Nankai University School of Finance Holds 2025 Graduation Ceremony and Gala

On the morning of June 18th, the 2025 graduates of the School of Finance at Nankai University dressed in their academic gowns and gathered at the statue of the Prime Minister on the Tianjin campus for their graduation photos. With bright smiles, the students shared the moment with their teachers and peers, cherishing their academic journey. Embracing the spirit of public service and financial futures, many students expressed their eagerness to carry the mark of Nankai as they embark on new paths. The early summer campus, shaded by trees, seemed to play a melody of blessings for the graduates.

The graduation ceremony for the 2025 graduates was held on the grassy lawn of the School of Finance. Present at the ceremony were Liu Yudong, Co-Dean of the School of Finance, Zhang Yao, Party Secretary, Fan Xiaoyun, Dean, Gao Shan, Vice Party Secretary and Vice Dean, and other distinguished faculty members, as well as Liu Xiaolei, a 1991 graduate and Professor at Peking University’s Guanghua School of Management, who spoke as an alumni representative. The ceremony was hosted by Gao Shan.

In total, 259 undergraduate students, 282 master’s degree students, and 21 doctoral students from the School of Finance received their diplomas.

Professor Cheng Tingting Chang, representing the faculty, used Econometrics as a metaphor to deliver three pieces of life advice. 

Guo Zeyu, representative of the 2021 undergraduate class, opened the speech with a series of vivid scenes from Nankai life. These memories, filled with joy and tears, vividly illustrated how “studying at Nankai is a happy thing.”

Professor Liu Xiaolei, a 1991 alumni of the Finance Department, shared three reflections with the theme, “Finding Passion and Perseverance in an Uncertain World.”

Each graduate received a thoughtfully curated gift, including a teddy bear dressed in graduation attire, a stylish laser-etched bag, an acrylic fridge magnet with the School of Finance’s logo, a customized coffee cup, and an exclusive crystal seal engraved with their name.

Dean Fan Xiaoyun offered heartfelt words of encouragement, focusing on the core values of “wisdom, courage, truth, and purity.” She also fondly described the growth of the students during the ten years of the school’s establishment, from the lit-up study rooms to the athletic fields, from their rigorous academic spirit to the support of alumni and social forces.

The graduation ceremony was followed by the “Professional Ethics and Integrity” collective pledge, where graduates, led by Wang Wenjing, a master’s degree graduate from the Class of 2025, solemnly vowed to uphold professional ethics and integrity in their careers. This is a long-standing tradition of the School of Finance to remind students to always strengthen self-discipline and maintain a commitment to integrity in their professional lives, contributing to the healthy development of the financial industry.

The ceremony concluded with the Nankai School Song, marking the end of a memorable event. The theme of the ceremony, “Chasing New Dreams, Building a New Era,” was embodied through a stirring chorus, expressing the deep affection for their alma mater. This hopeful ceremony inspired every Finance student to continue upholding the spirit of Nankai, practicing the values of public service and financial capability, and moving forward with courage and determination to write their own life’s chapter and contribute to the journey of building a financial powerhouse.

In the evening, the 2025 Graduation Gala titled “Golden Moments with You, A New Journey Ahead” was held at the Datong Student Activity Center. Leaders, teachers, and more than 700 graduates and their families gathered to celebrate.

The event concluded with a graduation sing-along in the Finance College courtyard, where graduates and faculty performed classic songs like “Rice Fragrance” and “Love’s Flight Diary,” marking the end of an unforgettable graduation season.

May the stars guide you, and the sea lead you far!