The School of Chinese Studies and the School of International Cultural Exchange held their 2026 commencement ceremony on June 26 at Yifu Hall on SISU's Hongkou campus. Faculty leaders in attendance included Party Secretary Zhang Yanli, Dean Chen Changlai, Vice Deans Shao Hongliang and Chen Zhuofen, Professor Yang Siping of the Center for Overseas Dissemination of Chinese Literature, Professor Qi Haifeng of the Department of International Chinese Education, and Associate Professor Yao Yuan of the Department of Chinese Studies. Faculty representatives, 274 graduates from undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs, along with their families, gathered to mark the occasion. Vice Dean Chen Zhuofen presided over the ceremony.

In his address, Dean Chen Changlai congratulated the graduating class on their achievement. He highlighted the school's recent progress in international education and academic development, then turned to the graduates with a message: wherever their paths may lead, they should carry with them a sense of purpose — to contribute to their communities, to embrace lifelong learning, and to serve as bridges between China and the world through the power of language and culture. The school, he assured them, would always be their home.

Chen Changlai, Dean of the School of Chinese Studies and the School of International Cultural Exchange

In her speech, faculty representative Yan Hanbo offered words of encouragement to the graduates. She traced their journey together in the classroom, recalling how they had grown from hesitant speakers into confident communicators and from tentative writers into rigorous thinkers. Their progress, she noted, was not a sudden leap but the result of sustained effort over time. She encouraged them to carry critical thinking and a spirit of inquiry beyond the campus gates, especially in an age of instant information, where asking questions and thinking independently matter more than ever.

Yan Hanbo, Faculty Representative

Three graduating students from different academic levels and countries shared their reflections on their time at SISU during the ceremony. Zhu Guoling, who spent seven years at SISU as a graduate student, said that teaching and volunteer work had given her a sense of direction and purpose. What she took away from the university, she said, was not just a degree — it was the ability to think for herself, a commitment to doing good, and the courage to engage with the world. Chen Siyu, an undergraduate, spoke about the value of the humanities and addressed the question that often lingers among students of Chinese literature: "What is it all for?" Her answer was that the humanities are not about practical utility. Rather, they give people the space to pause, reflect, and stay true to themselves in a world that never stops moving. Dao Trang, an international student from Vietnam, spoke about her experience of studying far from home. Though everyone came from different backgrounds, she said, they were all driven by the same ambition. SISU, she added, had offered each of them a world of possibilities and had seen them grow as they explored new cultures and ideas.

student Representatives

 The ceremony also honored outstanding graduates. This year, eight students were named Outstanding Graduates of Shanghai, eight were named Outstanding Graduates of SISU, and four international students were honored as Outstanding Graduates of the School of Chinese Studies and the School of International Cultural Exchange. Faculty leaders presented each of them with a certificate at the award ceremony. The certificate recognized their years of effort and the promise of what lies ahead.

The ceremony also named two alumni ambassadors: Shi Chunlei, a doctoral graduate, and Li Long, an undergraduate from Russia. In their new roles, they will help strengthen ties among alumni, carry forward the school's legacy, and build a bridge between their alma mater and the wider community.

During the intermission, graduates Yuan Yue, Yao Yipeng, Deng Ruoqi, Li Long, and Saren, together with current student Yin Zhiwei, performed the song "The Farthest Place You Can See," a highlight of the celebration.

The degree conferral ceremony saw faculty leaders and department heads present diplomas and turn the tassels for each graduate — a tradition that marks the completion of their studies. This year, 274 students completed their programs, including international students from 18 countries across Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Africa.

Commencement is both a farewell and a beginning. With the support of their professors, these graduates are ready to step into the world and build bridges across cultures through language and understanding.

Source: Study at SISU