WKU Opening Convocation Ceremony

——Student oriented, simple yet grand

On the evening of September 4th, 2015, Wenzhou-Kean University’s Opening Ceremony was held. It followed the new students’ day in class. Simple yet grand, the one-hour ceremony emphasized the principle that WKU has insisted on: student-centered, academic-based.

WKU welcomed the forth batch of new students. As planned, 500 Tier One students were recruited in 2015, which was quite satisfying. Currently, WKU recruits in nine Chinese provinces – Zhejiang, Anhui, Henan, Hebei, Hubei, Shandong and Liaoning , Sichuan and Chongqing.

After Registration Day on August 30, WKU held American-style orientation activities for freshmen: “ice-breaking” activity and a “scavenger hunt” in the morning, academic lectures in the afternoon, and BBQ, music and dance at night. “This is exactly the American-style University I was looking for!” Zheng Haonan, a student in Finance, commented.

As curriculum at WKU is taught entirely in English (required Chinese curriculum is also offered to students), English language proficiency is required. Freshmen receive a two-week English immersion program before the semester begins. Classes are scheduled both morning and afternoon. The University leadership decided to hold the opening ceremony after class, preserving learning time. Mr. Phil Connelly, Vice President for Operations at Kean University, and Kean Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Jeffrey Toney, also attended this ceremony.

WKU Chancellor Lu Shanzhen, a renowned mathematician, addressed the students, faculty, and guests: “I expect students in WKU to think critically, think creatively and think globally, and possess the quality of leadership and entrepreneurship.” Xia Xue, the WKU student who stood head and shoulders above three thousand students in the intense Voice of the Future competition to attend an APEC meeting in the Philippines this coming November as a student APEC representative, gave a speech on behalf of the returning students. She encouraged freshmen to explore the larger world together with the entire student body: ‘Start here, go anywhere.”

Mr. Wang Beijiao, Chair of WKU University Council, encouraged students: “It requires courage and strength to join this young university. The decision you have made shows your challenging spirit and global vision. Though WKU is very young, as one of the three Sino-U.S. cooperative universities it receives great support from the central and municipal government, and enjoys resources and talents provided by Kean University and Wenzhou University as maternal universities. The world-class campus we build, the advanced teaching and research system, faculty and service we provide are all aimed to offer different students different paths for success.” Mr. Wang also expressed his hope that students “cherish college life time and develop sense of gratitude and responsibility.”

The Vice Chair of the University Council, Mr. Qian Qiang, chaired the opening ceremony. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Holger Henke, as well as other WKU leaders, such as Dr. Zheng Xiaodong and Mr. Ying Yonghong, attended the event.