On September 6, 2025, the College of Foreign Languages held its opening ceremony for the Class of 2025 undergraduates and the “First Lesson” in the International Cooperation Building. College leaders, faculty members, alumni, new students, and their parents gathered together to witness this solemn and warm welcoming ceremony.
The Registration
Early in the morning, the registration venue decorated, college display boards, program introductions, and an interactive photo zone ready, staff and faculty members were fully prepared to meet the new students. The “Welcome Kits” Souvenirs were distributed, carrying the college's blessings and expectations.
At 1:00 PM, the new students visited the College of Foreign Languages building. The meticulously arranged welcome boards and thematic photo walls became popular spots for new students and their families to take photos to commemorate their first day as official members of the College of Foreign Languages community.
The Opening Ceremony
At 3:00 PM, presided over by Shen Lianlian, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of CFL, the opening ceremony commenced with the national anthem. Dean Professor Liu Qin delivered the opening address. She reviewed the college's over four decades of development, emphasizing its distinctive educational focus on integrating foreign languages with technology. Professor Liu encouraged the freshmen to become “thoughtful global communicator in the AI era” nurturing broad minds that embrace both national identity and global perspectives.
Dr. Han Yang, Deputy Head of the English Department spoke on the topic of “The Humanistic Warmth of Language and Its Integration with Technology”. She encouraged the students to proactively explore interdisciplinary learning and grow into versatile talents equipped with both cultural insight and technological innovation capabilities.
Wisdom from Alumni
A graduate of the linguistics program at CFL, Mr. Li Shaohua, Chairman of Shanghai Shuicheng Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. shared his entrepreneurial journey from a “novice in the industry” to a “standard-setter in the field”.
Addressing the students, he shares his secret of success with the students that “The more responsibility you are willing to shoulder, the more people will help you to expand your horizon”. He encouraged everyone to cherish their campus life and cultivate both integrity and professional excellence.
The event also featured online blessings from alumni across the nation. Their warm words and heartfelt blessings became a powerful force of inspiration for the new students.
Words from Role Models
Su Huina, Executive President of the University Student Union and a 2023 English major, shared her personal journey from uncertainty of her ideals to conviction, encouraging the freshmen to embrace exploration and learn from setbacks. On behalf of the new students, Tan Xintong expressed her anticipation on campus and called upon her fellow students to strive not merely to be “parrots of language”, but cultural interpreters.
Following this, all freshmen wrote down their wishes on “Aspiration Cards”, depositing them into the "2025 New Voyage" ship model—a symbol of their journey. Vice Deans Han Geling and Zhang Le encouraged the students to “set sail from this day forth, and never abandon your passions”.
The ceremony concluded amidst warm applause. Under the guidance of their faculty, with the encouragement of alumni, and the hopes of their families, the new students embark on their academic journey at CFL, USST.
