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NSD 2014 Graduation Ceremony

2014-06-26

 



On June 21th, 2014, the graduation ceremony of the class of 2014 graduates of National School of Development (hereafter referred as NSD) at Peking University was held at Peking University’s Centennial Hall.

Class Picture: We graduated!

Around seven o’clock in the morning, a crowd of students gathered at the door of the hall, wearing graduation caps and gowns. They cheered and laughed, waiting for the group picture. According to tradition, professors of the NSD also wore caps and gowns of their own graduation school, leaving a lasting memento for the graduate students. The teachers’ caps were different in style and color, each with a distinct design, which all added to the deep atmosphere of the graduation photograph.

Accompanied by passionate music, all the students stood up and applauded warmly, welcoming their much-respected teachers. The applause and cheers were in recognition and appreciation of their teachers’ efforts over the years.

 

Before the ceremony officially started, there presented a video to all the students and teachers, which was a unique part of the event. With the song “Latter Days” echoing in the hall, various scenes appeared in sight from the video, presenting to us the previous school life of the graduate students, including their reading, excursion and gatherings. At the sight of the familiar figures and many energetic young scenes, the students were excited and jubilant.

Professor Huang Yiping, Vice-Dean of NSD who presided over the proceedings, gave students a heartfelt message: I hope students of Peking University will all have great aspirations and a strong sense of responsibility.
After the national anthem, Prof. Huang first expressed his sincere congratulations to all the students who had attained their diplomas and then heartfelt thanks for their supportive parents.

 

Professor Yao Yang, NSD Dean: Take responsibility for society, starting from those around you.

Prof. Yao Yang was the first one who gave a speech. As the head ‘NSD family’, he very proudly stated the number of graduate students: 10 doctors, 44 masters of economics and finance, 89 EMBAs, 140 MBAs and 872 bachelors of economics as a second or minor major. It is the hard work of all teachers in NSD that brought such a great achievement.

This year coincides with the 20th anniversary of NSD’s establishment. Our dean, Prof. Yao reviewed the achievements of the NSD over the past twenty years in areas including cultivating talent, government policy advisory and the establishment of academic disciplines. In the face of China’ modernization, Prof. Yao encouraged young students to become pillars of society, hoping they can take on social responsibilities, beginning from small issues around them and gradually building up to achieve individual success that will help the modernization of China.

 

Professor Zhang Fan, teacher representative: Find your own “Nash equilibrium”.

Prof. Zhang, using a comparison from economic theory, compared the life of graduate students to the “Modigliani life circle”, indicating that their life had just begun. The students would soon step into the “animal farm” of society, facing up to the distance between social reality and knowledge in books. He frankly said that it was teachers’ and parents’ fault if they had not told the graduates the truth. But he also mentioned that young people should get experience in real life, as “life is a kind of practice, just like you can’t learn swimming or skating in class, you need practice in Weiming Lake or Khoo Teck Puat Swimming Pool”.

Meanwhile he put forward his four hopes. Firstly, he hoped students could follow their heart in terms of important things in their life. If you like one kind of science, just do it. Secondly, he hoped students to improve their inner world. As a student of Peking University, one should have the following qualities: noble, clever, optimistic, bright and cheerful and healthy. Those qualities are the most important elements of happiness. Thirdly, he expected students to pursue the very source of knowledge and put what they have learned into practice. He also hoped them to pass on knowledge and influence others through the power of morality and education. Lastly, he encouraged students to improve their inner world in the way of the sage and to achieve success like a king and emphasized the importance to find a balance between achievement in one’s inner world and outside world.

In the short speech of ten minutes, Prof. Zhang Fan not only recollected much happy time spent with students, but also told students the profound life philosophy and wisdom through humorous and witty words. The whole hall was filled with increasingly loud laughter and applause, which made the atmosphere relaxed and joyful.

 

He Yujie, the student representative of double economics program: Future is in our hands

Graduate students of the double economics major are the youngest and most numerous group in the big family of NSD. At the time of graduation, He Yujie recalled their life stories one after another, which was not only reminiscing the past, but also a spiritual impetus and driving force for them to head for the future. “We are high-spirited and vigorous, hoping we can have the world at our feet in the next twenty years.

