On June 28, 2026, the School of Media and Communication (SMC) at Shenzhen University held its 2026 Commencement and Degree Conferral Ceremony at Yuanping Gymnasium. The ceremony was attended by Vice President Yonghua Li, Party Secretary of SMC Xiaoqian Zhou, Acting Dean Guang Yang, Associate Dean Yubo Huang, Deputy Party Secretary of SMC Yiming Chen, and Associate Dean Huaxin Peng, along with professors, department heads, graduate supervisors, and industry mentors. More than 1,600 participants, including faculty members, alumni representatives, graduating students, and their families, gathered to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2026.
Addressing the graduates, Acting Dean Professor Guang Yang extended congratulations to the Class of 2026 and expressed appreciation to the graduates’ families, faculty and staff for their continued support. Reflecting on the rapid transformation of the media landscape driven by artificial intelligence, she noted that the graduates had pursued their studies amid profound technological and industrial change. Despite these technological transformations, she emphasized that the heart of communication remains the meaningful connections among individuals and between people and society. Professor Yang encouraged graduates to uphold independent thinking, engage with technology critically rather than be driven by algorithms and online traffic, and carry forward the values of Shenzhen University and the spirit of Shenzhen as they move into new roles and communities.
Speaking on behalf of postgraduate students, Qian Lei reflected on her years at SMC, recalling her involvement in cultural communication projects and her research in computational communication. She observed that while AI can be a powerful tool, it cannot replace distinctly human qualities such as empathy, sound judgment and a genuine understanding of others. She urged fellow graduates to stay observant, thoughtful and compassionate as they begin the next chapter of their lives and careers.
Undergraduate representative Hairui Rong shared a journey shaped by both military service and university life. He credited the School’s combination of theoretical training, hands-on coursework and social practice with equipping him to launch a business back in his hometown, where he has applied communication skills and strategies to support the development of local industries.
Alumni representative Yifa Xu, Vice President of the SMC Alumni Association and an entrepreneur in the cultural and health technology sectors, drew on his own experience in entrepreneurship and international communication. He encouraged graduates to make the most of their professional strengths, embrace new opportunities created by the growing global reach of Chinese culture, and connect their personal ambitions with the broader needs of society.
Vice President Professor Yonghua Li concluded the speeches with a call for graduates to remain grounded in social responsibility, meet challenges with determination and bring youthful energy to their future careers. He reminded graduates that Shenzhen University would always remain a home for its alumni.
The ceremony honored 14 outstanding undergraduates and 5 outstanding postgraduates at the university level, as well as 9 Honors Bachelor’s degree recipients and 23 outstanding graduates at the school level. Degrees were conferred on 8 doctoral graduates, 63 master’s graduates and 245 bachelor’s graduates. Academic leaders and faculty members participated in the formal degree conferral and traditional tassel-turning ceremony as graduates crossed the stage.
One of the ceremony’s most moving moments centered on Ziyi Li, a 2026 graduate of the Master of Journalism and Communication program. After years of illness, misdiagnosis and recurring health challenges that significantly affected her mobility and ability to communicate, she continued her studies and completed a book-length nonfiction work of more than 60,000 Chinese characters focusing on the experiences of people with disabilities. Professor Yang personally conferred Li’s degree and turned her tassel as the audience responded with sustained applause.
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 warm congratulations and best wishes for the Class of 2026.
