Ladies and gentlemen, honorable leaders, all our guests and visitors, dear alumni, fellow teachers, students and friends,

Good morning!

Today will be marked as an unusual day, both for Shandong University (SDU) and for the whole country, both for all of us attending this assembly here and for all the people of China and members of the Chinese Communist Party. For, while we are celebrating the 110th anniversary of Shandong University, another important assembly is convened in Beijing: the opening of the Sixth Plenary Session of the Seventeenth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. This seems no coincidence, because as one of the themes for the CPC's Sixth Plenum is "cultural development and prosperity", so the themes for our anniversary celebration put "culture and academia" into prominence. The concurrence of the themes at Beijing and Jinan not only reflects our self-consciousness of the cultural mission of a university, but also indicates our first response to, and immediate execution of, the calls and policies of the Party Committee's Plenary Session. Thus the Celebration Assembly today takes on a special significance that distinguishes it from any other occasions.

Therefore, today is a propitious day for us to be assembled here in this new gymnasium, the largest in Chinese universities, completed just two weeks ago, to be dedicated to the great occasion. Today we all belong to Shandong University, whether you are one of her graduates or an invited guests, leading officials or common staff, renowned professors or young students. Your presence on the occasion adds to the grandeur and glory of our ancient university, adds to the honor and meaning for her 110th anniversary. At this historic moment, I would like, on behalf of the whole SDU community, to extend to you all, government and business leaders and our dear guests, my heartfelt welcome and many, many thanks. I wish to send my sincere greetings to all SDU people, on-campus or graduated, working in China or abroad. I would also like to extend my best regards to many of our elders, government leaders or veteran professors, who have helped to lay a solid foundation for the development of the university and the attainments of the present.

As you know, Shandong University has a long history for us to take pride in. It is 147 years now since the emergence of her medical department as a discipline of higher education. The Dungchow College (Dengzhou Wenhuiguan), where her medical discipline originated, has been regarded as one of the cradles of modern Chinese higher education. Shandong University has inherited this historical legacy and its pioneering tradition, and has since become one of the originating modern institutions in the history of modern higher education in China.

Shandong University's pioneering history also lies in the fact that it was the first academy to be operated under written rules and regulations of a university charter. As one of her predecessor institutions, the Shandong Imperial University, founded as early as in 1901, was the first national education establishment in China's provinces. What was remarkable is that the Shandong Imperial University Charter, as the first of its kind in Chinese history, was designated by the Qing government as an exemplary pilot and model for subsequent founding of imperial universities in other provinces. The Charter not only paved the way for modern education in China, but also set a good paradigm for the promotion and popularization of state-run universities nationwide. And the new courses offered by the University opened a channel for the inlet of Western science and technology.

The history of Shandong University has been one that identified with the national vicissitudes of modern China. Her history can be regarded as a snapshot of a century-old Chinese history full of misfortunes and setbacks. Soon after her establishment in 1901, the university was split into six schools, which was run separate from each other until 1926, when the National Shandong University was reinaugurated. Just two years later, as a consequence of the May Thirtieth Massacre after Japanese soldiers occupied Jinan, Shandong University had to be relocated to Qingdao on a decision made by Mr. Cai Yuanpei (1868-1940), the then university proctor. However, just as teaching was regaining normal, war broke out as Japanese troops invaded China. The university again had to be relocated, and teaching was then suspended. When it was resumed in Qingdao by 1946, and when her reputation was on the rise all over the country, more mishaps began to set in. In 1958, Mr. Cheng Fangwu (1897-1984), in his capacity as president, decided to move the campus back to Jinan. But hardly had the school regained composure when the notorious Great Cultural Revolution (1966-1977) broke out, hurling the University into chaos and splitting it into three, though it was subsequently combined into one again. It was during the 30 years after China's opening and reform that Shandong University began to embark on a journey of steady and healthy development, especially since 2001, when three key universities in Jinan, the Shandong Medical University (Shandong Yike Daxue), Shandong University of Technology (Shandong Gongye Daxue) and the former Shandong University, merged into the current new Shandong University.

