On the afternoon of June 27th, the Graduation Ceremony of JointProgrammebetween Nanjing Tech University and Technological University Dublin (2023) was held in the Hongyi Building. Wendy Dorman-Smith, Consul General of Ireland in Shanghai, David Fitzpatrick, President of TU Dublin, Thomas Stone, Vice President of TU Dublin and Jiang Juncheng, President of NanjingTech attended the ceremony, which was presided over by Ling Xiang, Vice President of NanjingTech.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Wang Zhirong, dean of the School of Overseas Education, announced the list of graduates. President Jiang Juncheng and President David Fitzpatrick presented degree certificates from the two universities to the graduates one by one and posed for photos with them. Zhao Huaiyi, valedictorian of the class of 1902 from the electronic engineering program, and Yin Chengtai, valedictorian of the class of 2002 from the pharmaceutical science program, who are about to go abroad, delivered separate speeches, expressing their gratitude to the universities for their dedicated nurturing.
Consul General Wendy Dorman-Smith delivered a speech. She believed that the two universities had outstanding talent cultivation and scientific research capabilities. The achievements of cooperation between the two sides are something to be proud of and have played a significant role in promoting the friendship between China and Ireland.
Principal David Fitzpatrick stated that the graduation ceremony was the first offline degree-granting ceremony since the pandemic and was of great significance. He sent a message to the graduates, hoping that they would maintain creativity and initiative, be persevering and responsible, and always be grateful and optimistic.
Finally, President Jiang Juncheng delivered a speech. He said the enhancement of the combined strength of the two universities will certainly open wider prospects for cooperation between the two sides. He sent a message to the graduates, hoping that they would heed the general trend to become pioneers in striving for excellence, set great ambitions to become dream chasers, study abroad in order to serve our country and achieve remarkable achievements to become facilitators of cultural exchanges.
Before the ceremony, the two sides held a bilateral meeting on deepening all-round cooperation. President Jiang Juncheng and Vice President Ling Xiang, respectively, stated that the two universities have actively promoted joint research, mutual visits between faculty and students, and cultural exchanges to achieve fruitful results and become close partners. During the meeting, the two sides reached consensus on enhancing cooperation projects, jointly cultivating masters, doctors and interdisciplinary talents, promoting mutual visits between teachers and students, and expanding academic cooperation.
Over the past 16 years, NanjingTech and TU Dublin have jointly produced 1,502 outstanding international students. Ninety-two percent of the 2023 graduates who have studied abroad have successfully obtained postgraduate admission to one of the top 100 universities in the world.
The ceremony was attended by heads of relevant functional departments and schools, all faculty members of the School of Overseas Education, graduates and their parents of the 2023 Joint Programme, as well as faculty representatives from both universities.
