On the refreshing day of autumn, full of vitality and ambition, the grand gathering of youth has commenced at Xiangtan Institute of Technology, the university in Xiangjiang Science City.

Over 4,000 freshmen, brimming with hope and dreams for the future, have officially embarked on their university life, with the vibrant demeanor, the upward appearance, and the progressive spirit,embarking on a new journey of pursuing , creating  and fulfilling dreams.

On the morning of September 30th, the opening ceremony for the freshmen of 2025 was held at the school's track and field stadium.

Professor Yuan Libin, the President of Xiangtan Institute of Technology, attended the ceremony and delivered the "First Lesson of the New Semester." Zhao Chan, the Secretary of the school's party committee,presided over the event. All the leaders,representatives of the faculty and staff were present, alongside all the freshmen.

Warm-up Activities

Reading Both "Written" and "Unwritten" Books

Before the ceremony began, a heartwarming pre-event activity was held on-site to warm up the atmosphere.The song and dance performance "We Are Young" exuded youthful energy and an upward spirit, showcasing the vitality, vigor, and boundless potential of Xiangtan Institute of Technology's students.  

The stage play "Book · Path," inspired by the perspective of young Mao Zedong "bringing books to life," told the vivid practices of Xiangtan Institute of Technology students in combining "reading written books" with "reading unwritten books" across various fields such as laboratories, rural areas, international stages, western grassroots, and innovation and entrepreneurship. This highlighted the remarkable achievements of Xiangtan Institute of Technology in promoting industry-education integration and comprehensively advancing project-based education and teaching reforms in recent years.

Youth Dialogue:

Practice Forges the Future

The Five-Starred Red Flag flutters in the wind, while every heart is fulled of patriotic fervor.The ceremony officially commenced with a solemn flag-raising ceremony.All faculty and students faced the national flag, singing the national anthem with pride, their patriotic fervor and aspirations for a strong nation surging throughout the campus, inspiring Xiangtan Institute of Technology students to demonstrate their youthful commitment to serving the country.

"The school's CFAP is an organic whole: led and underpinned by character strength, equipped with foundational abilities as core assets, bridged by action, and ultimately reaching the shore of professional growth.For you, the starting point is brave action," emphasized President Yuan."Entrepreneurship and practical experience are journeys of self-discovery and self-fulfillment!"

A "Practice Forges the Future" themed youth dialogue involving representatives of counselors, senior students, and freshmen inspired every new student to gain deeper insights and reflections on their upcoming four-year academic journey.The dialogue painted a vivid picture of the remarkable achievements and vibrant vitality of Xiangtan Institute of Technology's educational model, motivating students to diligently seek knowledge, engage in practical activities, bravely pursue their dreams, fulfill their youthful promises, and write their own splendid stories on this fertile ground.  

High School Perspective

"You will surely achieve a life-changing transformation!" 

"From today onwards, Xiangtan Institute of Technology will be your

new harbor to set sail.Although high school and university represent different educational stages, the fundamental task of ´foster virtue and nurture a new generation of capable young people＇ remains consistent," stated Yuan Wei, the Principal of Yueyang County No. 2 High School, as a representative of the high schools that sent students to the school.

Principal Yuan noted that transitioning from high school to university signifies not just a change in identity but also an elevation of responsibility.Xiangtan Institute of Technology enjoys a strong reputation, boasts a beautiful campus environment, possesses profound academic heritage, and upholds a spirit of excellence in scholarly pursuits.Here, students will encounter cutting-edge knowledge, meet more erudite professors, and embrace broader platforms.He offered three pieces of advice to the freshmen: first, nurture patriotism with lofty ambitions; second, pursue knowledge with diligence, seek truth through inquiry; third, unite theory with practice, and act with courage."I believe that nourished by the spirit of our school motto´Mind & Hand ,Better & Best,＇You will surely achieve a life-changing transformation!"

Wearing the University Badge:

Growing Together with Xiangtan Institute of Technology

With the school badge pinned to their chests and their mission etched in their hearts, President Yuan Libin and Vice Presidents Zhong Zhiping, Xie Songhe, and Dai Shugen awarded the badges to freshman representatives, encouraging them to grow and progress alongside Xiangtan Institute of Technology, and to embody the school motto, "Mind & Hand ,Better & Best," growing into pillars of the nation in the future with lofty aspirations,moral integrity, unshakable confidence, and commanding presence. 

