In summer, gorgeous flowers are blooming and grass and trees are luxuriant on IMU campus. Farewell songs of graduates are sounding again beside Taoli Lake. On the morning of July 2, 2023, IMU held a grand graduation ceremony & degree-conferring ceremony for 2023 offline and online in the square in front of Zhuoyue Building on the south campus of IMU in Yuquan District, Hohhot City. 6595 students have completed their courses at IMU. With the advice, expectations and blessings of their alma mater and teachers, they will strive for their ambitious goals and embark on their dream-pursuing journey. More than 60 thousand alumni, teachers and parents of graduates watched the ceremony online.
Present at the ceremony were Zhao Dongyuan, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS) and honorary president of IMU, Chogjin, member of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences(CASS), first-class researcher of CASS, director of the Academic Division of Philosophy and Literature of CASS and special-term professor of IMU, Shi Zhenwei, outstanding alumnus representative of IMU, chairman of the Department of Aerospace Information Engineering of the School of Astronautics of Beihang University and winner of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, Liu Zhiyu, secretary of IMU CPC Committee, Wu Limin, president of IMU, Zhang Liping, secretary of IMU Disciplinary Inspection Commission and commissioner of the IMU Office of Ombudsman, Erhembayar, vice president of IMU, Gao Guanglai, vice president of IMU, Liu Yongbin, vice president of IMU, Du Xiaodong, vice president of IMU, Du Fenglian, vice president of IMU, Sun Zhiping, member of IMU CPC Committee and secretary of the CPC Committee of Transportation Institute of IMU, Bai Tuoya, deputy secretary of the CPC Committee of Transportation Institute and dean of the institute, members of IMU Committee for the Conferment of Academic Degrees, cadres of different departments of IMU who are above the level of deputy director of a division, representatives of supervisors of PhD students and master students and students who are about to graduate in 2023. The ceremony was chaired by Du Xiaodong, vice president of IMU.
The university flag and flags of different schools are waved into the ceremony venue.
The university leadership, members of IMU Committee for Conferment of Academic Degrees and distinguished guests walk to the platform.
Flooded with deep feelings between teachers and graduates and love of graduates for IMU, the IMU campus in midsummer is filled with the blessings, expectations and care for its graduates. At 7 a.m. sharp, the graduates in their graduation gowns entered the ceremony venue one after another in the soft sunlight in the morning. They closely watched the videos played on the LED screens on either side of the platform, carefully listened to the hopes and expectations from the party secretaries and deans of different schools and recalled their unforgettable university years. The years at the university had flown away and numerous highlights during these years had become their unique memories, which would shine in their future life. From time to time, the graduates applauded and cheered or tears welled up in their eyes. The unforgettable scenes at university and their time for their beautiful youth made the graduates feel the warmth of the home-like university and encouraged them to work and fulfill their goals where they are needed.
The national-flag-raising ceremony
At 8 a.m. sharp, the national flag guards of IMU solemnly escorted the national flag into the ceremony venue. With the encouraging tune of the national anthem, everybody at the venue sang the national anthem and paid respect to and saluted the national flag with eyes while the five-starred national flag was raised slowly and flew against the wind. And the graduation ceremony for 2023 began officially.
At the ceremony, Liu Zhiyu, secretary of IMU CPC Committee, conferred the certificates of honor on the outstanding graduate representatives.
Liu Zhiyu, secretary of IMU CPC Committee, confers the certificates of honor on the outstanding graduate representatives.
Wu Limin, president of IMU, delivered his address on behalf of the university to express the congratulations to the graduates and talked about the university’s hope and expectation for them. His address was titled as “Waves upon Waves of IMU Graduates Will Perform Better and Better in the Future Construction of China.”.
Wu Limin, president of IMU, addresses the ceremony.
Wu Limin said to the graduates that “During the past four years the great changes unseen in one hundred years have intertwined with the pandemic rarely seen in a century. The influence of the piling up of structural, institutional and periodic problems and the effect of the combination of the risks at home and abroad have brought huge challenges to China, the whole world and every student. Faced with the profound changes, you are bound to face the difficulties of the times. Hardships are the best gifts given by the times to you to grow up. All the sufferings and pains will finally become your medal of merit to contribute to your future consistent struggle. In essence, anxiety is the pressing sense to fulfill the meaning of one’s life. The existence of the anxiety reminds you that life is more than that at university. You must take a right path in your lives and have fulfilling lives.”
