On the afternoon of June 17, the Class of 2022 Graduate Symposium of Xinya College was held in Conference Room 212 of the Central Main Building. 17 representatives of the graduating class gathered with the teachers of Xinya College to share the lessons they learned and the insights they gained from completing their undergraduate education at Xinya College. Mei Ciqi, Dean of Xinya College, Ruan Dong, Head of the Party Work Group and Vice Dean of Xinya College, as well as Zhang Yu and Zhang Guangyao of the Xinya College Administrative Office were in attendance. The symposium was chaired by Zhang Weite, Vice Dean of Xinya College.

At the symposium, the graduating students spoke freely about their gains and insights from their time at Xinya, and also actively offered suggestions for Xinya's future development based on their own experiences and reflections.

Keyword 1: Liberal arts education

Liberal arts education is the foundation of Xinya. Each of the student representatives shared their experiences with receiving liberal arts education.

Liu Yuwei (PPE major) said that she was most impressed by the teachers and classes at Xinya, and that they had the most profound impact on her. In particular, Xinya's arts curriculum taught her how to appreciate and love the people and things in her life. Ultimately, this kind of aesthetic education is a “lesson in love”. Additionally, Liu expressed hope that the younger students make an effort to participate in more group activities, actively communicate with each other, and step out together into the wider world.

Wang Yukun (architecture major) brought up a letter she wrote when she first came to Xinya, discussing the change and growth the Xinya community and liberal arts education brought to her. In addition, Xinya’s characteristic aesthetic education and labor education enabled her to gain experiences and inspiration that cannot be acquired from classroom learning, as well as the capacity to live life with an open heart and open mind.

Li Shihao (PPE major, former president of Xinya Student Union) stated that the course "The Idea of the University" had a profound impact on him. For him, Xinya was an important means of getting to know the university and liberal arts education.

Sun Bo (psychology major) expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to come to Xinya and his strong support for Xinya's mode of liberal arts education and concept of community. Moreover, he stated that the real meaning, power, and inspiration of liberal arts education become apparent only after students begin their professional education: liberal arts education encourages students to break the shackles of convention and expand their horizons, lending them a new perspective and opening up myriad new possibilities for their future careers.

Chen Zonghao (electronics major) said that upon leaving Xinya, he missed his university life and his lively classmates at Xinya very much. He felt that the more "specialized" he became in his field of study, the more he understood the value of liberal arts education: it allows students to discover their real passions as they grow and as they learn.

Mao Houshuang (computer science major) looked back on his time at Xinya with great pride and joy. This, he said, was all due to the liberal arts education Xinya students receive and their unique way of thinking.

Zheng Zhi (CDIE major) expressed gratitude for the transformation and growth he experienced in his time at Xinya, as well as the positive role that liberal arts education played in his exploration of self and the broadening of his interests.

Keyword 2: College Community

The most difficult thing for students to part with is the Xinya community.

Song Chenyang (computer science major) described his education at Xinya as one filled with surprises and growth, during which his most valuable asset was his fellow students. After coming to Xinya, his excellent classmates encouraged him to take the initiative to change and to grow, and at the same time gave him courage to to try new things and discover new possibilities for himself.

Liu Meng (PPE major) looked back on her education and life at Xinya as a very happy time in her life. Classes in the College had a strong atmosphere of learning as well as a powerful sense of community.

Zhang Ningning (journalism major) stated that despite being the only journalism major in her grade, the strong sense of togetherness and her sense of belonging within the Xinya community made her feel loved and cared for.

Chen Hongxi (sociology major) reflected on her experiences studying at Xinya, stating that she fully felt the warmth and a strong sense of belonging within the Xinya community, although the structure of studies and life in the College may affect students’ ability to integrate into their respective majors to a certain extent.

Lei Deng Yuhan (PPE major) stated that the requirements for reading in liberal arts education courses are now very high, suggesting that Xinya improve the learning feedback that students receive and continue to explore and enrich party building activities in order to shape Xinya into a more cohesive and structured whole.