Special Scholarship for Families Members of  Servicemen/Women 

of Freshmen:

Honoring the  most adorable people

In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and to commemorate history, honor the martyrs, cherish peace, and forge a brighter future, Xiangtan Institute of Technology, in fulfillment of Xiangtan's glorious mission as a "National Model City for Mutual Support Between the Military and Civilians," established the "Salute to Soldiers · Special Scholarship for Freshmen" to assist the descendants of military families to better complete their studies for the Class of 2025.

After comprehensive evaluation, 23 students were awarded this scholarship, including 2 recipients of the the Special Grand Scholarship, 8 of the Second-Prize Scholarship, and 13 of the Third-Prize  Scholarship.Among them were descendants of veteran heros who participated in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid  Korea and the War of Self Defense and Counterattack War against Vietnam, as well as students whose grandfathers and fathers were both military personnel and had received military honors.

President Yuan Libin presented the Special Scholarship for Families Members of  Servicemen/Women of Freshmen to the awarded students on behalf of the school, extending his regards and respect to their families, and encouraging them to "pass on the tradition of revolution and sustain the revolutionary spirit," honing their skills on the progressive platform of Xiangtan Institute of Technology to better serve the country and society in the future. 

Address by the President:

At university, we embark on a transformative new chapter

"Life is a marathon, with different cognitions and goals at various stages.Primary and secondary schools are foundational stages, while university is where you embark on a new chapter!" In his "First Lesson of the New Semester," President Yuan extended a warm welcome to the freshmen and elucidated the differences between university and high school through three key phrases, offering three pieces of advice to empower the new students to better navigate their university life.

Three Key Phrases

No Standard Answers: In primary and secondary schools, exams provide standard answers to cultivate students' rationality; in university, students are encouraged to seek diverse, personalized answers to foster individualized and critical thinking.

Charging Station: University is a sanctuary of knowledge,a place where students recharge and accumulate energy to lay a solid foundation for stepping intosociety.

Libraries,laboratories,classrooms,teacher-student interactions, peer exchanges, and social practices are all serve as channels to gain energy.Studying at Xiangtan Institute of Technology, students can conveniently "recharge" in urban areas like Changsha and Xiangtan, or utilize weekends or holidays for grassroots and frontline practices. 

Exploration Space: University encourages students to bravely explore and not fear making mistakes.No exploration is free from errors; the key lies in learning from mistakes and continuously growing. At Xiangtan Institute of Technology, first-year students in Tamchau College primarily cultivate self-control, discipline, altruism, and labor spirit; from sophomore to senior years, they are encouraged to step into society and explore according to their interests and strengths.The school will maximize its tolerance and create conditions for students to freely explore.Students should seize the precious four years of university to bravely explore and not be afraid of making mistakes.

Three Pieces of Advice

For navigating the four years of university, President Yuan offered three pieces of advice.

First, have both dreams and ideals.

We live in a great era, shouldering the glorious mission of comprehensively advancing national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization. As new era university students, it is essential to closely link personal dreams with the dreams of the nation and the country."Every student has their own dreams, but upon entering university, transform these dreams into ideals and pursue them with planning and steps. Only then can dreams become reality and lead to a fulfilling life."

Second, become not just smart but wise.

Learning knowledge and technology can make one smart, but there is a distinction between smartness and wisdom—earning quick money is smart, while sustainable earnings are wise; making oneself happy is smart, while making oneself and others happy is wise. Smartness is about understanding the world and discovering patterns; wisdom is about pursuing long-termism and achieving sustainable development. "I hope that during your university years, you will not only deeply learn knowledge to become smart but also through practice,communication,altruism, and self-discipline,become wise."

Third, learn to leverage strengths and mitigate weaknesses.

One's life is built on strengths, advantages, and specialties.The CFAP innovative talent cultivation model proposed by Xiangtan Institute of Technology includes 20 abilities and 10 thinking patterns to help students unleash their potential."I hope you can identify and amplify your strengths while addressing your weaknesses, striving to become individuals who contribute to society and are satisfied with yourselves."

Finally, President Yuan wished all new students academic progress and the realization of their dreams.

The opening ceremony has concluded, but the splendor of youth will never fade.May every "XITer" (affectionate nickname for Xiangtan Institute of Technology students) remember the earnest teachings from the ceremony, and in this land of hope at Xiangtan Institute of Technology, ride their dreams like horses and live up to their youth, writing their own glorious chapters.