Haide College of Ocean University of China Holds Opening Ceremony for 2025 New Undergraduate Students

On September 16, 2025, the opening ceremony for the 2025 freshmen of Haide College was held in the Lecture Hall of the Marine Science and Technology Building. Liu Yong, Vice President of Ocean University of China (OUC), and Jessica Gallagher, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Global Engagement) of the University of Adelaide, attended the ceremony and delivered speeches. Directors of relevant functional departments and faculty representatives of OUC, members of the leadership team of Haide College, head teachers for the Class of 2025, as well as all the new students, participated in the ceremony. The ceremony was presided over by Ma Yuhong, Party Secretary of Haide College.

At the ceremony, Liu Yong extended a warm welcome to all the 2025 freshmen of Haide College on behalf of OUC. Centering on the university’s historical traditions and educational philosophy, he put forward three earnest expectations for the students. First, cultivate morality and conduct and forge ahead with perseverance. He hoped that the students would uphold moral integrity, distinguish right from wrong, abide by rules and regulations, maintain virtue and good faith, and integrate knowledge with practice to forge a steady and far-reaching path in life. Second, aim high and dedicate themselves to academic pursuits. He encouraged the students to embrace the blue dream, shoulder the missions of the times, seize historical opportunities, continuously enhance their capabilities, grow into outstanding talents with international competitiveness, and contribute to national rejuvenation. Third, pursue interdisciplinary integration, uphold principles and drive innovation. He called on the students to make good use of high-quality Chinese and foreign educational resources, step out of their comfort zones, engage in interdisciplinary learning and multicultural experiences, and strive for excellence in the pursuit of truth and innovation.

On behalf of the University of Adelaide, Jessica Gallagher congratulated the 2025 freshmen of Haide College. She introduced Australia’s beautiful environment and strong academic atmosphere to the students, and expressed her hope that they would seize the trends of the times from this new starting point, make the most of the high-quality international teaching resources of Haide College, embrace the future and thrive.

Wang Min put forward three expectations for the freshmen in her speech. First, calmly appreciate the charm of their majors, explore with an open mind to consolidate the foundation and cultivate scientific research thinking. Second, adopt an open and inclusive attitude to understand diverse cultures, make international friends, and grow into talents with international competitiveness. Third, break the single evaluation system, find their own growth rhythm, and focus on daily progress to improve comprehensive quality. She hoped that the students would adapt to the new study and life as soon as possible, balance life and study, and formulate a life plan suitable for their own development.

As the faculty representative, Liu Bin delivered a speech. He stated that the freshmen should adjust their mindset as soon as possible, familiarize themselves with the rules and learning methods, and communicate more to adapt to college life. Meanwhile, they should uphold an open and inclusive attitude, learn from each other and make progress together through exchanges and cooperation with students from diverse backgrounds, and bravely explore emerging technologies. Finally, he reminded the students to reflect on themselves regularly and make steady progress through introspection to achieve academic success.

Zhang Dina, a 2023 student majoring in Food Science and Engineering (Chinese-Foreign Cooperative Education Program), spoke as the representative of current students. She shared her life experience and growth journey at OUC over the past two years, introduced the outstanding deeds of Haide College students, and hoped that all freshmen would be independent and progressive, bear the country in mind, grow into new talents of the times, and make youthful contributions to national rejuvenation.

Zhang Yuting, a 2025 freshman majoring in Biotechnology (Chinese-Foreign Cooperative Education Program), addressed the ceremony as the freshmen representative. On behalf of all new students, she made a solemn pledge: to keep the nation’s paramount interests in mind and bravely shoulder the blue mission; to respect teachers, study diligently, discipline themselves, and cultivate a sense of gratitude; to integrate Chinese and Western wisdom and pursue academic excellence.

Later, Liu Yong and Jessica Gallagher presented appointment letters to the class teachers of all 2025 classes of Haide College, hoping that they would provide guidance on professional knowledge and skills for the new students and help them successfully complete their four-year college life.

At the ceremony, a special gift embodying profound ethnic cultural friendship—a traditional embroidery handcrafted by inheritors of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of the Yi ethnic group in Yunnan Province—was presented to Professor Jessica Gallagher. With exquisite patterns and brilliant colors, the embroidery embodies the time-honored craftsmanship and cultural memories passed down from generation to generation by the Yi people. It is not only an artistic treasure, but also a vivid representative of China’s ethnic ICH. This gift originated from the long-term education assistance and cultural inheritance practices of Haide College’s Volunteer Teaching Group Little Koala in places such as Lvchun County of Yunnan Province and Yanwo Village of Linyi City in Shandong Province. The students have contributed to rural revitalization through practical actions and passed on the warmth and strength of Haide College students. This embroidery not only symbolizes the profound cooperation between Ocean University of China and the University of Adelaide, but also carries the original aspiration of Haide College students to engage in public welfare. It has become a wonderful testimony to the friendship and cultural exchanges between the two universities.