Liu Meng (PPE major) suggested opening up more channels of communication and feedback between students and teachers, building a more convenient communication platform, and further enhancing the effectiveness of communication within the Xinya community.

Keyword 3: “Vertical Classes” for Majors

The “vertical class” system is one of the unique characteristics of Xinya, which aims to break through the information and social barriers between students of different grade levels within the same major. Many students mentioned this innovation during the symposium.

Li Shihao (PPE major) remarked that the vertical class system of Xinya is innovative and allows for the effective transfer of knowledge between students of senior and junior grades. He expressed hope that Xinya will continue to strengthen its community and facilitate further communication and exchange between alumni and students of different grade levels.

Si Junqi (economics and finance major) suggested the College work to optimize the transition between high school and university, build a communication platform for vertical classes, consolidate and standardize the activities distinctive of Xinya, and minimize the effect of people on the activities themselves.

Xiao Yunkai (economy and finance major) expressed hope that Xinya make full use of the vertical class to bolster communication between senior and junior students, enhance planning awareness, and guide career development.

Wang Tianyu (PPE major) expressed hope that Xinya continue to work on the construction of its community, especially by actively utilizing vertical classes. Upperclassmen can often give useful guidance to students in lower grades, not only by teaching them how to make the most of their studies, but also in matters of life.

Keyword 4: General, Professional, and Integrated

Regarding Xinya's distinctive Creative Design and Intelligent Engineering major (CDIE), Zheng Zhi (CDIE major) suggested further construction of cross-disciplinary integrative courses and optimization of the curriculum design for general and professional learning. Wu Bingyan (CDIE major) expressed that in the future, students’ graduation projects should have clearer training objectives and more unified standards. Wang Weifan (CDIE major) proposed that more small classes be added to build upon the current CDIE curriculum, allowing students to discover more possibilities after in-depth research.

Regarding the transition between and integration of liberal arts education and professional education, some students put forward suggestions on how to optimize the transition between general and professional education. Zhang Ningning (journalism major) suggested that Xinya strengthen its communication with other faculties and work to consolidate curricula. Mao Houshuang (computer major) stated that some students required greater cohesion between their freshman and sophomore courses. Xiao Yunkai (eonomics and finance major) recommended that Xinya and other faculties promote mutual recognition of liberal arts education credits so as to reduce students' academic burden. Si Junqi (economics and finance major) suggested that the College optimize the transition between high school and university, construct a communication platform for vertical classes, and guide students during their transition between general and professional education.

After the student representatives shared, Ruan Dong, Head of the Party Work Group and Vice Dean of Xinya College, applauded the sense of responsibility the graduates felt toward Xinya College. Ruan stated that the College would strengthen its work in the following areas: firstly, the College would work to promote the construction of its learning community and liberal arts education, making full use of the vertical class in facilitating communication and cohesion; secondly, the College would continue to construct cross-disciplinary integrative courses and optimize the transition between and integration of general and professional education. In addition, Ruan congratulated all the new graduates, wishing them good luck in their future studies and careers, advising them to persevere in being confident, proactive, and communicative no matter what problems they encounter, so as to pass on the pride of Xinya.

At the end of the graduate symposium, Mei Ciqi, Dean of Xinya College, made closing remarks. Mei praised the strong sense of responsibility each and every student held toward the future development of Xinya.

Mei emphasized that through the joint efforts of everyone in the Xinya community, the College has developed a unique Xinya culture which will stay with the graduates throughout their lives and continue to develop within the College. Mei stated that in the future, Xinya will continue to work on the construction of an alumni network, as more and more alumni mean greater resources and social connections for Xinya, and what’s more, the alumni reflect the continuation and expression of Xinya culture, which can in turn promote the perpetuation and development of Xinya culture. Finally, Mei sent his best wishes to the graduates: “I wish everyone a happy graduation and the best of luck on your future journeys! I hope that your experiences studying and living at Xinya for the past few years can lend you strength to overcome all the challenges you may face and achieve your greatest ambitions in the future.”