23 students were awarded their graduate degrees at the 2018 University of Michigan- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Joint Institute (UM-SJTU JI) Graduate Commencement Ceremony held at the Yu Liming Center on March 29. The ceremony was attended by invited VIP speaker Thomas Fann, Board Member and President of Jiangling Motors Co., Ltd, JI leaders including Dean Peisen Huang, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Chien-Pin Chen, Associate Dean for Graduate Education David Hung, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education Gang Zheng, as well as faculty and staff representatives and all master and doctoral graduates. David Hung hosted the ceremony.
Peisen Huang congratulated the graduates on behalf of JI faculty and staff. Since JI recruited the first batch of graduate students, the quality of its graduate education has gradually been recognized by the academic circles. JI’s reputation and influence witnessed great improvement. He shared three outstanding graduates’ stories and used the graduate team who won second place in the 2018 Hult Prize Singapore Regional Competition recently as an example to encourage graduates to use what they learnt from the cross-cultural and innovative institute, grow together with JI’s enterprise of graduate education, and contribute their own strength to the progress of the human society in the future globalization era.
As an alumnus of the University of Michigan, Thomas Fann delivered a keynote speech. He shared with the students his personal experience and insights on the course of academic and career development. He encouraged the students to stay curious, dare to accept challenges, learn and grow from mistakes, learn from colleagues, be positive and a person of integrity.
Peiseng Huang presenting gift to Thomas Fann
JI Professor Yaping Dan made a speech as a faculty representative to congratulate and offer his blessing to the graduates. He advised the students to think positive, stay out of comfort zone, and find the right field to work. The graduates should also strive to be a good citizen and positively contribute to the development of China and the world.
Aimin Tang, a 2018 doctoral graduate of Information and Communication Engineering made a speech on behalf of the doctoral graduates. He shared with the graduates his journey of scientific research. He thinks JI’s unique international atmosphere and his adviser’s care benefited his graduate career a lot. From school to society, career choice is extremely important to everyone. He chose to stay and teach at JI not only because of his gratitude to the institute, but also because of his personal dream of passing down this gift to the next generation as a teacher. He quoted a word of Harriet Tubman to end his speech, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
Qiaoling Wang, a 2018 master graduate of Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics made a speech on behalf of the master graduates. To her, studying at JI was a very tough but at the same time a very happy experience, through which she achieved growth, learnt to share responsibilities, and stay positive in face of difficulties. It is her hope that JI graduates can deliver youthful contribution to the society with outstanding qualities inherited from the graduate education of the institute.
Li Shen, a 2018 master graduate of Mechanical Engineering reviewed the past seven years of studying at the joint institute. As a chief teaching assistant trainer of JI’s teaching development center, he offered tutorship for more than 500 students and trained 300 newly-appointed teaching assistants. These are all very precious memories to him. At the very moment, he was filled with not only the joy of completing his studies but also the sadness of bidding farewell to his alma mater. A big thank-you was expressed to his parents, the teachers and the joint institute for the support, teaching and memorable experiences.
Professor Xudong Wang tossing tassels for his graduate
This year, JI bestowed a total of 17 master degrees and six doctoral degrees, including two for international students. Among them, three will continue advanced study in other world-class universities including the University of Oxford and the North Carolina State University. The others have successfully landed jobs at Huawei, Tencent, Dajiang, Qualcomm, SAIC, ExxonMobil, Johnson and other well-known multinational companies.
Group photo of graduate students of JI’s Class of 2018
