Written by: Liu Zhongkui
Edited by: William Mosteller
Translated by: An Siyuan
Date: September 3rd, 2018
HIT News (Liu Zhongkui / Text Li Jiaqi /Images) "Pursuing lofty ideals and distant dreams, the HIT graduate still returns victoriously." On the morning of July 12, the doctoral award ceremony was held at the event center. President Zhou Yu aided in the turning of the tassel, delivered sentimental messages, and took a group photo with the graduates.
Dr. Zhou Yu addressed the doctoral graduates: “Leading up to this day brimming with enthusiasm, you have experienced thousands of days and nights of unremitting efforts, proved yourself with profound knowledge accumulation and outstanding scientific research achievements, and won the honor of studying for your career. I am deeply proud of you. Today, you are full of vigor and vitality. I hope that at this new starting point of life, you will not forget your initial heart, but will remember the mission and again rally your power for the long journey ahead."
Zhou Yu put forward four expectations for doctoral graduates:
First, power comes from lofty beliefs. "Confidence is like power that can raise three thousand miles of water." The power of faith can be subtly integrated into people's words and deeds, so let us work hard, pursue our goals, and move forward. As the social elite in the new era, your faith should be based in a profound feeling for home and country, with deep love and lofty beliefs about the country and the nation. In the hardships of studying for a doctoral degree, you have mastered a solid knowledge basis and have cultivated perseverance. Your firm belief will let you work in various regions in our motherland, take root in various fields, and interpret and take on responsibilities through your actions. The road ahead may be rugged or steep, but your hard work determines the future of the country. Therefore, you must bear in mind your responsibility, use wisdom and your own sweat to fan a raging flame, and cast a beautiful tomorrow for the Chinese nation. You will also be in the flame of the furnace, tempered into steel.
Second, power comes from the courage of innovation. "Innovation is the soul of a nation and an inexhaustible motivating force for a country's prosperity." Socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. The new era calls for us to advocate for innovation. I hope that everyone will continue to cultivate innovative consciousness and develop innovative thinking. To improve the ability to innovate and temper the quality of innovation, we must lead the new era, shoulder the new mission, and tie the destiny of the individual with the development and progress of the motherland. At the same time, we must be soberly aware that innovation is by no means a smooth road. It is like climbing a peak. It must rely on a strong will and persistence to reach the culmination of glory.
The third is that power comes from extraordinary wisdom. Opportunities and challenges coexist in today's era. Resisting the impetuous environment and temptation in society, we need to have extraordinary wisdom, which lies in the mind, in cultivation, and in the pattern of life. Your alma mater not only gives you a certificate of academic achievement, but also a spirit and a culture. It is the school motto of "Strict standards, Excellent effort". It is the spirit of the unremitting efforts of HIT men and women from generation to generation, constantly growing in understanding and constantly refining. I hope that, in your life, you will adhere to your inheritance in the wisdom of countless HIT graduates, always pursue a more perfect self while being tolerant of your own, others’ and society’s imperfections, uphold a persistent and calm attitude, maintain sincere feelings, pursue elegant interests, find yourself in the spiritual journey of ignoring material gain, and use the motherland's natural beauty, social affairs, and world pattern to enlighten your wisdom and achieve new heights in life.
The fourth is that power comes from your feelings about HIT. Time can't erase everyone's deep feelings about school, and distance can't cut off students' deep concern about their alma mater. The feelings about your school, teachers, and classmates live in your heart. At each milestone of the school’s development, your alma mater will remember the contributions made by the students, and will also celebrate their brilliant achievements. Starting today, you become a member of your alma mater’s “friends”. You are the pride of your alma mater, the representative of your alma mater, and the incarnation of your alma mater. The reputation of Harbin Institute of Technology depends on you to carry it forward.
Zhou Yu finally said: "There is a lot of disappointment at the time of farewell, but the picture of life has already begun in front of everyone. With a one-way ticket, you will travel far; when it’s time for you come back, your hand will be holding the return ticket back home, rather than having the return ticket at the time of departure. No matter how far the future is, please remember your alma mater is always here, hoping that you will be cautious, open, and true to your dreams. Your home is always here, welcoming you to come back to visit."
Vice President Ding Xuemei read out the "Decision of the Degree Committee of Harbin Institute of Technology on Granting a Doctoral Degree". After the 166th meeting of the Academic Degrees Committee of our school, a total of 279 people received a Ph.D., 23 of them received a doctorate of science, 239 received a doctorate of engineering, 16 received a doctorate of management, and 1 received a doctorate of law.
Professor Gao Huijun, a doctoral tutor, put forward some hopes for the Ph.D. graduates: to respect self-cultivation, to be grateful, to do what they can, to repay society, to give back to others, and to be a good person in society. In addition, we must require true effort, work hard, adhere to the "HIT standards", practice "HIT effort", and strive to pursue dreams in the journey of a new era. Finally, we must be high-minded, patriotic and inspirational, and strive to integrate ideals and beliefs into the country for the good of the nation, and use our passions, ideals, struggles, and dedication to write HIT’s answer to the new era.
Tian Yushi, a representative of the doctoral graduates and the Environmental College, expressed his gratitude to the school, tutors, and classmates. He said with emotion: "Every graduation is a new expedition. After studying for years, everyone gets the highest degree. But the highest does not mean the end; it means we must start again according to the highest standards. I hope that on the road of building your dream, you adhere to your original heart, keep your mission in mind, actively adapt to the trend of the times, meet the needs of the country and society, and transfer your loyalty and effectiveness to the motherland with your excellent achievements.
Assistants to the President Cao Xibin and Liu Hong, members of the school degree committee, responsible persons of the relevant colleges, and the doctoral tutors participated in the degree awarding ceremony.
