Dear students and alumni, dear parents and teachers,

 Good morning.

“Spring steals away through intermittent rains; a bright day tells how fast summer proceeds.” How time flies! Today gathered in the lecture hall of Bochuan Campus, and in this grand commencementceremony of the class of 2023, we are celebrating 5,152 graduates’ completion of education in Dalian Neusoft University of Information (DNUI) and their beginning of expedition of glory and dreams. I would like to extend my warm congratulations to every promising graduate of the class of 2023 who is about to pursue dreams, and have the greatest respect for the teachers who have been teaching you carefully, and express my heartfelt thanks to the parents who have worked hard to raise you.

At the same time, a total of 180 representatives of graduates from the classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022 also returned here today to attend the belated graduation ceremony to make up an unforgettable lesson for their youth. Here, let’s welcome the alumni to home with warm applause!

Dear students, you are the generation that witnesses history. You have personally experienced and witnessed the hardships and dazzling glory in the long history, and together we have ushered in a new era of reform and change with each passing day. While at school, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and witnessed the great motherland’s historical feat of achieving the first centenary goals and completing the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. We welcomed the successful convening of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which described the grand blueprint of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese path to modernization and called for our effort to move forward courageously towards the second centenary goals. At the same time, the menacing COVID-19 epidemic has broken our peaceful study and life, and has also destined your college career to be unusual. In a special period when online learning, packaged meals, nucleic acid testing, and grid management have become the norm, you have overcome various difficulties and successfully completed your studies.

You are also an amazing generation. At the time of crisis and the call of the times, I am pleased that you, the generation after 00s, has become the vanguard force to protect the country and the people with a brave and fearless heart that distinguishes right from wrong. In the face of the rat race of the graduate school entrance examination and that of employment, you have handed over the excellent graduation answer sheets with practical actions during your college years. Some students are admitted to prestigious schools at home and abroad with excellent grades to continue their studies; some successfully pass the civil service examination and become glorious public servants of the people; some have won offers from famous enterprises with excellent resumes and started their careers; some have multiple competition awards, successfully realize the transformation of achievements, and embark on the road of entrepreneurship. Struggle is the posture that youth should have, and action is the best tempering of youth. The alma mater is proud of your progress!

In recent years, our university has focused on connotative development and high-quality improvement, and has made great progress in various aspects. Bochuan Campus and the second University Science and Technology Park were put into use, which not only provide a new smart and beautiful campus for all teachers and students, but also create a broad high-level practice platform for everyone. Seven undergraduate majors in our university were selected to be developed into first-class at national level, eight undergraduate majors to be first-class at provincial level. The number of national level first-class undergraduate majors approved is the first in the country among private universities. Two undergraduate courses were included in the first-class list of national level and 116 undergraduate courses in the first-class list of provincial level. For two consecutive years, DNUI has been ranked in the “Best Chinese Universities Ranking” issued by Shanghai Ranking Consultancy; it ranked third in private colleges and universities and first in science and engineering private colleges. It has ranked first in “private and independent colleges” in the “National College Teachers’ Teaching Development Index” and the “National College Teaching Competition Analysis Report” for many consecutive years. It has been selected among the top 100 global innovative universities for three consecutive years. You are witnesses and participants in the high-quality development of the college.

Dear students, we are experiencing major changes unprecedented in a century with changing international situation, accelerating iteration of science and technology, and increasing multiple information. As a new generation in the context of the “Metaverse”, you are supposed to think carefully about how to keep pace with the times in the face of a future full of unlimited opportunities and challenges, and that is a topic for everyone to reflect. Today, at the important moment when your youth years are coming to an end and you are about to start a new journey in life, as a teacher, I have a few words to say to you.

I hope that you can stick to your ideals and convictions, aim high, and work hard to serve the motherland.

“He who climbs high and looks far into the distance will find that the sky and the earth are vast, then he can see the world wholly and live more freely.” In his report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping sent a message to young people to encourage them to “be determined to be good young people in the new era who have ideals, dare to take responsibilities, endure hardships, and are willing to work hard.” Dear students, you are a generation moving in the same direction as the new era. The prosperity and strength of the motherland has given you a huge room for improvement. I hope you will seize the opportunities of the times, establish lofty ideals, cultivate love for your family and country, and bravely shoulder the responsibilities of the times. I hope you can integrate your life ideals into the great current of the national cause, and write a chapter of youth worthy of the great new era.

I hope you will become down-to-earth people, work hard and realize your personal value.

“Kunpeng hit the waves from now on, and it is time to sail and forge ahead.” Struggle is the most beautiful posture in life and the most beautiful background of youth. Dear students, there is no youth of “lying flat” and wasting time, only years of running and improving. You may work at primary level to serve the people, continue your study to prepare for the future, or start from ordinary positions in pursuit of your career. No matter what position you are in, I hope that everyone understands that “knowledge is mastered with diligence and wasted with idleness; virtue is formed with reflection and missed with indulgence”. I hope you bear in your mind our college motto, “to learn and to apply”. I hope you are a man of action who are ready to overcome difficulties in the prime of your life. I hope that you can achieve good results that belong to you and the contemporary youth, and realize personal value with your own effort.

I hope you have the courage to innovate and make breakthroughs, forge ahead, and expand the width and depth of life.

Only reformers advance; only innovators are strong; and only the reformer and innovator win. Innovation is an inexhaustible driving force for the development and progress of a country, a nation and an organization. Innovation is also the core competitiveness of individuals to create a better future. Our university opened up a new path of private education with pioneering momentum, and took the lead in innovation and entrepreneurship education in China 23 years ago, thus innovation has long been implanted in the genes of DNUI students. Many of your seniors have successfully started businesses. They have lived up to the university’s expectation of enabling students to create social value. You should have the courage to step out of your comfort zone with constant curiosity, and dare to break through conceptual barriers and thinking limitations. You should have the courage to become the first man in a new field, enhance the ability to do forward-thinking, and make innovation your label. That will help you be in a competitive advantage whether you are in the workplace or you are starting up a new company.

A new journey is about to begin. The campus in June is more vibrant, just like you in your prime; the test questions of the times have been listed, and the future answers are waiting for you to write. From now on, no matter where you are or what position you are in, your alma mater will always be your strong support and spiritual home. DNUI is always here for you.

Finally, I wish you all the best of luck and a successful career. Happy graduation!

Thank you.