On July 1^st, the 20^th Anniversary of the School of Foreign Studies (SFS) was held in the Academic Conference Hall. Mr. WU Guilong, Chancellor of USTB; Mr. YU Chengwen, Vice Chancellor of USTB; Prof. LI Yuming, Part-time Professor of USTB, former Deputy Director of the State Language Committee, former Director of the Department of Language Administration of the Ministry of Education, former Chancellor of Beijing Language and Culture University attended the celebration. More than 100 alumni from all over the country, the leaders of school departments, the former and current leaders of the SFS, and more than 200 representatives of teachers and students attended the conference, and more than 2,200 teachers, students, and alumni participated online. The conference was presided over by Mr. SHEN Wei, Secretary General of the Party Committee of SFS.

Site of the Celebration

Mr. SHEN Wei presided over the Celebration

Prof. CHEN Hongwei delivered a speech

Prof. CHEN Hongwei, Dean of the School of Foreign Studies, reported the development of the School. She pointed out that SFS's foreign language education started in the service of China's steel industry’s starting stage and promoted cross-century rapid development under the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education, thus opening a new stage of the "School of Foreign Languages," and obtained major opportunities from reform and opening-up while seizing opportunities to achieve a leap based on the "Double First-class" construction. With the strong support from the University, the School adheres to the idea of "internal and external dual-drive." In the past 20 years, the school has developed itself to serve the needs of the country and society. From "no foreign language discipline, only College English and English major", the school has developed into a nationally renowned high-quality teaching and research school with outstanding characteristics, high teaching level, strong scientific research strength, equal emphasis on basic teaching and professional teaching, and moderate scale. Tremendous changes have taken place. Prof. CHEN Hongwei pointed out that in the past 20 years, the harmonious education ecology of the school has provided the premise and guarantee for the development of the school. The road of school development is an inspirational story, a story of unity and hard work. We must continue to inherit the spirit of our predecessors, unite as one, forge ahead, and strive to create new glory in the next 20 years.

Congratulatory videos from scholars and experts

At the meeting, Prof. Ann Heilmann from Cardiff University, Prof. Claire Chamber from York University, Prof. Paul Patton, Professor of Philosophy, from Hongyi Academy, Wuhan University, Prof. CHENG Liying from Queen's University, Prof. NIE Zhenzhao from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Prof. HU Kaibao from Shanghai International Studies University, Prof. WANG Jianhua from Renmin University of China, Prof. WANG Lifei from Beijing Language and Culture University, Prof. GUO Yingjian from Renmin University of China, Prof. XIANG Mingyou from University of International Business and Economics, Prof. MIAO Xingwei from Beijing Normal University, Prof. GENG Jiyong from Beijing Jiaotong University, Prof. FENG  Zongxin from Tsinghua University, Mr. Kurabayashi Masato, Vice President of Josai International University, Prof. Takuya Kimura from Kyushu University, Director of the Japanese Language Sub-Committee of the Ministry of Education, Mr. XIU Gang, President of the Chinese Japanese Language Teaching Research Association, Mr. ZHOU Yifu, CEO of China Telford Examination Institute, Mr. Andreas Wistoff, and Prof. FENG Yalin, from Sichuan International Studies University, congratulated the school on its 20th anniversary via video.

Prof. LI Yuming delivered a speech

On behalf of academic experts, Prof. LI Yuming highly affirmed the development of the foreign language disciplines and the School of Foreign Studies. Mr. LI pointed out that universities are knowledge-related academic institutions and shoulder the functions of creating, managing, and disseminating knowledge. It is necessary to strengthen problem orientation and goal orientation, enhance the ability to serve social development and improve the cultivation of knowledge management and dissemination. Teachers of the school should combine disciplinary interests with the awareness of the academic community, constantly improve the promotion of the field and discipline, the penetration of related disciplines, and the influence on society, and continue to help the development of the university.

