fraught with difficulties and challenges, but as long as we maintain resolve and hold fast to our inner moral compass, we will undoubtedly march forward courageously to meet our own brilliance.”
Zheng Tong, International Economics and Trade, School of International Commerce:
“Every word in President Qin He’s graduation address was resolute and filled with deep feeling. The three hopes she presented have lit a beacon for our journey ahead. She told us that ‘to be foreign-language learners’ is the key to unlocking the world, ‘to be Chinese souls’ is the foundation of our character, and ‘to tell China’s stories well’ is the sacred mission our era entrusted to us. The President’s words made me feel the weight of this responsibility. In today’s world, where AI is reshaping reality, I will remember the teaching to ‘embrace knowledge through practice’, forge core competitiveness through lifelong learning, and respond to the transformations of our time with genuine expertise.”
