On the afternoon of September 24, the opening ceremony of SDU Qingdao Campus for the freshmen of 2016 was held in the north square of the campus museum.
Xiang Huaicheng, former Minister of Ministry of Finance of PRC and also the 1956 alumnus of SDU; Sun Wei, standing member of CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and Executive Vice Governor of Shandong Province; Zhang Xinqi, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Qingdao Municipal Committee and Mayor of Qingdao, Li Shouxin, the Party Secretary of the CPC Committee of Shandong University, and Zhang Rong, President of Shandong University, pressed the start button together of the LED opening ball and witnessed the opening of SDU, Qingdao Campus. At the same time, the unmanned aerial vehicle developed by teachers and students of School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, SDU took off in formation.
Li Shouxin, Secretary of the CPC Committee of SDUthe Party Secretary of SDU hosted the opening ceremony.
Zhang Rong said in his speech that the opening of Qingdao Campus is the best present for the 115th birthday of SDU. He recalled the brilliant history of SDU and Qingdao adding radiance to each other from 1930s to 1950s and promised that SDU will work together with the sister universities in Qingdao to contribute to the economic and social development of Shandong Province, especially Qingdao. He also extended his respect and gratitude to people who spare no effort in the construction of Qingdao Campus.
Zhang noted that Qingdao Campus is an important supporting point for SDU to be built into a world-class university, and also a new starting point for SDU’s development in its second century. SDU will always uphold the following three main principles. Firstly, SDU will adhere to a high-standard positioning, that is, to make Qingdao Campus an international name card of a “beautiful, academic and cultural” SDU, an innovative campus leading academic frontier, an international campus running overall openly,, and a demonstration campus deepening comprehensive reform. Secondly, SDU will adhere to a high starting point, that is, to stick to the energy-saving, environmental-friendly and wise principle in campus planning and construction, and when it comes to the construction of disciplines and platforms, SDU will improve "incremental development” on the basis of "stock adjustment". Thirdly, SDU will adhere to operate Qingdao Campus using the new mechanism, that is, to innovate in campus-running mechanism, management mechanism and talent cultivation mechanism, create an innovation and entrepreneurship education system to build international university environment.
On behalf of the 2013 seniors, Liu Fei from the School of Information Science and Engineering, welcomed the 2016 freshmen. Jiang Shutian from the School of Law, representative of the 2016 freshmen, shared her feelings after entering the beautiful Qingdao Campus and expressed her expectation to carry forward the SDU spirits.
Peng Shige, representative of faculties, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor of the School of Mathematics, said scientific research needs sound environment and atmosphere. He believed this beautiful campus will attract a number of talents and he would do his best to introduce talents. Professor Peng also encouraged freshmen to study hard and keep curious to enjoy the charm of asking questions and solve problems.
As an alumni representative, Xiang Huaicheng expressed his deep love for SDU, his alma mater. He said it is rare to attend the opening ceremony of SDU in Qingdao a second time after 60 years. He recalled the two brilliant periods in the history of Shandong University, and viewed that now the third one is being created. SDU is rich in its traditional spirits, he hoped students to carry forward SDU’s fine traditions and stride forward.
Zhang Xinqi said in his speech that Qingdao is building itself into an important innovation center, regional service center, an internationally advanced marine development center, advanced manufacturing base with international competitiveness and a modern international livable city. The attainment of this goal depends on the support of a large number of high-caliber talents and the participation of many colleges and universities. He hoped that with the international vision and standards of SDU, it can construct the Qingdao Campus into an important base where high-end talents gather, high-tech researches incubate and international academic exchanges take place.. He also noted that under the leadership of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and the Provincial Government, Qingdao will support SDU on her way to a world-class university.
Sun Wei denoted in his speech that with profound cultural tradition and over a hundred years of history, SDU is the bellwether of higher education of Shandong Province and also takes an important position in the history of Chinese education. He concluded the achievements of SDU, and pointed out that the opening of Qingdao Campus marks the development of SDU has entered a new period of importance. He also said that the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and Provincial Government will continue to support and attach importance to SDU by integrating resources to help SDU achieve her goal of constructing a world-class university.
Other distinguished guests of the opening ceremony also included Prof. Wu Lixin, Prof. Jiao Nianzhi, Prof. Liu Ming, Prof. Fang Jiancheng, Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Prof. Hou Baorong, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Prof. Qian Yitai, Tenured Professor of SDU and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Liu Dajun, Tenured Professor of SDU and member of Central Research Institute of Culture and History; Karen P. DePauw, Vice President of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Zhao Yuandong, President of Korea Project Management Association; heads of domestic sister universities, research institutions and overseas sister universities; leaders of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and Provincial Government, the CPC Qingdao Municipal Committee and Municipal Government, the CPC Jimo Municipal Committee and Municipal Government and other relevant units; alumni representatives at home and abroad; university leaders, department heads, representatives of experts and scholars of SDU.
Many sister colleges and universities at home and abroad extended their congratulations and best wishes on the opening of SDU Qingdao Campus respectively through different ways.