Amid farewell songs marking the end of youthful days and the setting sail toward new horizons, the 2025 Graduation Ceremony of the Swinburne College of Shandong University of Science and Technology was held at the Sports & Arts Center on June 21. Attendees included Pascale Quester, Vice Chancellor and President of Swinburne University of Technology (SUT), and Bronte Neyland, Deputy Vice-Chancellor; Zeng Qingtian, President of Shandong University of Science and Technology (SDUST), and Dong Hairong, Vice President; Roger Li, representative of the Australia Institute of Future Education (AIFE); Liang Saijiang, Party Secretary of SDUST's Jinan Campus, and Guo Jiashu, Director of the Campus; as well as Liu Guodong, Dean of the Swinburne College of SDUST. Other personnel present were relevant leaders from the Jinan Campus, heads of departments and units, representatives of parents and faculty, all graduating students of the College, and current student representatives. The ceremony was presided over by Sun Guoqiang, Party Secretary of the College.
The ceremony commenced with the solemn national anthem of the People's Republic of China. Pascale Quester, Zeng Qingtian, Bronte Neyland, and Dong Hairong presented graduation certificates to student representatives, while Liang Saijiang and Liu Guodong awarded honorary certificates to outstanding graduates.
On behalf of SUT, Pascale Quester extended heartfelt congratulations to the graduates, encouraging them to shine on the global stage. She reflected on the journey of collaboration between the two universities, noting that every step embodied their shared commitment to nurturing internationally competitive talents. She expressed hope for continued partnership to cultivate more outstanding professionals with both expertise and a global perspective, ensuring that the fruits of joint education benefit an even greater number of students.
Zeng Qingtian, on behalf of SDUST, extended warm congratulations and best wishes to the 2025 Class for their successful completion of studies, while expressing high respect and sincere gratitude to the faculty members and parents who had diligently nurtured the students' growth.
Zeng Qingtian emphasized that the inaugural graduating class of Swinburne College had not only witnessed the college's dynamic growth but also achieved remarkable personal transformation. Addressing the soon-to-depart graduates, he offered heartfelt advice: wherever their journeys take them, they must remain attuned to the needs of national development; they should cultivate a global perspective to tackle "intelligent and diverse" challenges, demonstrating the responsibility of youth in addressing global issues with open-mindedness and inclusivity, forging ahead on their dream-pursuing paths, and carving out new opportunities amid changing times. He urged them to hone their spirit of perseverance, embodying the ethos of "prospering the nation through diligence and action," scaling new heights in their professional fields, tempering genuine expertise through practical work, and showcasing China's strength in international competition. By making the extraordinary out of the ordinary and striving from excellence to eminence, they could synchronize their brilliant years with the destiny of their homeland and march forward in step with the times.
Pascale Quester and Zeng Qingtian exchanged commemorative gifts and jointly cut the graduation-themed cake, inscribed with "Setting Sail, and Embarking on the Future with Science and Technology," symbolizing their shared aspirations.
A blessing video titled Happy Graduation, jointly recorded by faculty representatives, parent representatives and student representatives, overflowed with touching mentor-student bonds, peer friendships and family affection, evoking strong emotional resonance among the audience. Current students presented live performances including the dance A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains, instrumental ensemble To the Moon, and traditional Lion Dance, which won thunderous applause from the spectators.
After the ceremony, attending leaders collectively visited the "Realm of Future" exhibition featuring the first graduation works of Industrial Design majors, as well as the Intelligent Manufacturing Laboratory, Intelligent Robotics Industry-Education Integration Center, and the library.
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