The driving edge of Shandong University, however, was all the more whetted and honed by these setbacks and ordeals, bringing forth a resilient vitality in her spirit that generations of scholars from the university have taken valuable. The destiny of the Shandong University is held in close tie with that of the country and nation. When the nation enjoys peaceful prosperity, Shandong University flourishes in her growth. When the country was in turmoil, the university fell in havoc and disorder. The rise and fall of the two has so far exhibited a curiously high synchronicity, so that people tend to deem it more as good luck than bad one for the university's future. As the Chinese people strive towards the great objective of national revitalization, Shandong University has witnessed her best time ever in history, an opportunity to turn her blueprint into reality of joining the ranks of world-class universities.

The history of Shandong University is also a history of its unique contribution to the establishment of the higher education system in new China. In the adjustment of schools and departments in 1952, Shandong University, through splits and divisions, helped found more than ten universities for the country. Today's Shanghai Theatre Academy, Nanjing Arts University, Surveying and Mapping Discipline in Wuhan University, Geology study in Jilin University, Horticultural Sciences in Beijing Forestry University, Zhengzhou University, Shandong Agricultural University, Qufu Normal University, and Shandong Provincial Party School all traced their origin back to SDU. In 1958, when the university was relocated in Jinan, the marine sciences were left in Qingdao, and later developed into the Ocean University of China; The fisheries sciences were also left in Qingdao, and later evolved into the Institute of Oceanography under Chinese Academy of Sciences; The School of Medicine also stayed in Qingdao and changed its name to Qingdao College of Medicine which is known as Qingdao University today. The divisions and splits in the history of Shandong University, has on the one hand contributed to China's higher education, in particular the higher education in Shandong Province, and on the other hand, sapped the vitality of Shandong University, with more than half of its competitive and feature disciplines lost. Like a mother, Shandong University has given birth to many universities in Shandong Province as well as in other parts of China. This is the most unique aspect in its history.

"A thousand sails pass by the wrecked ship, and ten thousand saplings actually shoot up beyond the withered tree." In the past 110 years, SDU has developed from a university trapped by difficulties and disasters to one with vigorous growth and great success. Just as a China's old saying goes: difficulties and hardships are the nurse of greatness. This also tells us that at Shandong province, a place with rich culture, there must be a university to carry forward traditional Chinese culture. Shandong University is located in the hometown of Confucius and Mencius which is also the birthplace of China's traditional culture. It is destined to shoulder the holy responsibility just like a religion. That may explain why Shandong University survived lots of catastrophes.

Despite the numerous setbacks and hardships, Shandong University made enviable achievements. Looking back, the most proud thing we feel about Shandong University is its outstanding achievements in school running and management.

In the past 110 years, Shandong University has cultivated 400,000 graduates of various majors. Among them are pioneers of Revolution of 1911, martyrs of Huanghuagang Uprising, famous generals in Anti-Japanese War and marshals of the people's republic of China. Shandong University is the only university established on Chinese own that has produced marshals of the People's Republic of China, among which there are more than 10 leaders of the Party and state, dozens of academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, scholars and experts who have instructed Noble Prize laureates, winners of the U.S. President Awards, writers whose works were popular in Broadway for more than half a century, famous poets, large numbers of artists as well as business leaders in fields of petroleum, power, food and resources, which decide our life quality.

Thanks to its free and open environment of teaching and flexible educational evaluation mechanism, Shandong University has fostered a large number of renowned scholars and important scientists. The story of Zang Kejia (1905-2004) may be known to all Chinese educators. A poor student in math, Zang scored nothing in his entrance examination paper. In spite of that, his talent was recognized by Wen Yiduo and Zang was admitted by the university and later became China's poet laureate. Shandong University has adhered to this tradition of allowing for unconventionality, encouraging innovation, respecting creativity and eliminating prejudice. Talented people of all varieties can find maximum space for growth here.

Equally important for a university is her commission to serve as a source and disseminator of knowledge and ideas, and to provide fruitful results of scientific research. Our university has proved equal to the task. As early as in 1904, professors of Shandong University had their papers published in such prestigious journals as Nature, and took the initial step for Chinese biological science to move outward to the world. Similarly, our faculty and researchers have made a myriad of prize-winning achievements in academic and technological research.

