On September 6, Harbin Engineering University (HEU) hosted the Conference on Innovative Development of Graduate Education and the 2025 Graduate Opening Ceremony.
The event was attended by Party Secretary GAO Yan and President SONG Yingdong. Vice President ZHAO Yuxin presided over the proceedings.
The conference saw participation from leaders and faculty who had studied or worked at the PLA Military Engineering Institute, Harbin Shipbuilding Engineering Institute, and HEU, alongside principal officials from all colleges and relevant departments, faculty representatives, and the entire cohort of 2025 graduate students.
In his speech, President SONG Yingdong outlined three key expectations for the new graduate students. He emphasized the importance of: first, to cultivating a strong commitment to serving the nation; second, to develop the ability to think innovatively while upholding core principles; third, to combine knowledge and action to become outstanding innovative talents who excel in both theory and practice, and who lead with accountability.
Academician YANG Desen, a faculty representative, delivered a speech highlighting the university’s progress in graduate education. He extended a warm welcome to the 2025 graduates, noting that the PLA Military Engineering Institute, which began admitting graduate students in 1955, was a pioneer in graduate education nationwide. From the PLA Military Engineering Institute to Harbin Shipbuilding Engineering Institute, and now HEU, graduate education has made significant strides. Educators in this field bear both great honor and a deep sense of responsibility.
ZHANG Yuanqing, a doctoral student from the College of Intelligent Systems Science and Engineering, spoke on behalf of the 2025 graduate class. He shared that his time at HEU had not only enriched his knowledge and advanced his academic qualifications, but had also instilled in him the confidence to pursue his dreams. He committed to making steady progress in his academic journey.
All new graduate students solemnly took an oath, affirming their commitment to their academic and professional paths.
LIU Daxin, representing the PLA Military Engineering Institute era, reflected on his academic journey and his years as a professor at both the Harbin Shipbuilding Engineering Institute and HEU. He remarked that the spirit of the PLA Military Engineering Institute had profoundly shaped his life and the lives of his mentors and classmates, fostering resilience in the face of academic challenges.
ZHANG Haibin, representing the HEU era, shared three expectations for the 2025 graduates: first, to maintain a firm commitment to serving the nation and addressing national needs; second, to strive for excellence and build a solid foundation for personal and academic growth; third. to continuously innovate and courageously embrace challenges.
ZHU Xiumei, a faculty member, highlighted that graduate education is a key indicator of a university’s quality and competitiveness. HEU must optimize its disciplinary structure, deepen industry-academic integration, and cultivate high-demand talent to remain competitive.
Graduate students from the Yantai Research Institute and the Qingdao Innovation and Development Base participated in the ceremony remotely.
As a highlight of the Graduate Education Innovation and Development Conference, a symposium titled “Cultivating Top-Tier Innovative Talent Aligned with National Needs” was held with great enthusiasm.
A photo exhibition, documenting key milestones in the university’s graduate education development, was also displayed in the Qihang Theater hall. University leaders, including SONG Yingdong, ZHAO Yuxin, and LI Rongsheng, toured the exhibition, which spanned seven decades of graduate education at HEU, showcasing its evolution through the university’s three historical phases: the PLA Military Engineering Institute, the Harbin Shipbuilding Engineering Institute, and Harbin Engineering University.
