On October 26, 2024, the “Forum on Innovation in Foreign Language Disciplines and Talent Cultivation in AI Era” and the 45th Anniversary Celebration of the CFL were held in the renovated CFL’s Building. The event brought participants from over 20 universities, including such as Fudan University (FDU), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), Tongji University (TJU).
Present at the event were such distinguished guests as Cai Yonglian, Vice President of USST, Dang Zhengsheng, Former Vice President of Xi’an International Studies University (XISU), and Hong Yongqing, Director of the Shanghai Office of the Council for Promoting South-South Cooperation (CPSSC) (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and Former Deputy Director of the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration (SIPA).
Qu Deqiang, Secretary of the Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) of the CFL, hosted the event. On behalf of CFL. He extended a warm welcome to all the participants. He also pointed out that the 45th anniversary is not only a milestone but also a new begining for the CFL to advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. He stated that with the support from alumni and the society, the CFL would press ahead in the AI era.
Liu Qin, Dean of the CFL, delivered a keynote speech titled “Uniting for Development, Innovating Talent Cultivation through Reform”. She walked through the CFL’s 45-year journey, highlighted its unique integration of foreign language education with USST’s sci-tech strengths, its interdisciplinary programs, and global partnerships to cultivate versatile, internationally minded professionals.
On behalf of alumni, Hong Yongqing recalled his memories at USST and extolled the CFL’s role in shaping his career. He had confidence in the CFL’s ability to nurture talent adapted to societal needs.
Students presented a poetry recitation recounting the CFL’s development and recited a poem of congratulations by Yin Fulin, President of the Nanjing Alumni Association of CFL.
Vice President Cai remarked that over the past 45 years, the CFL has inherited and carried forward the excellent tradition of USST, adhered to serving the national strategic needs, focused on the interdisciplinary partnerships, has cultivated legions of talents with patriotic sentiments and international perspectives. She earnestly hoped that the CFL would press ahead, focusing on the overall development strategy of the university, and promoting the development of high-level universities, and continuing to cultivate more internationalized and innovative professionals.
During the ceremony, the unveiling ritual of the CFL’s new emblem was chaired by Vice President Cai and Director Hong. The emblem features seals, books, and a shield as its main motif, and a combination of traditional Chinese characters and English Letters. The emblem embodies the rigorous, Chinese-foreign integration and international talent cultivation characteristics and it also symbolizes cultural confidence and contemporary design and art style. Its blue and orange hues represent purity, inclusiveness, technology, enterprise as well as creativity and optimism.
In memory of the anniversary, an Alumni Panel and Dean’s Forum were held. At the panel, alumni from different professions shared their career experiences, recalled their campus life, and proposed ideas for the future development of CFL. The Forum brought scholars from many universities in shanghai to discuss AI-driven educational reforms, interdisciplinary collaboration, and general foreign language teaching innovation, and charted a roadmap for the discipline’s future.
Over 45 years, the CFL has navigated challenges, upheld traditions, and embraced innovation. As it embarks on a new chapter, faculty and students vow to advance foreign language education, enhance teaching quality, and foster high-caliber talent for China’s global engagement.
Speech by Vice President Cai
Speech by Director Hong
Moderator Qu
Speech by Dean Liu
The Unveiling of CFL’s Emblem
Poetry Recitation
The Scene of Ceremony