Wu Limin pointed out that “The tides of the times are still surging forward and the road for the revitalization of the Chinese nation is arduous and long. For the young in China in a new era, to integrate yourselves into the trend of times and be the subsequent waves that successively move forward courageously and impetuously is your inevitable choice that is dream-driven and lives up to their youth and the responsibility of times and missions of history that you should take.” Wu hoped that “You must seize the opportunities that times have provided and integrate your own ideals and pursuits into the cause of the party and the country to work hard for the rural revitalization, scientific research, service of the grassroots and protection of this country.” Wu expected that the graduates could play big roles in the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with their energy and creativity and contribute to forging a better China with their wisdom and endeavors.
Wu Limin said to the graduates that “On parting, as a teacher and elder, I have 3 expectations for you who are to depart. First, you should clutch ‘relay batons’ from your predecessors to continue their struggle and endeavor to perform better than them. You should keep the live cinders of your predecessors, cherish the current superior materialistic environment for your development and rich spiritual development space and look at the world with more open mind and from a more equal perspective.” Wu stressed to the parting graduates that “You should pay your attention to the fate of mankind, care for the development of the world, have the courage to liberate your mind, keep abreast of the times and dare to explore and forge ahead.” Wu hoped that IMU’s graduates could try to work hard in the quickly changing China with explorative and innovative spirit, continue the spirit and cause of their predecessors and surpass their predecessors on the basis of the inheritance of their spirit and cause to make achievements that are worthy of the times, history and the Chinese people. Second, IMU’s graduates should face “uncertainties” in their lives, look for opportunities of their growth in difficult situations and try to be the younger generation that embraces the times. The president hoped that IMU’s students should have a quality to have no fear for failures while undergoing tough experiences, have an optimistic attitude to life and turn a deaf year to those who abandon themselves to despair and calmly handle tough experiences, setbacks and ordeals. Wu said that IMU’s graduates should overcome their tendency to pursue “certainties”, shake off the shackles of mentality of “I do not know” and “It is impossible” and they should not follow others blindly and they should think independently in a dialectical way and embrace the changes with an open mind to better activate the intrinsic energy to make great achievements. Third, IMU’s students should not become the ones who are only immersed in books and they should seek truth in practice and become the younger generation who can play the big roles in the development of the country. Wu hoped that IMU’s students could follow the university’s motto of “seeking truth and being practical”, take study as an attitude to life, a responsibility for work and a pursuit of spirit, cling to the unity of knowing and doing, dedicate to practice and familiarize themselves with the land of their motherland. Wu said that IMU’s graduates should go among the people and seek advice from them, persevere to steel themselves at ordinary posts and in hard and dangerous missions to personally feel and know about the social realities, understand the vicissitudes of life, take root where their motherland most needs them and let their youth blossom in the practice of fully constructing the modern socialist country.
Wu Limin said to the graduates that “You are in the good times, the best time in the development of Chinese nation when you have had the opportunities for your growth, progress and achievements. And you have the unique characters endowed by the country and the times: you are vigorous and dynamic, loyal and honest, full of the spirit of struggle and sacrifice and have the courage for innovation. As a result, the country and times have more expectations and hopes for you. Currently, China still has many bottleneck problems to be solved and difficulties to overcome in realizing its second centenary goal and great rejuvenation. Therefore, you should have high aspirations, firmly keep pace with the times, adhere to making achievements in meeting the strategic needs of the country, actively involve yourselves in the economic and social development of the region and courageously turn yourselves into those who take lead in the times as strivers, pioneers and contributors. You should have noble character, bear in mind that “it is hard to get virtuous and easy to get evil”, persevere to be the firm practitioners of core socialist values, advocates of moral values, inheritors of advanced culture and pursue a life with more open mind, broader realm and nobler character. You should strive to be great talents, stand firm in your ideals and convictions during your practice and enlightenment, improve and enhance your skills and capabilities in your exploration and struggle. You should attach importance to progress, even small progress, and face squarely criticisms and doubt to continuously better yourselves and make yourselves more successful.” Wu hoped that IMU’s graduates could value their youth, advance wave upon wave for the cause of the party and the country and make increasingly better talents of IMU not only a beautiful scene but a promising future.