 

Zhao Yue, student representative of postgraduate and doctoral programs: Young scholars should fulfil their promise to their country and nation.

Whilst small in size, the postgraduate and doctorate programs is the cradle of scholars in economics and finance. This year coincided with the year of the first Sino-Japanese war, so Zhao Yue first reviewed the national salvation 120 years ago when the war broke out between China and Japan, compared with which, NSD had also been devoted to national development and prosperity. As young scholars of a new generation, Zhao Yue expressed his fearlessness of any hardship and obstacle. Zhao said: “We can taste hardship, and am willing to take it on. We will realize our promise to our country hand in hand with the spirit of Peking University in our heart.”

 

Zheng Wei, MBA and EMBA student representative: Langrun Garden is our spiritual home.

MBA and EMBA students are those who returned to school life after several years’ working experience. As a student representative, Zhen Wei spoke frankly: “we cannot choose where we were born, but we can choose where our soul settles down”. Langrun Garden was just such a perfect place for them. Having fought an arduous battle with statistics, they had no regrets - they felt they had matured. Preparing for the Gobi challenge for business schools, they followed in the “pilgrimage journey of Xuanzang” in their soul, culminating in the winning of the Shackleton Award. They interacted with the great minds their professors of Langrun Garden and they always helped each other in studying. All of those were their shared memories. At the end of speech, Zhen Wei hoped her classmates would follow their heart and voyage far hand in hand.

 

Special guest, Hu Shuli, the editor in chief of New Media: Stand high and refuse mediocrity.

Each year there is a speech given by special guests during the graduation ceremony. This year the NSD invited alumni Ms. Hu Lishu who was one of the first EMBA graduates. She is now the editor in chief of Caixin Media and of its New Century, also the dean, professor and doctoral supervisor of the School of Communication and Design.

Ms. Hu first mentioned that students should practice what they have learned after graduation. In other words, they must get a full understanding of themselves and the society. By understanding oneself, Ms. Hu meant students should realize their possible position in the society; in understanding society, it is more important of see the social complexities. In a complex society, one should keep a “long -lasting pureness and simplicity” and independent thinking as well as to keep moving forward and refuse mediocrity.

As a leading figure in the circle of press, Ms. Hu also hoped students could pay more attention to the healthy development of the press industry. She thought economic scholars and insiders should help and encourage each other to jointly create a social environment in which people can tell the truth.

 

BiMBA Leadership Award Presentation

BiMBA of NSD has been devoted to cultivate leaders in the circle of commerce. This year’s graduation ceremony added a new ‘BiMBA leadership award’, which was to encourage students who had made great contributions to their classes and even the university. Professor Yang Zhuang, the co-dean of BiMBA, presented awards to several students, including Tan Jun from the full time EMBA 2013, Chia-chi Tsao from part-time MBA 2012, and Li Huaisheng from EMBA 2012. Prof. Yang hoped they could continue to exert their influence after graduation and participate in the whole construction process of China with practical action.

 

Former Alumni Representatives Welcome New Graduates to the NSD Alumni Association of the NSD

Although they would soon leave school, the relationship of the graduates to their alma mater was bound to be tighter, because the alumni association was an organization linking alumni to their alma mater. As alumni representatives, Fan Gongcheng of the double economics major, Xu Jianguo from graduate students, Lin Yi from MBA and Sun Xiaobo from EMBA respectively expressed their welcome to new alumni. Prof. Yang, the co-dean of BiMBA summarised the aim of the NSD alumni association in the following words: Spirit of Peking University, social consideration, national development and global vision. He also hoped graduates would truly incorporate themselves into the alumni association and continue to work hard for the rejuvenation of Chinese nation.

 


Degree awarding: this moment we feel dignified and proud.

After much preparation, students finally welcomed this dignified moment. Their respected teacher just stood on the stage of the hall, presenting diplomas to every students who deserved this honor. Just bear this moment in your memory forever and let Langrun Garden be the forever home of graduates!