On the afternoon of September 7, 2024, Sino-French Engineer School successfully organized an opening ceremony for new undergraduate students in Room 305 of the No. 2 Teaching Building. Sino-French Engineer School Secretary of the Party Committee Zhang Jiang, Chinese Director Luo Hongbin, French Director Adnane BOUKAMEL, Vice Directors Wang Min and Yin Chuantao, French Vice Director Mariem KACEM BOUREAU, Vice Secretary of the Party Committee Xu Gaonan, headteachers' representatives Niu Wei, Wang Mei, and Yu Shan, Sino-French Engineer School Secretaries of the Communist Youth League of China committee Zhang Li and Zhao Qiudi, Permanent Counselor Jiang Miao, freshmen counselors Li Zitong and Cao Jinge attended the opening ceremony, and all of the new undergraduate students were present. The ceremony was presided over by Vice Director Yin Chuantao.
The opening ceremony began with the solemn Chinese national anthem, and all the teachers and students stood up and sang the Chinese national anthem.
Wang Ruohan spoke on behalf of the new Chinese students. She thanked her family, the school, and her teachers, noting that the training's variety and technique matched her career objectives perfectly. As far as her own growth was concerned, she vowed to be fearless, determined, modest, confident, and to seize all of the opportunities that lay ahead of her. She'll make an effort to follow the admirable objective of becoming a top-tier international engineer, dedicate a lot of time to her studies, step outside of her comfort zone, and be successful.
In his speech, Qu Youyang addressed for the present generation of students. He discussed his extensive experience attending summer school in France and talked about his transition from first to second year. He also expressed how much he enjoyed the allure of French language and culture. He urged everyone to set definite objectives and long-term strategies for their time at campus. Only by pulling together and overcoming challenges can one look beyond their present situation. He suggested that everyone should explore more possibilities for themselves, develop as comprehensively as possible, and participate in more collective activities while studying. It's not necessary to follow the herd; rather, in order to prevent regrets throughout university, one should strive to improve their overall qualities while maintaining good health and mental clarity.
Cynthia FOUSTOUL-WANG spoke on behalf of the new international students. In fluent Chinese, she shared her deep connection with China and her first acquaintance with the land in her mother's dreamlike description. From the golden sand of the Northwest desert to the Himalayas standing in the Southwest, and the black land in the Northeast that has raised centuries of passionate people, her mother's tale sowed in her young mind a desire for this magnificent land of China. Coming to study in Sino-French Engineer School gave her a chance to achieve her dream, she finally set foot in her mother's hometown and felt the warmth brought by her mother's hometown. Cynthia FOUSTOUL-WANG expressed her love for Chinese folklore, culture and food, and also looked forward to her future study life in the school, and will bring Chinese food and culture back to her hometown while completing her studies, so that more people will fall in love with this land full of surprises and love.
Ms. Wang Mei spoke as the teacher representative. She communicated with the students in Chinese and French and thanked them for choosing Sino-French Engineer School of Beihang University. She emphasized the significance of foreign language acquisition for science students, as it will provide them with an additional platform to mold their thought processes using a distinct logic. As the representative of the freshmen counselor, Ms. Wang Mei also introduced the excellent faculty team of the school to the students. The teachers' deep knowledge of the Sino-French cooperative education model, their comprehension of the advantages of the Sino-French talent cultivation model, and their compassion for students are the school's greatest assets in producing a crop of internationalized talents.
Chinese Director Luo Hongbin gave a speech. To help new students get to know the school better, he listed its features in four categories: the most unique way of operating, the most intense learning, the greatest amount of directional flexibility, and the attention the school has received from senior officials. Thanks to these four aspects, the school has trained over 1,000 outstanding engineers with an international outlook. On behalf of the school, he formulated three expectations: firstly, to continue to do sport to exercise the body and intellect so as to be able to cope with intensive study and hard work in the future; secondly, to build character, cultivate a fighting spirit, have firm ideals, tenacious convictions, and courage; and thirdly, to pursue studies, be practical, assimilate knowledge, and put it into practice. He encouraged everyone to integrate personal development into the development of country to write a magnificent chapter in life.
French Director Adnane BOUKAMEL delivered a speech. He began by congratulating the students on their studies at Sino-French Engineer School and outlined the school's extraordinary achievements since its foundation 20 years ago. He added that the school offers students a diversified education and many opportunities to develop international perspectives, so that students can choose their own area of interest to develop. Finally, Professor Adnane BOUKAMEL once again warmly welcomed the new students of the Class of 2024 and looked forward to seeing them enjoy a rich experience of international education at the school.
School leaders handed over two books, Message to Garcia and Biography of Yang Zhenning, to representatives of the new students, asking them to set clear goals, cultivate firm character, learn math, science and technology well, and lay a solid foundation for their future careers.
The ceremony ended with the university anthem, “Look up at the Starry Sky”, sung by all the teachers and students.
We hope that the students of the Class of 2024 can live up to expectations, forge ahead with their wisdom and efforts to write a brilliant chapter of their own as students of Sino-French Engineer School of Beihang University, and contribute to the development of the motherland!
