SSDPP holds 1st Commencement Ceremony for international graduates

　　 Thirteen students of the Master’s Program in Contemporary Development of China, the first cohort since the program was launched in 2011 by SSDPP, received their graduation diplomas on a Commencement Ceremony held at Room 2026 of New Main Building on the campus of Beijing Normal University(BNU). The students celebrated their graduation ceremonies under the auspices of BNU Vice President Mm. Hao Fanghua, Director of BNU International Student Affairs Office Ms. Ai Xin, Dean of the School of Social Development and Public Policy (SSDPP) Prof. Zhang Xiulan and in the presence of SSDPP faculty representatives, including Prof. Hu Xiaojiang, Prof. Wang Xinsong, Prof. Xiao Suowei, family and friends. More than 40 people attended the ceremony. Prof. Wang Xinsong hosted the event. 

The ceremony progressed in three phases, pictures, addresses and free talk. In her address, BNU Vice President Mm. Hao Fanghua expressed her congratulations for students to complete their Master’s study. She then took a retrospect on the past one and half years and brought alive the nice memories that the students have left her. In the end, she wished that students would commit to public interests and act as a bridge between China and the outside world. The address was followed by a speech by SSDPP Dean Prof. Zhang Xiulan. Dean Zhang congratulated again the students for their academic achievements and encouraged them to transfer knowledge into action and make their own contributions for world development. 

Two graduate representatives Matin Larbi from Ghana and Silvio Ghiglione from France gave speeches afterwards who expressed their deep attachment to the school and their resolutions to make the world a better place. Faculty, family and friends then expressed their views before Prof. Wang Xinsong, on behalf of SSDPP, expressed thanks to BNU and the BNU international student affairs office for their all-out support to its international programs. 

The thirteen international graduates came from ten different countries. The successful graduation of those students marks periodic achievement of the development of international programs. The international programs team will soon organize a review and evaluation session for the international program of Contemporary Development of China to gear the program on the optimal development trajectory. 

(Article by Tingting Yang)