On the evening of September 18, 2025, the opening ceremony for undergraduate students, academic master’s students, Master of International Business (MIB) students, doctoral students, and international students of BNUBS, was held in Classroom 502 of Teaching Building 9. The School’s Party and administrative leaders, department directors, faculty representatives, heads of relevant functional departments, and all 2025 freshmen attended the ceremony.

The ceremony kicked off with the solemn national anthem.

Singing the National Anthem Together

The ceremony was hosted by Wang Jun, Associate Secretary of the School’s Party Committee.

Wang Jun, Associate Secretary of the School’s Party Committee, Hosted the Ceremony

Qi Yudong, Dean of the School, extended sincere congratulations and a warm welcome to the freshmen on behalf of all teachers and students of the School. Citing Marx’s profound thoughts in Letter to His Father and Considerations on the Choice of a Profession, Dean Qi encouraged the students to take the present moment as a new starting point. In terms of career choices and life paths, they should always care about the country and the people, proactively choose careers that bring benefits to more people, and realize more long-term and noble personal value in the process of serving society. He emphasized that the goal of academic planning is to promote professional development and shape mental models. He encouraged the students to follow the principle of "knowing priorities to approach the right path" to make good time management plans, and aspire to become future economists, management scientists, and entrepreneurs with "comprehensive five intelligences and sound five connections". He advised the students to strictly demand themselves by the standard of "Learn, so as to instruct others; Act, to serve as example to all" in daily life, and more importantly, take on the mission of "governing the country for the people and promoting business and culture" in the future, striving to grow into new talents of the era who can shoulder the responsibility of national rejuvenation.

Speech by Professor Qi Yudong, Dean of the School

Professor Cai Hongbo, Director of the University’s Finance and Economics Department and from the School’s Department of International Economics and Trade, delivered a speech as a faculty representative. In his speech, Professor Cai clearly pointed out that the students have a dual identity: they are not only "BNUers" who inherit the century-old glory of normal education and the tradition of serving the country through education, but also "members of the School" with both rational thinking and the sense of responsibility to benefit the people through economic and management practices. By sharing three stories—the firm belief of the School’s predecessor, Mr. Tao Dayong, in conducting practical studies for the country and the people; the patriotism and truth-seeking academic spirit of Mr. Wang Shanmai; and a student who resolutely rooted himself in the grass-roots areas of western China—he vividly demonstrated the profound feelings of the School’s members, who always uphold the responsibility for the country, care about the people’s livelihood, and are willing to contribute. He hoped that the students would deeply integrate the rational spirit of economics with the humanistic care of normal universities, possess both a rational perspective and a kind heart, be able to build models and master algorithms, and at the same time go deep into society to solve problems.

Wu Shiyu, a 2022 undergraduate student majoring in Business Administration (Digital Economy and Management Experimental Class), spoke as a representative of current undergraduate students. By exploring the question of "why we come here", she pointed out that BNUBS bears infinite possibilities in terms of breadth, supporting every life choice of students; and provides solid support in terms of depth, helping students consolidate professional foundations, refine academic thinking, and at the same time continuously understand themselves and the world. She emphasized that intelligence, physical strength, and mental strength are three seemingly simple but extremely important forces on the journey of studying. She advocated that the students maintain curiosity and reflection, temper their physical fitness and endurance, learn to introspect and be self-disciplined, dare to explore, and continue to grow, so as to meet a better version of themselves on the journey of pursuing dreams.

Speech by Wu Shiyu, Representative of Current Undergraduate Students

Lu Yuchen, a 2023 doctoral student majoring in Political Economy, delivered a speech as a representative of current graduate students. He shared his growth insights during his study at BNU. He emphasized the importance of ideals and beliefs, pointing out that only by establishing the belief of serving the country and contributing to society can learning and research be meaningful. He stressed the importance of exercising and achieving all-round development in practice, and hoped that the students would go beyond the classroom and textbooks, and pursue true knowledge and practice skills in the second and third classrooms. Combining his own experience of going deep into the grass-roots areas to participate in rural revitalization research, he called on the students to strengthen their belief in serving the country with professional knowledge and bravely take on the mission of the era.

Speech by Lu Yuchen, Representative of Current Graduate Students

Xu Jiming, a 2025 undergraduate student majoring in Economics (Liyun Experimental Class), spoke as a representative of new undergraduate students. He expressed his admiration for BNU and its predecessors, as well as his longing for college life. He called on the students to have the ambition of "trees taking root" to immerse themselves in learning and lay a solid foundation; have the courage of "trees branching out" to explore the truth and dare to innovate; and hold the aspiration of "trees forming a forest" to care about the country and bravely take on responsibilities, striving to write a youth chapter worthy of the era and the country.

Speech by Xu Jiming, Representative of New Undergraduate Students

Fang Huilan, a 2025 master’s student majoring in Labor Economics, delivered a speech as a representative of new graduate students. She expressed her sincere admiration for BNU’s profound academic heritage and humanistic spirit, and looked forward to a new journey of devoting herself to research and honing her abilities in the School. She called on the students to strengthen their will, unite and cooperate, apply what they have learned, actively integrate their professional knowledge into the overall national development, and earnestly practice the educational concept of "pursuing learning and cultivating oneself, and helping the world at the same time", so as to contribute their youth strength to comprehensively advancing the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization.

Speech by Fang Huilan, Representative of New Graduate Students

Sun Zhijun, Secretary of the School’s Party Committee, gave the "First Class of the New Semester". First of all, Mr. Sun led everyone to look back on the glorious journey of the School over the past 40 years, pointing out that the changes and development of the School’s institutions and disciplines are deeply integrated into the broad background of China’s economic and social system reform. Then, he introduced in detail the diversified and high-level talent training structure built by the School, emphasizing the School’s educational philosophy of cultivating talents with profound humanistic and scientific literacy, broad international vision, strong sense of social responsibility, and "four qualities". He also introduced in detail the specific measures to implement this philosophy from eight aspects, including curriculum quality, international exchanges, extracurricular activities, and teacher guidance. Finally, combining the School’s mission, vision, and values, he explained the School’s culture and spiritual temperament, and encouraged the students to become new-era members of the School who "bear in mind the country’s major concerns and serve the country and the people".

Professor Sun Zhijun, Secretary of the School’s Party Committee, Giving the "First Class of the New Semester"

Wang Jun made a concluding speech. He emphasized that September 18 is a day bearing heavy historical memories. As Chinese people, we should always remember history and never forget national humiliation. He encouraged the students not only to pursue excellence in academics, but also to have a sense of family and country, closely integrate personal ideals with national development, serve society and contribute to the country with the knowledge they have learned, inherit the red gene with practical actions, and shoulder the mission and responsibility entrusted to us by the new era.

Wang Jun Made a Concluding Speech

The 2025 Freshmen Opening Ceremony of BNUBS, came to an end with the university song "Majestic BNU". We wish all 2025 freshmen great aspirations, dreams reaching for the sky, unremitting dedication to learning, and courage to be pioneers. With unswerving faith and an upward spirit, they will work together to write a brilliant chapter of their youth!

All Participants Sang the University Song Together

Contributed by Student Affairs Office

Edited by Xu Kaige

Reviewed by Sun Zhijun