Zhao Dongyuan, academician of CAS and honorary president of IMU, addresses the ceremony.
Du Xiaodong, vice president of IMU, chairs the graduation ceremony.
Zhao Dongyuan, academician of CAS and honorary president of IMU, expressed his sincere blessings to the graduates in his address. He recalled the building and development of IMU and the great achievements that the university had made in talent cultivation, scientific research and service of the economic and social development of the country and the region. Zhao said that it was the honor achieved together by the university, its staff and its students, which should be applauded.
The honorary president hoped that IMU’s graduates should be the ones who have deep mind and can change the world. He also hoped that in whichever field the graduates work, they should seek truth and get ready for devotion regardless of the personal interests with the spirit of science, courageous questioning, rational thinking and careful seeking of confirmation. IMU’s graduates should refuse to be traditionalists, people who are satisfied with the status quo, the ones who make no attempt to make progress and those who reap where they have not sown. IMU’s graduates should ceaselessly look for opportunities and get inspirations with hard-bitten will, inclusive mentality and open and broad horizon. They should be good at thinking rationally, explore and produce something new, have the courage to innovate and strive to be the first in building a strong country and rejuvenating the Chinese nation. IMU’s graduates should be diligent in thinking and good at understanding to go beyond limitation. Zhao expected that IMU’s graduates could always stay true to their original aspirations and do their duties. They should understand the problems at different levels, find problems from different perspectives, study problems across the board and do not change their original intention to improve their energy level. They should take pride in IMU and feel proud of the outstanding alumni from the university. They should not feel self-abased and be courageous enough to compete with the stronger one and climb to the higher level. IMU’s graduates should improve their wisdom, always summarize their experiences, innovate their thinking pattern, inject wisdom into their courage and change with transcendental reason the world that no one can predict. IMU’s graduates should persevere to temper themselves and conduct long-term further studies in their fields. Zhao hoped that in whichever field they work, they could bear the indifference and negligence for their work, devote themselves to their work and keep their equanimity; and they could carry out their work in understanding, seek truth, keep practical, meticulous and improving, pursue perfection and strive forward.
Zhao Dongyuan said that life could not go smooth without difficulties, which had been determined in the first 3 minutes when the universe exploded. In life, there are bound to be setbacks and failures. Sometimes people may be caught in danger or even despair. As a result, everybody should get ready for the test and blow of our life and prepare themselves to stand on their feet after falling down. Even if there is only a trace of light, they should with their own rational thinking and devotion make themselves succeed. Zhao finally wish that the ration of IMU’s graduates could fly like a roc high in the sky. He said IMU expect their good news and their success.
Prof. Shi Zhenwei, outstanding alumnus representative of IMU, chairman of the Department of Aerospace Information Engineering of the School of Astronautics of Beihang University and winner of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, addresses the ceremony.
Prof. Shi Zhenwei, outstanding alumnus representative of IMU, chairman of the Department of Aerospace Information Engineering of the School of Astronautics of Beihang University and winner of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, recalled his years at IMU when he was a student at this university. He also recalled the process of his growth after his graduation when he fully devoted to meet the key needs of the country and pursued his personal dreams. He shared 3 points about his life experience with the graduates who are about to start their journey. First, the graduates should seek truth, stay practical and keep steadfast in doing everything. Second, they should have ambitious ideals and the aim for the highest. Third, the the graduates should connect their future and fate with those of the country and the Chinese nation and be talents who could meet the needs of the country. He said that graduation is not the end but the beginning. He hoped the departing graduates could go to a brighter future with the mind of gratitude, responsibility and struggle.
Zhou Jiantao, director of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs of IMU, introduces the graduation of the undergraduates and junior college graduates and the conferment of degrees for undergraduates.
Zhao Haidong, dean of the Graduate School of IMU and director of the Department for Affairs of Postgraduates of IMU CPC Committee, introduces the graduation of postgraduates and the conferment of degrees for master students and PhD students.
