2026 New Year’s Greetings from Wenzhou-Kean University

As we welcome 2026, on behalf of Wenzhou-Kean University, we extend our warmest greetings and best wishes for the New Year to all faculty, staff, and students; to our alumni at home and abroad; and to friends from all sectors of society who have long supported the University’s development.

Looking back on 2025, we moved forward with focus and dedication and achieved fruitful results. This year marked the successful conclusion of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, a pivotal year in the nation’s continued opening-up in education, and an important year in which Wenzhou-Kean University steadily advanced the quality and effectiveness of Sino-foreign cooperative education.

Throughout the year, the University remained mindful of President Xi Jinping’s important instructions conveyed in his reply letter and stayed committed to the goal of building an “international, innovative, and high-level” university. While advancing all aspects of Sino-foreign cooperative education, we actively aligned our work with national strategies and regional development priorities. Progress was made across talent cultivation, scientific research, university-local collaboration, international exchange, and campus development, with further progress achieved in the landmark outcomes of China–U.S. educational cooperation.

This year, we upheld the fundamental mission of fostering virtue through education, with the quality of talent cultivation continuing to improve. Student enrollment reached a record high. We admitted 1,413 undergraduates through the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) from 24 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) across the country, an increase of 133 over the previous year. A total of 309 graduate and doctoral students were enrolled. The admissions system for international students, as well as students from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and overseas Chinese communities, continued to improve. Notable achievements were made in talent cultivation: among the Class of 2025 undergraduate graduates, 75.3% pursued further studies, with 82.9% of them enrolling in universities ranked among the world’s top 100. Graduates went on to study at leading institutions such as Harvard University, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, Tsinghua University, and Yale University. WKU students also performed strongly in major domestic and international competitions, winning awards including the G-Cross Gold Award, the German Red Dot Award, the UK New Concept Design Award, and the Grand Prize of the FLTRP Cup English Competition.

This year, we strengthened innovation-driven research and advanced discipline and research platform construction. Academic programs continued to expand, with six newly established master’s programs approved and four new undergraduate programs completing pre-application procedures. Student Research Day marked its tenth anniversary, attracting more than 3,500 participants over the past decade. The University established the International Frontier Interdisciplinary Research Institute, led by academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, focusing on four priority areas, including mathematics and foundational artificial intelligence, perception technologies, and vertical large models. The Institute for China-US Cultural and Economic Studies was selected as a provincial-level area and country studies center and designated as a key cultivation unit. The Zhejiang Province-Malaysia International Joint Laboratory for Rare Medicinal Resources was approved as a provincial-level international joint laboratory; and the High-end Medical Devices and Biomaterials Concept Validation Center was recognized as a Zhejiang Provincial Concept Validation Center. The University ranked first among local institutions in both the number and funding scale of projects awarded under the National Natural Science Foundation of China for Outstanding Foreign Young Scholars and secured its first sub-project under the National Key R&D Program.

This year, we further strengthened university–local collaboration and enhanced our contribution to regional development. In alignment with Wenzhou’s “5+5+N” modern industrial system, the University added 12 new partner organizations and organized over 100 faculty service visits to more than 60 institutions. For seven consecutive years, WKU hosted sub-forums of the World Young Scientists Summit and undertook responsibilities related to the “Three Gardens” construction for the 15th China (Wenzhou) International Garden Expo. Through the “Covered Bridges Going Global” initiative, achievements in cultural and creative design and AI-enabled short videos supported the growing visibility of Wenzhou’s city brand. Joint teams of Chinese and American faculty and students carried out professional practice projects such as the Dongtou International Design-Build Project, injecting innovative vitality into local development.

This year, we continued to deepen international exchange and cooperation and strengthen people-to-people and cultural ties. The University was featured on CCTV’s Letters from China program, sharing the story of Wenzhou-Kean University as a bridge of friendship between China and the United States. Student exchange programs reached record levels, with 381 WKU students participating in exchange programs in KUSA and 201 young Americans visiting Wenzhou for academic and cultural exchange. WKU students participated in major international forums such as the World University Student Leaders Summit and the United Nations Youth Assembly, engaging in in-depth dialogue with peers from leading universities worldwide. International communication efforts also delivered positive results, with overseas platform views exceeding 300,000, a year-on-year increase in followers of more than 15%.

This year, we continued to improve campus development and enhance a livable and student-centered learning environment. Residence Hall Zone 3 was put into use, providing accommodation for more than 3,000 faculty and students, and Dining Hall No. 3 opened concurrently to meet diverse dining needs. Maintenance was completed on 440,000 square meters of green space, further increasing campus greenery. Construction of Phase II faculty housing progressed steadily, while a new round of landscape renovation projects was launched. Building renovations and upgraded water features refreshed the overall campus environment. Smart campus systems, including AI WKUCHAT, were introduced, and the University was recognized as a representative case among Zhejiang Province’s “Beautiful Universities” under the 14th Five-Year Plan. The livability and functionality of the “World’s Most Beautiful Campus” continue to improve.

The year 2026 marks the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan and a historic milestone—the 20th anniversary of the signing for and founding of Wenzhou-Kean University, witnessed by President Xi. At this new starting point, we will fully implement the guiding principles of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, remain mindful of President Xi’s important instructions and expectations conveyed in his reply letter, and stay firmly committed to the goal of building an “international, innovative, and high-level” university. With openness fostering innovation and action driving development, let us work together—cultivating insight in the classroom, pursuing excellence in research, and connecting with the world through exchange. Through consistent and dedicated effort, we will write a new chapter for Wenzhou-Kean University as a landmark project of China–U.S. educational cooperation and contribute WKU’s strength to Wenzhou, to the nation’s continued opening-up and progress, and to China–U.S. people-to-people and cultural exchange.

We wish you all a Happy New Year, good health, success in your work, and happiness for you and your families.

Pan JianzhongChairman, Board of Directors,Wenzhou-Kean University
Li XiaonianChancellor, Wenzhou-Kean University
December 31, 2025