Professor Tong Dizhou (TC Tung, 1902-1979) is held to be the "father of clone in China". In 1963, Tong inserted DNA of a male carp into the egg of a female carp and became the first to successfully clone a fish that was named after him. In 1978, Shandong University won two first prizes at the great National Science Conference, topping all other universities in China. For the past decades, our university has been listed among top ranks in China in terms of the number of SCI publications and the rate of being quoted. All together, as many as eight disciplines have been rated as among the 1% world best according to ESI statistics in the United States, including mathematics, chemistry, material science, engineering, clinical medicine, zoology and botany, biological chemistry, and biology. Our professors and scientists also have made their influence felt in other fields of research, such as financial mathematics, crystal materials, bio-technology, pharmaceutical invention, functional rehabilitation of blood vessels, rock and soil mechanics, new energy development, and environmental science.

In fields of the arts and humanities, Shandong University composed a brilliant chapter during the 1930s, by such famous professor-writers as Wen Yiduo (1899-1946), Liang Shiqiu (1903-1987), Yang Zhensheng (1890-1956), Lao She (1899-1966), Shen Congwen (1902-1988), Hong Shen (1894-1955), You Guo'en (1899-1978) and many more. And since the 1950s, our university also took leading positions with research in classical Chinese literature and Chinese philology, represented by Feng Yuanjun (1900-1974), Lu Kanru (1903-1978), Gao Heng (1900-1986), Xiao Difei (1906-1991), Yin Menglun (1908-1988), and Yin Huanxian (1913-1994). Shandong University also led Chinese and international academia in the studies of ancient Chinese history, with prominent scholars like Ding Shan(1901-1952), Zheng Hesheng (1901-1989), Huang Yunmei (1898-1977), Zhang Weihua (1902-1987), Yang Xiangkui (1910-2000), Tong Shuye (1908-1968), Wang Zhonglao (1913-1986), and Zhao Lisheng (1917-2007). These famous figures made Shandong Uinversity into a virtual headquarters of research in Chinese literature and history, attracting attention from both home and abroad. The eminent journal that published their works, The Journal of Literature, History, Philosophy, has brought the academic fame of Shandong University to the apex of the day, since then she has maintained the honor.

Although Shandong University finds her best merits in fundamental research, her medical science, engineering research and other emerging disciplines also figure prominently with their distinctive advantages. Supporting the research advancement is our university's tradition of opening to and collaboration with the outside world. Her international perspective showed its debut as early as in her initial years, when the Imperial Shandong University employed an American citizen, the Rev. Watson McMillen Hayes D.D.LL.D.(1857-1944), as the general proctor. At that time, foreign students and teachers accounted for over 10% of the faculty and student population. The medical department was governed jointly by America's New York University and Canada's Toronto University. Even until 1952, the medical graduates could obtain diplomas granted by the three universities of three countries. The internationalization tradition was dropped since then until after China adopted the reform and opening up policy in 1978, when our university lost no time to resume inter-school exchange and cooperation with foreign universities. In 1982, Professor Wu Fuheng was granted honorary doctorate in law by Harvard, and he became the first and only Chinese university president to have obtained such honors. Up to today, Shandong University has established friendship relations with over 120 universities from more than 40 countries, sending thousand-plus students abroad for study and research. To enhance our academic research, Shandong University has established over 20 technical platforms for international cooperation with prestigious universities. And we are currently pushing ahead an internationalization program, consisting of 1,000 courses taught in English, in order to build Shandong University into an integral member of the world higher education system. This is only one of our major objectives that orientate our opening education strategy.

The 110th anniversary marks a milestone in the development of Shandong University. We will make a new start from this new historical point and create the future. In this era when China is rising dramatically to be a power, Shandong University must assume the role of a leading university. Therefore, we set a new goal of joining the ranks of world-class universities by 2020. To achieve this goal is the historical responsibility of the new generation of SDU people.

A first-class university is a concept open to different interpretations. If a university can support regional development, it is a first-class university in the region. If a university can support the development of a country and a nation, it is a first-class university in the country. As for the word-class university in question, it means that the influence of a university goes beyond the country where it is located and reaches the whole world.

We will meet many challenges in our efforts to build a world-class university. Those challenges come from concept differences, staff shortages, backward running systems, and insufficient funds. However, we will advance despite those difficulties, which can be overcome by drawing on the spirit of reform, the concept of stressing quality in development, and the courage to innovate the system. We will achieve our goal by ushering in a third glorious period. In our pursuit of the goal, we would first build Shandong University into a respected university.

