Speak for the youth, and to the world. This afternoon, the 2024 Commencement of School of Foreign Studies, Tongji University was held in the auditorium on the first floor of Yifu Building in celebration of 2024 graduates going to all parts of the world. Prof. Zheng Chunrong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School, Prof. Wu Yun, Dean of the School, Mr. Song Bo, Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, Associate Prof. Li Shubei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Associate Prof. Wang Beilei, Associate Dean of the School, Associate Prof. Hu Qi, Associate Dean of the School, Prof. Yang Xiaohu, Dean of the Department of English, Prof. Wu Huiping, Dean of the Department of German, Associate Prof. Zhou Feng, Teacher Representative, and Mr. Liu Jiaxuan, Secretary of the Youth League Committee, Ms. Li Weiwei, Deputy Director of the Office of Student Work, and Mr. Wang Yuchen, Deputy Secretary of the Youth League Committee, as well as faculty members and parents of the graduates attended the ceremony. Zheng Chunrong presided over the graduation ceremony. Before the ceremony started, representatives of graduates sang the graduation theme song.
Wu Yun delivered the graduation speech. On behalf of the School, she firstly expressed congratulations to the 2024 graduates of the School who have accomplished their studies, and expressed her heartfelt thanks to the school's faculty and staff for their hard work and the parents of the students for their attentive care. She stated that a new round of scientific explosion triggered by generative artificial intelligence is surging, and the change is so fast that it has resulted a huge impact on the public before it can be noticed. Prof. Wu emphasized that renewing oneself with continuous efforts is the only certainty that can be relied upon in this uncertain world, and that it allows one to be prepared and walk into the unknown in merriment. She said that language is a vehicle for humanity, and it is not just a tool but a bridge or a ladder that allows us to appreciate cultures of others in this world of differences. She pointed out that our students have assessed the cognitive impairment of the elderly with the use of AI, conducted language screening for children with hearing impairment, spread to the world stories of China’s revolution during years of war, acted as the language volunteers for emergency language services, or providing cloud-based interpretation, all of which show that our students have walked out of the university and crossed over the traditional barriers, so that humanity can make its marvelous encounter with the machines and science in blossom of vitality. She hoped our students can keep learning and stick to original inspirations, finally to build China a better place with everyone’s efforts. She wished that the students can brave the wind and the waves to chase their dreams with great perseverance strength, no matter how far they are in the world.
Teachers' and students' representatives made graduation speeches, after which leaders of the School and Departments turned the tassels for the graduates and awarded diplomas. The ceremony came to an end with the Song of Tongji.