Graduation ceremonies mark new beginnings

During postgraduate graduation ceremonies on 26 and 27 April, more than 1,000 Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University master’s and PhD students are being recognised for completing their degree programmes.

Professor Youmin Xi, Executive President of XJTLU, says graduating students must realise that the future demands more of us than simply to “know everything”. Instead, he says those who can continuously learn, identify trajectories, persevere, be selective with knowledge, and be boldly creative will develop in the right direction.

Professor Youmin Xi, Executive President of XJTLU

“As long as you are committed and persistent in your chosen field, by maximising your efforts in its development, you will achieve a unique career and a happy life.”

Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool, says students graduating from XJTLU will have an advantage because they chose an educational environment that has led them to becoming global citizens.

Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool

“You have benefited from an international curriculum and educational environment that will lead to opportunities worldwide – and that is a very enviable position to be in.

“The world into which you are graduating will be increasingly multicultural, multinational and multi-ethnic. You have limitless options open to you, and I wish you every success in your next steps.”

Professor Wenquan Tao, President of XJTLU, says the University would like to maintain close ties with graduates:

“Although we say our farewells to many students, we look forward to continuing a close relationship with them in the years to come. We are a family here, and it is only through the achievements of our graduates that the University can realise its vision and mission.”

Professor Wenquan Tao, President of XJTLU

Students who are graduating this week say XJTLU exposed them to what’s current in their fields, taught them critical thinking skills necessary for conducting research, and expanded their perspectives.

Innovative education

Dr Nuodi Fu graduated with a PhD from XJTLU’s Design School in December. (PhD students who graduated in December are participating in this week’s graduation ceremonies.) After receiving his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Sheffield in the UK, he chose to come to XJTLU because of matching research interests with a supervisor, a full scholarship offer, and the University’s delivery of innovative education.

Dr Nuodi Fu, who earned a PhD from XJTLU’s Design School

“When I came to XJTLU for my PhD admission interview, I felt that XJTLU’s learning environment was very similar to what I had experienced in the UK, and I quickly adapted to it.”

Dr Fu said the Design School’s essential skills courses and seminars were invaluable.

“I learned about research methods and techniques in the architectural industry, which enhanced my research and other academic abilities. In addition, I learned about the latest trends and job opportunities at seminars by industry practitioners.”

Dr Fu was co-supervised by Dr Martin Goffriller and Professor Moon Keun Kim at XJTLU, and Professor Steve Sharples at the University of Liverpool.

“They all are industry leaders and active on the front line of research. Professor Sharples excelled at steering my direction. Dr Goffriller and Professor Kim helped me implement my research outcomes.”

Dr Fu has been accepted by Southeast University in China as a lecturer, and will continue his research there.

Critical thinking

Qiaochu Xu, among the first batch of master’s students at XJTLU’s Wisdom Lake Academy of Pharmacy, is graduating with an MSc in Applied Statistics (Biostatistics). His undergraduate degree, from the University of Manchester in the UK, is in civil engineering, but he decided to pursue a different direction for his master’s.

“Biostatistics, as a cross-disciplinary field, accommodates students from different academic backgrounds,” he says.

At the Academy, Xu conducted research with the guidance of Dr Ying Chen. Xu says that the critical thinking skills he learned at XJTLU help him assess the value of sources and the authenticity of information and to identify biases and inconsistencies.

“Some scholars hold opposing opinions about my research topic, so I learned I need to investigate why similar experiments yielded different results.”

Xu will stay at the Academy for a PhD degree, where he will study biodiversity topics with Dr Chen.

Qiaochu Xu, who is graduating with an MSc in Applied Statistics (Biostatistics), and Dr Ying Chen

Broadened view

Danlin Wang from Canada is graduating with an MSc in Media and Communication. She previously received her bachelor’s degree from XJTLU.

She says she appreciates XJTLU’s teaching model, noting that it has helped her learn to think on a macro scale.

For her master’s, she studied how social media channels, like Sina Weibo, affect the communication of young people in China. She hopes to work in China after graduation.

Danlin Wang, a Canadian student who is graduating with an MSc in Media and Communication

By Yunji Tao, Nan Wu, Liwen Yu and Tamara Kaup
Translated by Xiangyin Han
Edited by Luyun Shi, Tamara Kaup and Patricia Pieterse
Photos courtesy of Dr Nuodi Fu, Qiaochu Xu and Danlin Wang