A respected university should pursue high morality. The greatness of a university first lies in her high morality, and the learning in a university is mainly embodied in her teaching tradition. A master is a man of high morality and great learning as well as one who is representative of the school tradition. A master is the model of the world and the source of learning. A master's morality determines that of a university as well as that of students. The morality of a university is different from that of the worldly because fundamentally she pursues producing highly qualified graduates for society and contributing to the prosperity of the country. A university regards righteousness, rather than material gains, as profit. A university loses her morality usually because of seeking material gains or being influenced by common customs. A university without morality cannot win people's respect, nor can it ever become a world-class university.

A respected university should seek pioneering spirit. Pioneering spirit reflects the level that a university reaches. Without pioneering spirit, there can be no truth. Social progress depends on science and technology while the direction of society is steered by pioneering spirit. Only a university featuring pioneering spirit is yearned for by the people. Only a university with pioneering spirit can become a world-class university.

A respected university should aspire after creativity. Universities feature constant renewal and are representative of youth and vitality. More important, they produce innovation results and output new knowledge every day. Creativity is the fundamental way for a university to display her level. Only a university full of creativity can become a world-class university.

A respected university should go after distinguished characteristics. Distinguished characteristics are where the charm of a university lies. Only a university with distinguished characteristics will be valued, rather than being ignored and replaced. Distinguished characteristics can be divided into soft and hard ones. Style of study, tradition, culture and system belong to soft characteristics. Hard ones are reflected by academic strength. All the world-famous universities are known for the distinguished characteristics of their academia. To be a high-level university with distinguished characteristics mainly means to develop academic strength and distinguished characteristics. Without distinguished characteristics, there is no level, nor advantage, to speak of.

It is our aim to build a university combining high morality, pioneering spirit, creativity and distinguished characteristics. A university with these features will surely be respected and be a university possessing the essence shared by world-class universities.

Shandong University is located in Shandong province, the birthplace of many representative figures in traditional Chinese culture. We have incomparable advantages in terms of cultural resources than other universities in China. Therefore, we have every reason and strength to build Shandong University into the most representative university in the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese culture.

In the following decade, Shandong University will strive to develop itself into a cultural highland overlooking both eastern and western civilizations and become the oriental center for the renaissance of classical learning. We will seize the strategic opportunity when world civilizations are undergoing transition and all nations are trying to improve their soft power. We will encourage all our faculty members in the field of classical studies to contribute their share in building an international center for the study of Confucianism. We will use this center as a springboard for the full rejuvenation of classical studies in Shandong University and China at large.

In order to realize the above-mentioned goal, we are implementing a series of plans and programs, including "Ten-One Hundred-One Thousand Elite Plan", "Action Plan on Academic Rejuvenation", "Internationalization Strategy by 2015", "Action Plan for Serving Shandong Province", and "Department Reform Plan". What is worth special mentioning is that starting from this year, we will resume our schooling in Qingdao. We will try to explore the new model for education through the Shandong University system including Shandong University (in Jinan), Shandong University (in Weihai), and Shandong University (in Qingdao). We will also take this opportunity to further update the system and put in place a modern university system, making Qingdao campus a base for recruiting and cultivating high-end talents, an innovation center for cutting-edge technologies, a center for application of the hi-tech achievements, and a center for high-end international academic exchanges. We are convinced that with the completing of Qingdao campus in five years and the introduction of new educational models and systems, SDU will narrow its gap with the world-class universities.

We can say with pride that we have let the world see the bold and confident stride that SDU has made in order to join the ranks of world-class universities.

The history of 110 years, with vicissitudes of both setbacks and success, has constituted our glories and dreams as SDU people. At this historic moment, every and each one of us could not help but feel emotional and proud. Since we have filled pride and glory into past chapters of history, we are as well confident to compose new chapters of greater success in our future. Let us join hands, now, and strive towards the objective of building Shandong University into a world-class university.

Thank you.

Xu Xianming, President of Shandong University

October 15, 2011

Edited by: Jing Zizhao

Source: Organization Office of The 110th Anniversary Celebration