On June 18, the commencement for Class of 2023 of the School of Finance of Nankai University was held on the patio lawn of the School of Finance. Liu Yudong, joint president of the School of Finance, Fan Xiaoyun, executive vice-president, Du Yujin, deputy secretary and vice president, Liu Lanbiao, Liu Wei, subdecanal, Zhang Lianzeng, Wang Bo, Li Quan, Li Zeguang, He Jia, members of the Academic Degree Evaluation Sub-Committee of the School of Finance and heads of departments and institutes, and Fu Dongmei, a graduate of the School of Finance of the Class of 1989 and the chief financial officer of Beijing Tianyuan Haihua Investment Management Company Limited attended the commencement as the alumni representatives. The ceremony was presided over by Du Yujin. 238 students of finance received their bachelor's degree, 279 students received their master's degree and 14 students received their doctoral degree in 2023.

On behalf of all teachers of the School of Finance, Li Quan sent the graduates a message on the title of To Youth: “You shall cherish lofty ideals, remain committed to your mission, stay courageous to take responsibility, be willing to give, be responsible and trustworthy; You shall be brave, confident and unselfish, maintain the posture of the courage to move forward, the empathy for the sake of others, and the sense of inner fulfillment; You shall grasp the rhythm, plan before you act, and be perseverant; You shall not to be afraid of mistakes, and shall learn to correct in a timely manner.” “When you are tired, come back to recharge yourself, and when you feel homesick, come back to have a meal, said Li Quan affectionately, the School of Finance of Nankai University will always be your harbour.

Zhu Zhixin, a postgraduate of the Class of 2023, spoke on behalf of all the graduates of the School of Finance, through recalling the warm campus life and the development of the School of Finance over the past eight years, strengthened the confidence of the Class of 2023 to keep up with the trend, and encouraged all students to pass on the Nankai character of having the cardinal principles in mind, taking the overall situation into account, advocating the spirit of sacrifice, and having the courage to take responsibility. After graduation, she stayed in Nankai University, and joined the counselor team of the School of Finance. She called on graduates and alumni to do their best in the construction of the School of Finance, to make use of their professional expertise, to participate in the great journey, and to showcase the perseverance image of the School of Finance in future studies and careers.

As the representative of alumni, Fu Dongmei shared her life experience with graduates based on her own insights during the growing process: Firstly, we should run our marathon of life conscientiously, face the difficulties in our professional life with a healthy, optimistic, calm mindset, and build our soft power in terms of personality. Secondly, we should not only lay emphasis on work, but also pay special attention to personal integrity. We should have the courage to face the twists and turns of our fate, find our own position, and thereby shine in all walks of life. Thirdly, we should keep in mind our identity of graduates from the School of Finance of Nankai University, inherit the professional, dedicated, diligent and  responsible style of graduates from the School of Finance of Nankai University, and play the  fine tradition of “mentoring mentorship” of graduates from the School of Finance of Nankai University. Finally, she called on the graduates to remain optimistic, seize opportunities, work hard in the path of life, and create their own glory.

Under the title of The Courage to move forward and blossom the light of youth on the path of Chinese modernization and development, Fan Xiaoyun praised the students' character of the more difficult, the more open and resilience, which they have honed in the great changes that have not been seen in a hundred years. Based on the history of the rise of great powers, Fan Xiaoyun elaborated on the mission of the era of financial practitioners under the major opportunities and challenges of the fourth industrial revolution in China, introduced the new needs of modernized finance in terms of inclusive financing needs, demographic changes, internationalization trends and green financial system, emphasized the political and affinity to the people of the financial work in the new era, encouraged graduates to take on the mission of the era, and called on the students to work for our motherland and for the people. Finally, Fan Xiaoyun earnestly urged the graduates to develop the habit of persistent exercise and lifelong learning, and to walk their career and life journey with high quality.

Several years of Nankai study make possible a lifetime of financial journey. In the 100-year long journey, we should sharpen our youth forward. The graduates walked up the red carpet, passed through the graduation arch, and climbed the podium to accept the tassel ceremony under the guidance of their tutors. The School of Finance prepared customized crystal seals and graduation scrolls for each graduate, made silk scarves and ties with the college logo for graduate students, and designed “Nankai Finance” coffee cups for undergraduate graduates.

As financial practitioners who will soon enter the workplace, all graduates took a collective oath of professional ethics and integrity under the leadership of Zou Fengbo, a finance undergraduate of the class of 2023. The graduates vowed to become financial practitioners with good professional morals and ethics, and to be self-respecting, self-reflective, and self-motivated in their future work.

At the end of the ceremony, all the graduates sang the anthem of Nankai University. They sang passionately with deep feeling, their singing filled with the feelings of farewell to their alma mater.

The commencement of the School of Finance in 2023, with the theme of Chasing Dreams in a New Journey, Building Merit for a New Era, inspired the financial students to uphold the spirit of Nankai University, carry forward the character of “Gongneng”, live a wonderful life, continue the splendor of finance, and to ride the wind and waves in the new era to sail away.