The First Class aims to guide our freshers to understand how to spend their years in SBC, and help them to establish faith in a better future. Next, SBC will arrange more education activities to help freshers get to know USST from a comprehensive and multi-angle, and enter into university life with confidence. From 27th to 29th September, Prof Laura Bishop, Principal of SBC; LI Yan, Party Secretary of SBC; Prof LIU Qin, Vice-Dean of SBC; and XU Lin, Associate Dean of Administration of SBC delivered first lectures separately.
Laura Bishop showed British education and culture for students in the theme of “How to Survive and how to Thrive”. She told to students that there will be many differences in study modes when at SBC, like e-mail communication, group discussions, etc. Laura encouraged students to study problems, communicate with their lecturers and classmates; and then participate in campus life with courage and confidence.
LI YAN told the story of USST as well as Fuxing Road campus and the internationalisation of higher education in China with the history of modern engineering education in the theme of “History, Now and Past”. She introduced USST is a university jointly established by the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence and the Shanghai Municipality, as well as the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Programme as part of a National Talent Training Model pilot zone. There are a large number of ambitious people in relevant industries. She pointed out that the vitality of universities lies in educating and innovating, and the cultivation of useful talents for the present and the future is the fundamental mission. She encouraged new students to make learning a priority and to be independent, confident, and self-disciplined.
LIU Qin stated the linguistic and cultural differences between English and Chinese in the theme of “Learning English and Chinese in a Multi-Cultural World”. She told the students, this is a globalising world so that learning English is essential. At the same time, Chinese is playing an increasingly important role on the international stage. As Chinese students, she emphasised the responsiblity to learn Mandarin well and let excellent Chinese culture spread to the whole world. LIU Qin interacted with students and invited them to recite poems and think about the differences between Chinese and Western languages and cultures. She encouraged new students to take advantage of the international learning environment to lay a solid foundation in language and help international students to integrate into the Chinese language environment, so as to promote the college's cultural education with empathy.
With the theme of Dynamic Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Xu Lin showed the achievements of the innovation and entrepreneurship in SBC to new students through videos and award-winning achievements. She stressed that in the past two years, SBC has always attached great importance to innovation and entrepreneurship education, so as to constantly explore new teaching models, partners and resources. Xu Lin encouraged freshers to pay close attention to and participate in various innovation and entrepreneurship competitions to improve their innovation ability and comprehensive competitiveness.
In addition to explaining the rules and regulations of SBC, the Student Management team also conducted moral education and self-achievement courses, which explained the importance of having a comprehensive quality for university students. Then the First Class of Career Service and Development encouraged freshers to plan their own career as soon as possible and open up their own growth path with examples of excellent students and alumni. Finally, in order to help freshers make proper use of the hardware and software resources in SBC, all departments of SBC explained to freshers the use of educational administration system, information service and learning resource centre, etc., so as to support their campus life in the future.
With the end of the series of First Class, students have a preliminary understanding of their future university life. One fresher said the special class helps clarify the purpose and meaning of coming to the university, as well as the future self-positioning. I began to understand that this was a new starting point, a new goal and a new journey As freshers, we must cherish this era, experience and grow in our responsibility!”
We wish every new student a wonderful time at Fuxing Road campus!
