On the morning of September 4, the 2025 Opening Ceremony of the School of International Studies (SIS), Peking University, was held in Qiulin Lecture Hall. Attendees included Kang Tao (Party Secretary); Wang Zhengyi (Chair of the Academic Committee); Zhang Haibin, Gui Yongtao, Zhu Yibo, and Dong Zhaohua (Associate Deans); Xiang Zuotao (Deputy Party Secretary); Huang Yulan (Deputy Director of the Office of Undergraduate Education Administration and faculty advisor for the undergraduate cohort of the Entering Class of 2025); Li Haozheng (Deputy Director of the Office of the Party Committee and the Administration and faculty advisor for the master’s cohort of the Entering Class of 2025); faculty representatives; and all newly enrolled students. The ceremony was hosted by Zhang Xinyang (Deputy Party Secretary).
Ceremony
The ceremony began with a warm opening video that vividly captured the new students’ first encounters with Yanyuan and SIS—filled with teachers’ heartfelt expectations and the students’ hopes and dreams for their university life.
National Anthem Performance
With the solemn performance of the national anthem, the opening ceremony officially commenced.
Speech by Xu Yiwen
Ms. Xu Yiwen (First-year Undergraduate Student) expressed her pride and sense of mission in joining SIS. She said her choice stemmed not only from curiosity about the world and a love of human stories, but also from the conscious pursuit of linking personal ideals with national development and the destiny of humanity. She pledged to cherish her time at PKU and strive to grow into a versatile talent with professional competence, cross-cultural communication skills, and strategic vision.
Speech by Xie Jinwei
Mr. Xie Jinwei (First-year Master’s Student) reflected on his four years of undergraduate study at SIS. Citing Prof. Tang Shiqi, he emphasized that international relations is ultimately about “human beings,” requiring both rational insight and humanistic concern. He encouraged fellow students to take full advantage of the diverse platforms the school provides, engage in dialogue across backgrounds, and expand their thinking through understanding differences and building consensus.
Speech by Yang Guang
Mr. Yang Guang (Fourth-year Doctoral Student from Ghana) shared his experiences over the past three years at PKU. He spoke movingly about his journey from aspiring to enter PKU to actually becoming a member of the university, stressing that PKU is not only an honor but also a profound responsibility. He urged new students to study diligently, actively engage in practice, broaden their horizons, and grow into young people of ideals and responsibility.
Speech by Prof. He Jiani
Prof. He Jiani encouraged students to “conduct research with warmth and become genuine human beings.” Drawing on her own academic and teaching experiences, she highlighted three hopes for students: to see real people and conduct research with humanistic concern; to stay close to research subjects and carry out meaningful research; and to be genuine individuals who embrace complexity and diversity.
Associate Dean Prof. Gui Yongtao announced the decision to honor outstanding undergraduate advisors for the 2024–2025 academic year. Prof. Li Yangfan, Prof. Lei Shaohua, and Prof. Zha Daojiong received the distinction. Party Secretary Kang Tao presented the awards, and the audience applauded warmly in tribute.
Speech by Dean Tang Shiqi
Prof. Tang Shiqi (Dean of SIS) delivered a video address titled “Being Human in the Age of AI.” He explored the essence and value of “being human” in an era of rapid technological advancement. Drawing on both Western and Confucian traditions, as well as Aristotle’s philosophy and the Confucian Great Learning, he emphasized that rationality and morality are acquired through learning and practice, not inherited. He argued that while AI can provide knowledge and optimize decisions, it cannot replace human subjectivity and responsibility in morality, emotion, and aesthetics. He urged students to uphold humanistic values and academic practice, to make good use of AI while also exploring the infinite potential of humanity, and ultimately to realize their authentic selves and true value.
The ceremony concluded with all faculty and students singing Yan Yuan Qing together. The new students are now set to embark on a new chapter of life in Yanyuan, carrying forward a sense of national responsibility and global vision, and writing their own stories of honor and aspiration as a new generation of SIS scholars.
Written by: Wang Zhang Jinyi, Liu Mingyang
Photo by: Duan Shengde
Edited by: News Center, School of International Studies