On the afternoon of June 22, the School of Media and Communication (SMC) at Shenzhen University held its 2025 Graduation and Degree Awarding Ceremony at Yuanping Gymnasium. The ceremony was attended by Vice President Professor Naipeng Chao, Party Secretary of SMC Xiaoqian Zhou, Associate Dean (currently serving as Acting Dean) Professor Guang Yang, Deputy Party Secretary of SMC Yiming Chen, and Associate Dean Professor Huaxin Peng, along with professors, department heads, graduate supervisors, and industry mentors. More than 1,000 participants, including faculty members, alumni representatives, graduating students, and their families, gathered to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2025.
The event commenced with a formal academic procession, led by Vice President Professor Naipeng Chao, as 22 honored guests entered the venue to a standing ovation from graduates and their families. This was followed by a solemn rendition of the National Anthem of the People’s Republic of China.
On behalf of the School, Acting Dean Professor Guang Yang extended a warm welcome to all guests and families. In her address, she encouraged graduates to carry forward the core spirit of SMC—professional confidence and resilience shaped through truth-seeking, intellectual exchange, and immersive practice—and to embrace the School’s motto: “With lavished innate qualities indued, by art and skill my talents I renewed.” She called on them to uphold three key missions: to defend the integrity of truth in an era of information saturation; to preserve the humanistic essence and narrative warmth of journalism; and to thrive under pressure like frontline journalists. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Shenzhen University’s journalism and communication program, she invited graduates and alumni to return and enrich their alma mater with their stories, experiences and continued engagement.
Graduate representative Xinying Xu reflected on her decision to join Shenzhen University, inspired by the School’s academic excellence and dynamic learning environment. She described her journey as a transformation from an aspiring “seeker of light” to a confident “beacon,” ready to illuminate new horizons.
Alumnus speaker Jingqiang Zeng, founder and CEO of Shenzhen Renrenzhuang Technology, expressed gratitude to SMC for equipping him with critical observation skills and a strong sense of empathy. He emphasized that journalism should “carry warmth” and remain true to its social mission. He offered his heartfelt wishes and encouraged graduates to stay curious, courageous, and grounded.
Vice President Professor Naipeng Chao delivered an inspiring address, offering guidance to graduates as they navigate the rapidly evolving media landscape reshaped by artificial intelligence. He outlined four imperatives: First, maintain a humanistic compass rooted in Marxist journalistic principles, discerning truth amid information noise and upholding the ethic of “serving the people.” Second, cultivate meta-learning agility, combining technical expertise with humanistic insight and developing adaptive T-shaped competencies. Third, defend journalistic integrity, embracing the spirit of “iron-shouldered justice” and confronting the anxiety of virality through in-depth investigative reporting that pierces digital echo chambers. Fourth, practice empathetic bridge-building, leveraging human empathy to heal social divides and connect urban and rural communities through meaningful engagement. In closing, he encouraged graduates to stand firm with the university’s hallmark “Li Yuan resilience” as they tell China’s story to the world, and reassured them that Shenzhen University will always be their safe harbor.
Midway through the ceremony, graduating students lifted spirits with a musical performance, setting a festive tone for the degree conferral segment.
The ceremony honored 16 outstanding undergraduates and 12 outstanding postgraduates at the university level, as well as 8 recipients of Honours degrees and 21 outstanding graduates at the school level. Degrees were conferred across disciplines—from doctoral candidates in literature to bachelor’s graduates in journalism—accompanied by the traditional tassel-turning ritual. Academic leaders and faculty members participated in the formal degree conferral and hooding ceremonies.
At the close of the ceremony, bouquets were presented to the officiating dignitaries amid warm applause, and joyful moments were captured in photos. The ceremony concluded with heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2025 as family, faculty, and classmates commemorated the occasion together.
