On the morning of June 21, 2025, the 2025 commencement ceremony of the National School of Development (NSD) at Peking University was grandly held in the Century Memorial Hall of Peking University. Graduates from various programs of NSD, including undergraduate in Economics, double degree/minor in Economics, master's and doctoral students, as well as MBA, EMBA, and DPS doctoral candidates, together with numerous family members and faculty, gathered in formal attire to celebrate this momentous occasion.
Group Photo of Faculty and Students
At 7:00 a.m., guided by commencement volunteers and administrative staff, the 2025 NSD graduates, dressed in academic gowns, gathered at the square of the Hall to take graduation photos.
Ceremony Commences
At 8:30 a.m., warm applause and cheers erupted in the Century Hall as members of the NSD faculty marched onto the stage.
As Professor Lei Xiaoyan, Party Secretary of NSD and the ceremony host, stepped onto the rostrum to deliver the opening address, the 2025 commencement ceremony officially began.
The National Anthem of the People's Republic of China resounded, and all faculty and students stood in solemnity, singing. The loud melody echoed under the hall's dome, reigniting a sense of patriotism in every standing heart.
Dean's Address
Professor Huang Yiping, Dean of NSD, delivered the commencement address. He drew an analogy from the Shi Ping Ancient Bridge in Chengze Garden, which connects the ancient architectural complex with modern teaching buildings, links NSD with the South-South Institute, and symbolizes students' transition from campus to society. This ancient bridge, he noted, is not only historically significant but also profoundly symbolic as a bridge connecting the past and the present, China and the world, and the university and society. Quoting Ms. Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, who said, "The Chinese people are building a bridge to the future with their diligence and efforts," Professor Huang urged graduates to shoulder this mission, carry on the baton of previous generations who strived from poverty to prosperity, and work toward national rejuvenation and strength. He also encouraged students that the current new technological revolution provides new tools for building the bridge to the future, and China has the opportunity to be one of the greatest beneficiaries, but this requires an open mindset, breaking stereotypes, and attaching great importance to humanistic care—for the ultimate goal of technological progress and economic development is to enable people to lead better lives.
Faculty Representative's Speech
Professor Huang Zhuo, Vice Dean of NSD and Dean of NSD BiMBA Business School, shared wisdom on decision-making in a witty and profound manner as the faculty representative. He recalled his vivid story of joining NSD and the achievements over 15 years of work, summarizing the importance of choices and decisions in life. Combining specific contexts of decision-making, he categorized them into three types: scientist decision-making, manager decision-making, and entrepreneur decision-making, analyzing their advantages and disadvantages, and emphasizing the need to flexibly apply different decision-making approaches based on the situation. In conclusion, Professor Huang advised graduates, "With the rigor of scientist decision-making, the professionalism of manager decision-making, and the courage of entrepreneur decision-maker, pursue your dreams, ride the waves, and may you return as young as ever after making great achievements."
Graduate Representatives' Speeches
The graduate representatives of this session from NSD were: Wang Jieru (Ph.D. graduate representative), Qiu Ziying (undergraduate graduate representative), Liu Aonan (MBA graduate representative), Zhang Jiayin (EMBA graduate representative, Mongolian name Baoyinna), and Ma Linjiang (DPS doctoral graduate representative). They shared stories around personal growth, academic pursuit, and the value of life, recalling unforgettable experiences of studying at NSD. They cherished the beautiful time of listening to teachings in class, expressed gratitude for teachers' guidance and help, sorted out the most meaningful gains in study and growth, and showed great anticipation and unwavering courage for the future.
Wang Jieru reviewed her journey, sharing how she gradually found the essence of research under her supervisor's guidance and the academic atmosphere of the school. Research is not something straightforward, but a process of gradually clarifying the direction through continuous advancement, questioning, and revision, which shapes researchers' way of judging issues and pace of progress, and teaches them to keep moving forward in uncertainty and make choices after repeated reflections. Finally, she encouraged everyone to carry the patience and persistence honed through constant revision into the broader stage of life.
Qiu Ziying, the first female undergraduate from NSD to join the military, recalled her five-year academic journey at Peking University—from taking the major transfer exam, to intellectual collisions in class, to practical investigations that allowed her to truly feel the pulse of China's economy, and to interdisciplinary studies that broadened her horizons. The fulfilling experience replayed in her mind like movie frames. The two years of military life further tempered her will and sense of responsibility. She remarked that the path of growth is not smooth, but these experiences have made life thrive. With infinite gratitude to the school, teachers, classmates, and the military, she wished everyone to find their life coordinates and always remember the aspiration to serve the country and the people.
Liu Aonan recalled that studying at NSD not only fulfilled her original goals of forging forward-thinking, cultivating leadership, and making like-minded friends, but also brought unexpected gains. "Looking back, classroom memories carry our thoughts, late-night assignment groups witness our persistence, and the Tengger Desert winds have honed our courage. From theory to practice, from seeking knowledge to taking action, NSD has endowed us with a life attitude—to stay sober amid changes, support each other in challenges, and be each other's strongest companions." She finally said that graduation is a new beginning, encouraging everyone to set out with the "ever-innovative" spirit of Peking University.
Zhang Jiayin (Baoyinna) shared that NSD's business administration studies have made her logical, broad-minded, and bold to question values, enabling managers to think more deeply and macroscopically about corporate destiny, navigate cycles, and embrace changes. Moreover, with a strong academic atmosphere and high discipline, students here have personally experienced the growth from passivity to initiative, from perfunctory completion to rigorous pursuit. Finally, she encouraged everyone to carry the brand of NSDers, fear no storms, and continue to be brilliant adventurers.
Ma Linjiang's affectionate and philosophical speech was filled with profound insights into life and love. Combining his personal experience of recovering from poor health and witnessing the passing of real lives around him, he reflected on the brevity and preciousness of life, summarizing four insights about love: first, love health as it is the cornerstone of pursuing excellence and achieving success; second, love others and cherish the company and support of fellow travelers, which will form the toughest backbone and warmest hue of life; third, love one's career and engage in it with awe and passion for life; finally, love faith to never lose direction in the pursuit.
Degree Conferral
Before the degree conferral ceremony, all graduates and their families revisited their academic memories through the short film Shining Days. As the light and shadow flowed, focused eyes in class, late-night group discussions, and shared perseverance in desert and 戈壁 (gobi) treks twinkled like stars in everyone's hearts. On the path of learning, students have invested their best years and precious time to accumulate the most valuable wealth.
When Professor Lei Xiaoyan announced the official start of the degree conferral ceremony, all graduates ushered in the solemn moment of receiving their degrees.
One by one, graduates stepped onto the stage, accepting commemorative certificates from degree-conferring faculty and taking group photos.
Every handshake conveyed blessings and gratitude; every smile intertwined with satisfaction and joy.
Graduation Choir and Farewell
After the degree conferral ceremony, all professors took the stage, and all graduates stood as the stirring melody of Singing for the Motherland resounded in the hall, inspiring graduates to bravely pursue their dreams.
As the farewell moment arrived, faculty and administrative members of the school lined up to bid farewell to all graduates. Teachers and students waved, hugged, and said goodbye to each other. While gatherings and partings are memorable, the bond of NSDers will last forever, and their stories will continue to be written in broader horizons.
