Guangzhou, September 8, 2025 – South China University of Technology (SCUT) grandly held the opening ceremony for the class of 2025 on the morning of September 8. The ceremony was attended by Zhang Xichun, Chancellor of SCUT; Tang Hongwu, President of SCUT; Xu Guozheng, Deputy Party Secretary and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission; Li Weiqing, Deputy Party Secretary and Vice President; Vice Presidents Wu Bo, Xu Yong, and Lin Yiwen; Academician representatives Cao Yong, Wu Shuoxian, Liu Huanbin, Chen Xiaoqi, Chen Junlong, and Ioannis Vardaxoglou; National-level teaching masters Wei Gang, Zhu Changjiang, and Zhong Shuneng; and outstanding alumni representative Li Yongxi. Li Zheng, Vice President of SCUT, presided over the ceremony.

Tri-campus Synchronization and Global Participation

The ceremony was held simultaneously across SCUT’s three campuses, with over 15,000 new students and nearly 1,700 international students from around the world participating online and offline for their first campus lesson. Media outlets including People’s Daily, CCTV News, China Science Daily, Southcn.com, and Guangzhou Education Network, as well as the university’s official social media platforms, broadcast the event live. The live stream attracted 645,000 views from global alumni, parents, and the public.

Guangzhou International Campus

Wushan Campus

University Town Campus

Inspirational Speeches for New Comers

What is the mission of a university? What should students aspire to? Zhang Xichun posed these questions in the first ideological and political lesson for freshmen, encouraging them to pursue excellence at SCUT. In this best era, let’s build the best university and achieve the best version of ourselves on this fertile ground for dreams, he said.

Remark by Chancellor Zhang Xichun

Tang Hongwu introduced SCUT’s century-long history and its role in national development, highlighting how generations of SCUTers have contributed to China’s strength. SCUT has always embraced the world with an open mindset, promoting both 'internationalization at home' and 'two-way internationalization' to expand its global academic network, he noted.

Remark by President Tang Hongwu

Warm Wishes from Representatives all over the world

The ceremony featured blessings from partner universities such as Imperial College London , University of Cambridge, European Academy of Science and Arts, Politecnico of Bari, University of California, Riverside, etc. global alumni associations, and faculty-student representatives preparing for the coming National Games in Guangzhou, symbolizing SCUT’s tradition of unity and global engagement. With 620,000 alumni worldwide, the university stands as a testament to collective glory and strength.

During the ceremony, the SCUT Youth Symphony Orchestra from the School of Arts performed traditional Chinese classic pieces, presenting a musical feast that combined Eastern and Western cultures and integrated classical and modern elements for all. The 2025 opening ceremony concluded with the chorus of To guard the Yellow River and Song of South China University of Technology.

Live performance at main venue GZIC

Source from SCUT News

Translated by AN Yufan

Review by WU Zhaosheng