Prof. ZuoYongchun with the School of Life Sciences of IMU addressed the ceremony on behalf of all teachers of IMU. He said that life is the most intelligent existence that makes the earth different from other planets. Language of life shows us that every life has its unique genome and everybody has his own schedule. You can’t predict what your time is. But keep optimistic and embark on your journey. As long as they start off, they will have hope for the future. He hoped that IMU’s graduates will, like the sunflowers on the grassland, grow towards the sun, bear in mind the dream of IMU : “respect truth and knowledge and pursue excellence” and be the warm-hearted one of IMU who always bear good wills in heart and be optimistic about the future. Zuo said that IMU’s graduates should remember what Xi Jinping, general secretary instructed when he inspected IMU that “You should have aim for the highest, come down to earth, acquire enough knowledge, lay solid foundation and improve your ability to contribute your wisdom and power to the future rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” and become a beam of light to illuminate one corner of the world.
Prof. Zuo Yongchun with the School of Life Sciences of IMU addresses the ceremony on behalf of all teachers of IMU.
Gao Ruiting, PhD graduate who was admitted to the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of IMU in 2020 and who majors in chemistry, addressed the ceremony on behalf of all the postgraduates of IMU. He shared his thoughts about his study at IMU and expressed his gratitude to IMU and unwillingness to part. Gao said that there are bound to be difficulties in the future and they will overcome them to strive forward. He said that “As pioneers of the times, we should remember firmly our missions in the current times, work hard and carry out tasks effectively and take great responsibilities. I wish that we can cultivate our characters and morals in the new trends of the times, exert ourselves and carry on our predecessors’ tasks and make a success of them.”
Gao Ruiting, PhD graduate who was admitted to the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of IMU in 2020 and who majors in chemistry, addresses the ceremony on behalf of all the postgraduates of IMU.
Zeng Wen who was admitted to the School of Ethnology and Sociology of IMU, addressed the ceremony on behalf of all the undergraduates. She recalled the unforgettable four college years with her classmates. She said that after departing from the university the graduates would come to realize their timidity, cowardice, commonness, moderation, merit and pride and slowly learned to accept or correct them so as to better adapt themselves to the changes of the world outside the campus and slowly have the ability to understand how the outside world operate and the sweets and bitters of life. She believed that after graduation IMU’s graduates would make efforts, strive forward, taste life of the common people and deliver a satisfying report to the motherland.
Zeng Wen who was admitted to the School of Ethnology and Sociology of IMU, addresses the ceremony on behalf of the undergraduates.
At the ceremony, Zhou Jiantao, director of the Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs of IMU, introduces the graduation of undergraduates and junior college graduates and the conferment of degrees for undergraduates. Zhao Haidong, dean of the Graduate School of IMU and director of the Department for Affairs of Postgraduates of IMU CPC Committee, introduces the graduation of the postgraduates and the conferment of degrees for master students and PhD students. In 2023, over 3500 undergraduate students obtained their bachelor’s degrees and more than 2500 postgraduate students obtained master’s or PhD degrees. The members of IMU Committee for the Conferment of Academic Degrees conferred respectively the certificates of doctor’s degree, master’s degree and bachelor’s degree.
The members of IMU Committee for the Conferment of Academic Degrees confer respectively the certificates of doctor’s degree, master’s degree and bachelor’s degree.
“There are green trees of wisdom here which send forth the wisdom of students. This is the cradle of the civilization which breeds the hope of the nation…”. When the familiar melody of the university song began to sound, the students present at the ceremony had smiles on their faces and glistening tears welled up in their eyes, which showed their time of dreaming and struggling at IMU. In the summer, the graduates kept in mind their years at IMU, felt touched with their alma mater, grew up mentally and realized a big change in their lives. They will leave IMU to go to different parts of their motherland and start their new journey. On parting they said that they would never forget the cultivation of IMU and in their future life they would adhere to the university moto of “seek truth and be practical”. They would release their passion of youth in their struggle, pursue their dreams of youth and have unregrettable lives on the journey of building the modern socialist country across the board so as to reward their alma mater with their excellent achievements.
Happy graduation!