Prof. ZHANG Jingyuan delivered a speech

Prof. ZHANG Jingyuan, a representative of the old leaders of the college, combined with his own experience of forging ahead together with the college, deeply reviewed the hard struggle of the college from the early stage to the present perfect undergraduate and graduate talent training system, strong teaching staff, and remarkable achievements in discipline construction, and called on foreign language students to adhere to the gene inheritance of "never put ourselves down and never fear difficulties." Mr. ZHANG talked about specific examples in the development process of the college, expressed his gratitude to the leaders, teachers & students, and people from all walks of life who supported the development of the college, and congratulated the college on its 20th anniversary.

Teachers' representatives Prof. LIU Rongjun and Prof. YIN Jing delivered speeches

Teachers’ representatives associate Prof. LIU Rongjun, from the Department of Undergraduate English, and Prof. YIN Jing, from the Department of English Language and Literature, combined with their own work experience, shared their occupational history and mental journey as cultivators in the construction and development of the school. They said that they will inherit the school tradition of exquisite teaching, unity and forging ahead, harmony and love, take root in the classroom, and devote themselves to teaching and research with the original Intention.

Representative of foreign teachers, Dr. Mark Buck and Mr. James Bruner, delivered speeches

Representative of alumni Ms. XU Wenchao delivered a speech

Ms. XU Wenchao, an alumni representative, graduated in 1999 from the Department of English Language and Literature, Chairman and Senior Vice President of Hygon Information Technology Co., LTD., shared his unforgettable stories of school life and expressed his gratitude to his Alma mater's training and teacher's guidance combined with his work experience of struggling to serve the major national strategies. On behalf of all the alumni of the School of Foreign Studies, Mr. XU Wenchao expressed his best wishes for the 20^th anniversary of the school.

Student representative FANG Xinrui delivered a speech

On the basis of her own experience, FANG Xinrui, the student representative of the school from the Department of Japanese Language and Literature Class 201, described the warm story of cultivating national feelings, expanding global vision, refining professional skills, achieving all-round growth, and gaining good mentors and friends about study and growth in the school. She expressed her gratitude to our university and school and offered her blessings for the school celebration.

Alumni Mr. WEN Yi issued the initiative to set up a branch for alumni association

Mr. WEN Yi, graduating in 2002 from the Department of English Language and Literature, alumnus and Vice President of Grouphorse Group, announced the initiative of establishing an alumni branch of the School of Foreign Studies. Mr. WEN Yi introduced the purpose and significance of the establishment of the alumni branch and called on the majority of alumni to actively participate in the work of the alumni branch, close exchanges and cooperation between alumni and the college, strengthen alumni contacts, promote alumni mutual assistance and service personnel training.

Mr. WU Guilong delivered a speech

Mr. WU Guilong pointed out that the School of Foreign Studies, focusing on the implementation of the fundamental task of moral education and cultivating people, actively promotes the construction of "new liberal arts," helps the cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries, and has made excellent achievements in various undertakings and won wide praise, making important contributions to the high-quality development of the university. These achievements and progress are the unity and hard work of the teachers and students of the School of Foreign Studies. 

Group photo

Symposium for alumni

After the meeting, the attending school leaders took a group photo with teachers, students, and alumni. Teachers, students, and alumni visited the University History Museum and the Important Reply Exhibition Room. At the same time, the school held an alumni forum in the Foreign Studies Building to talk with alumni about the growth and progress and seek common development of the school.

Relevant personnel of the USTB Office of the Party Committee, Office of the President, Organization Department of the CPC, Department of Public Affairs and Communications, Office of Faculty Ethics, Department of Student Affairs, Communist Youth League Committee, Office of Strategic Planning, Department of Human Resources, Department of Academic Affairs, Graduate School, Department of Technology Transfer, Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Department of Admissions and Career Services, Office of International Affairs, Alumni Association and other department attended the celebration.

Draft: LI Jialin

Revision: CHENG Mingyuan