2023 Graduation Ceremony of Jinan University-University of Birmingham Joint Institute (J-BJI) was held on Shipai Campus on the afternoon of June 21st. Distinguished guests attended the ceremony including Song Xianzhong, President of Jinan University (JNU); Adam Tickell, Vice Chancellor of University of Birmingham (UoB); Hong An and Zhang Hong, Vice Presidents of JNU; Jon Frampton, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Director of the China Institute of UoB; leaders of JNU related departments, management team of J-BJI, and Class 2023 graduates.

The ceremony was hosted by Jamie Alcock, Deputy Director of J-BJI.

Adam Tickell, who visited China for the first time as Vice Chancellor of UoB, expressed his pleasure to witness this most significant moment for the class of 2023 graduates, and highly praised the accomplishment they achieved. He pointed out that it was not easy to achieve a joint degree, but this cohort of graduates had overcome the challenges imposed by the global Covid-19 lockdown, and successfully combined online and in-person learning. He believed that the 4-year experience would always inspire them to keep going in their future days.

Song Xianzhong congratulated the graduates on the successful completion of their undergraduate studies, and expressed his appreciation to Professor Adam Tickell for his presence. He said that it was the best era, an era of progress, when students standing at the forefront of the times would venture out into the world and achieve their dreams. He praised J-BJI graduates for the excellent results they achieved in further studies. At the same time, he encouraged graduates to bear in mind that they should treat other’s countries, families and bodies as one’s very own; pursue their dreams with perseverance and unwavering dedication; be confident and optimistic by living their lives with eyes to find the beauty, in order to become their better selves. No matter where they were in the future, JNU would always be their home.

 

Chris Good, Dean of Mathematics School of UoB, read the list of graduands. The Class of 2023, dressed in UoB bachelor's gowns, took the stage in turn, and Adam Tickell shook hands with them one by one to congratulate them, and took a memorial photo with each of them.

Chen Qixin, representative of class 2023 graduates, shared her experience in 4-year college life. She thanked her family members for their unconditional love, her teachers for their love in teaching, and the love and support of JNU and UoB. With all this love, she was able to discover her own value and explore the way to get along with the world. At the time of farewell, she expressed her confidence and determination to chase for a better future and live up to the era.

Liu Xiaoyang, “Graduate With Outstanding Achievements And Contributions” of JNU, and Qian Yunqi, calligraphist, presented a calligraphy artwork of the JNU motto “Loyalty, sincerity, integrity and respect” on behalf of all graduates to J-BJI, which meant the graduates were rooted in J-BJI and would always be connected to their alma mater. Li Qiong, Wang Chunchao and Jamie Alcock accepted the gifts on behalf of J-BJI.

After the successful completion of the 2023 graduation ceremony of J-BJI, Class 2023 graduates sailed out from J-BJI to the wider world.