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On the morning of August 28, 2025, the opening ceremony for undergraduate freshmen of the 2025 at SJTU SPEIT was solemnly held in the Wenbo Building Conference Hall. Leaders of SPEIT, corporate guests, faculty and student representatives gathered together with 146 undergraduates freshmen to witness the commencement of this new academic journey.
Attendees at the ceremony included: Xiong Zhenhua, Secretary of the CPCC of SPEIT, Chen Cailian, Chinese Dean, Zied Moumni, French Dean, Yao Xue, Vice Secretary of the CPCC of SPEIT, Zhong Shengyi, Vice Dean, Yu Jianye, Director of the Excellence Engineering Department at Forvia Hella, Ding Hua, General Manager of Jingfeng Technology Company, faculty representatives and administrative team members, and a special guest—the “Tian Gong Wu Jie” robot, which recently won the 100-meter track event at the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games. The ceremony was co-hosted in Chinese and French by Vice Dean Lu Jialiang and student Tian Yuan.
The ceremony commenced with the national anthem.
Chen Cailian delivered an address titled “How to Forge an Exceptional Path in a Changing World?” She first extended a warm welcome to undergraduate freshmen of the 2025 on behalf of SPEIT, noting that the students had collectively made a pivotal decision at a critical juncture in their lives—“choosing SPEIT, choosing excellence.” In this “era of change” characterized by constantly reshaped disciplinary boundaries, rapidly evolving technological paradigms, accelerated knowledge updates, and profound global realignments, she urged the freshmen: Break through challenges with “critical thinking” to navigate the era's transformations; build foundations with “mathematics and science” and pursue change through “innovation”; embrace a global perspective and courageously shoulder the worldwide responsibilities of the younger generation. She emphasized that choosing SPEIT means embracing a life philosophy of “pursuing excellence.” Amidst surging technological waves and endless temptations of trending topics, many instinctively chase “instant gratification” while overlooking the value of long-term dedication. She encouraged students to learn to “slow down” in this fast-paced era, seeking stability through deliberation, progress through stability, and innovation through progress—ultimately forging their own path to excellence, free from limitations and mediocrity.
Zied Moumni extended a warm welcome to the Class of 2025 on behalf of all faculty and students. He emphasized that SPEIT, a unique platform jointly established by SJTU and the French engineering education system, is not merely a school but a bridge connecting Chinese and French cultures, sciences, and ideas. Here, students will simultaneously embrace the theoretical rigor and systematic thinking of French education alongside SJTU's advocacy for innovative spirit and practical capabilities. This fusion of cross-cultural and interdisciplinary approaches will undoubtedly forge students' distinctive and exceptional qualities. He offered three pieces of advice to the new students: Maintain curiosity to spark innovation through intellectual exchange; uphold rigor to lay the foundation for future engineers with precision and responsibility; and dare to break boundaries by challenging themselves in both classroom and practice to achieve growth. He encouraged students to embrace challenges actively, supported by family, faculty, and industry mentors, not only to understand the world but also to co-create it with wisdom and responsibility—becoming bridges of Sino-French friendship and pioneers of future technology.
Yu Jianye, representing the industry, shared his insights and expectations with students from the perspective of the intelligent vehicle sector. He stated that the automotive industry is undergoing a once-in-a-century transformation, with intelligent systems, electrification, and interdisciplinary integration reshaping the industry landscape while placing higher demands on future engineering talent. As a long-term partner, Forvia Hella has established close collaboration with SPEIT in areas such as internship defense, corporate visits, and research. He highly commended the students' solid mathematical and scientific foundations, sharp innovative thinking, and practical problem-solving abilities. Centered on the three keywords “intelligent electronic control, holistic perception, and precise execution,” he encouraged students to actively engage in industrial practice, honing their interdisciplinary innovation and engineering application skills through real-world challenges. To the incoming freshmen, he advised seizing the opportunities of the era, upholding the value of long-term dedication amidst rapidly evolving technological waves, and striving to become engineering elites equipped with academic rigor, practical capabilities, and a global perspective.
As one of the SPEIT Student Union presidents, Chen Jingyi shared her “exceptional” experience at SPEIT through three keywords—“Equality, Liberty, Fraternity”—representing the senior students. She explained that the college's “Equality” manifests in harmonious teacher-student relationships that encourage expression and questioning, with comprehensive academic guidance provided by both Chinese and French faculty inside and outside the classroom. “Liberty” is reflected in diverse development opportunities, where research, competitions, public speaking, business contests, and volunteer services all receive support. “Fraternity” manifests in the school's strong atmosphere of solidarity and mutual support, with platforms like the “Xue Ba Tuan” “Qiyan Forum,” and “Sixiangba” fostering a unique culture of knowledge inheritance. She encouraged freshmen to express themselves boldly, explore actively, and support one another as they write their own chapters of excellence at SPEIT.
As the student representative, He Qirong shared his expectations and aspirations for university life. He emphasized that college is not only about academic accumulation but also an opportunity to explore interests, hone skills, and cultivate individuality, requiring a balanced development between studies and personal pursuits. He urged his peers to seize the international platform offered by the School, broaden their horizons, embrace hands-on experiences, and grow through practice and reflection to embrace a future full of opportunities.
Célia CARCHEREUX, coordinator of the Mathematics Department, spoke on behalf of the faculty. She noted that the college's first three years of curriculum align with France's top engineering preparatory programs, featuring French-language instruction throughout the science courses. Small-group tutoring, laboratory sessions, and oral examinations (Khôlle) are provided to enable personalized learning tracking and knowledge reinforcement. The program demands rigorous academic standards and presents a unique linguistic environment. However, through diligent study and the support of our faculty team, students can fully master mathematics and physics knowledge while enhancing their academic expression and logical reasoning skills. She encouraged freshmen to actively explore, cherish tutoring opportunities, and smoothly embark on their journey toward becoming globally competitive engineers.
At the opening ceremony, the faculty and freshman advisors for the undergraduate freshmen of the 2025 made a splendid appearance. They will accompany the new students throughout their upcoming four-year journey.
With that, the opening ceremony has come to a successful conclusion. The arrival of our new students has infused the college with boundless vitality and energy.
May you be guided by excellence and global competence, steadfastly forging ahead in a rapidly changing world and courageously pursuing your dreams, to carve out your own path to an extraordinary life!
Nouveau semestre
Nouvelle atmosphère
Nouvelle étape
Plein d’espoir