The 2025 Freshman Welcome Ceremony for international students was held at the 129 Auditorium, Siping Campus on the morning of September 26. Liu Run, Deputy Party Secretary of Tongji, attended and delivered a speech. Representatives from different colleges and departments, including the Foreign Affairs Office, the International Students Office, the Student Affairs Department, the Communist Youth League Committee, the Security Department and the Education Development Foundation, attended the event. In addition, representatives from organizations such as the Exit-Entry Administration Corps of Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau, the Politics and Law Commission of CPC Yangpu District Committee, the Yangpu District Administration of Culture and Tourism, China Merchants Bank, and Goneo Group Co., Ltd. were also present. New international students from more than 130 countries around the world gathered together to jointly embark on a new chapter of their study and life at Tongji University.
Liu Run extended a warm welcome to the new students. He stated that the diversity of the world stem from cultural pluralism, and similarly, the charm of a university lies in the integration and coexistence of different cultures. Tongji University will provide abundant resources for every international student, allowing them to fully explore their true interests. In the years ahead, may each student be able to embark on their own remarkable journey and find their true direction in life.
Chen Yili, Director of the International Students Office, introduced the overall situation of “Studying at Tongji” and comprehensively demonstrated Tongji’s consistent commitment to advancing internationalized education, as well as its advantages and distinctive features in academic resources, cultural experiences, and social practices. Wang Zhendong, Party Secretary of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP) and representative of the faculty, delivered a message to international students, encouraging them to embrace a global perspective while grounding themselves in China, seize the precious opportunities at Tongji, and continuously expand their academic and life horizons. Ali, a PhD student from India and representative of senior international students, shared his own learning and growth experiences at Tongji, encouraging new students to actively integrate into the campus and courageously explore cross-cultural exchanges. Duan Meiling, a new inter-university exchange student from Ruhr University Bochum in Germany and representative of the 2025 international students, delivered a speech. She expressed her admiration for Tongji’s international atmosphere and her expectations for her future study and life here.
The ceremony also featured multi-dimensional thematic lectures. Zang Hua, a city ambassador from the Yangpu District Administration of Culture and Tourism, introduced the “Discover Fun in Yangpu” cultural and tourism brand, helping students gain an understanding of the local culture. Pan Yang, a member of the “Hu Xiao’an” Anti-Drug Lecturer Group of the Shanghai Municipal Drug Rehabilitation Bureau, gave a lecture on campus safety, emphasizing the importance of self-protection and awareness of abiding by the law. Xie Wenjia, representative of China Merchants Bank, shared knowledge on financial risk prevention to enhance students’ awareness of financial security. Chen Jue from the Exit-Entry Administration Corps of Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau provided a detailed interpretation of visa policies for new students, helping them quickly familiarize themselves with relevant regulations.
Relevant officials stated that the ceremony is not only a welcome event, but also an important start for international students to integrate into Tongji and familiarize themselves with China. Through teacher-student exchanges and national conditions education, international freshmen not only receive warmth and blessings, but also obtain practical guidance on study, life, and personal development. In the future, Tongji University will continue to be guided by digital intelligence, green development, and integration, providing high-quality educational resources and growth platforms for international students, and helping them create a wonderful and meaningful youth journey in China.
