The 2016 new student convocation of the University of Michigan- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute (UM-SJTU JI) was held at SJTU on September 11, 2016. The special guests were John Wu, founder and Chairman of H&F Fund Management Group, and his wife, Jane Sun, Co-president of Ctrip.com.
In his opening remarks, Dean Peisen Huang welcomed all the new students and their parents. He gave a brief introduction of JI, highlighting the recent milestone of obtaining ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accreditation on its two undergraduate majors, i.e., mechanical engineering and electrical and computer engineering. It marks that JI’s outstanding quality has been highly recognized by the international authority. Dean Huang hopes the students will thrive in JI’s rich education environment and develop their full potentials.
Ms. Jane Sun, Ctrip Co-president and Chief Operating Officer, a donor of the John Wu & Jane Sun Endowed Scholarships, delivered the convocation address. Ms. Sun has won the “Ten Outstanding CFO Award” and was named “Best CFO” by “Institutional Investor,” a leading global financial magazine. By sharing her upbringing and work experience, Sun encouraged the new students to embark on a new life journey with “Five Loves: Love to face up challenge! Love to seek 10x opportunities! Love your life and love yourself! Love your family! Love the world!”
The Wus awarded the John Wu and Jane Sun Endowed Scholarship for Outstanding Students
The Wus awarded the John Wu and Jane Sun Endowed Scholarship for Excellent Students
Then, Mr. John Wu, Ms. Sun and JI officers distributed the awards to the freshman recipients of the John Wu and Jane Sun Endowed Scholarship for Outstanding Students and the John Wu and Jane Sun Endowed Scholarship for Excellent Students. Besides these two scholarships, JI has established many other scholarships for freshmen.
Speaking on behalf of the current students, Yao Yao, Vice-president of JI Student Union presented a full range of JI’s unique features such as international teaching atmosphere, first-class teachers and innovative learning experience. She said, “Choosing JI is to choose a distinctive college life. Rote memory is no longer the sole way of learning. You need to discover your passion. JI will be a whole new stage of your life. “
At intermission, an ensemble “Greeting of love” performed by JI students added an artistic atmosphere to an engineering school.
Representing freshmen, Yiyang Xu expressed his pride in entering JI. Supported by the rich resources of two top universities at home and abroad, students will be able to get equal education as in the University of Michigan without leaving Shanghai. He hopes JI will help him open up a new chapter in life and eventually become a top engineer.
Speaking on behalf of foreign students, Richard Murray from Australia said, “To study in a Chinese university has always been my dream. When I first learned about JI, I knew this was where I would go. I believe we will be proud of being part of JI.”
Representing the new graduate students, Miao Huo felt very fortunate to be able to receive a first-class education from a world-class international faculty in JI’s graduate program. She said, “In the next few years, we will be at the forefront of our field of study; we will blaze trails and create a future of infinite possibilities beyond imagination.”
After the ceremony, an information session was held to help new parents better understand JI, with Dean Huang and key staff answering parents’ questions.
This year JI ushered in a total of 316 undergraduate students and 49 graduate students. There are 52 international students from 14 countries including the United States, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Indonesia and Korea. The convocation serves as a first class to deepen their understanding of JI and help them quickly adapt to JI life.
