On September 7, 2026, the School of Media and Communication (SMC) at Shenzhen University welcomed the 2026 cohort, bringing together 429 new undergraduates, master’s students, and doctoral students from SMC and Hong Kong College at the University’s International Conference Hall.
The ceremony included opening lectures by Party Secretary Xiaoqian Zhou and Acting Dean Professor Guang Yang, along with presentations by Associate Deans Yubo Huang and Huaxin Peng on experiential learning and industry collaboration. Faculty members, industry partners, and media professionals joined the new students for the event.
Party Secretary Xiaoqian Zhou greeted the incoming cohort and delivered the “First Lesson in Ideological and Political Education.” Sharing stories of alumni working across journalism, smart eldercare, AI-powered digital creation, and international trade, she highlighted the diverse opportunities open to communication graduates. Secretary Zhou encouraged students to embrace innovation, develop a strong sense of social responsibility and a deeper understanding of China, uphold the University’s motto of self-reliance, self-discipline, and self-improvement, and engage critically and responsibly with AI.
Addressing the new students, Acting Dean Guang Yang highlighted the School’s integrated training system spanning undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral education, as well as its faculty strength and research platforms. She also introduced Hong Kong College’s cross‑regional and cross‑cultural teaching model. At a time of rapid change in media and communication, Dean Yang noted that AI and generative technologies are reshaping how content is created and distributed while expanding the role of communication across fields such as international communication, digital creative industries, urban branding, social governance, and audiovisual production. She encouraged students to build a solid foundation in communication theory and the humanities while actively engaging with new technologies and connecting classroom learning with hands-on practice.
Associate Dean Yubo Huang outlined the School’s practice-based education system, which integrates classroom learning with academic competitions, project-based training and university-industry collaboration. He encouraged students to make full use of the School’s national-level experimental teaching and learning center and its intelligent communication labs to develop practical production skills and gain real-world experience.
Associate Dean Huaxin Peng introduced a new university-industry collaboration with Insta360. The collaboration will bring industry expertise and technologies into teaching through joint courses, equipment sharing and project-based training. Representing Insta360, Marketing Director Donny discussed how panoramic imaging, intelligent imaging technologies and AI-powered visual tools are transforming content creation and documentary storytelling. He said the collaboration would provide students with more opportunities to engage directly with emerging technologies, real-world projects, and professional workflows.
Following the presentations, SMC and Insta360 signed a framework agreement for university-industry collaboration, and the company provided the School with a set of advanced intelligent imaging equipment. The equipment will be installed in the State Experimental Teaching and Learning Demonstration Center and the Intelligent Communication Lab to support teaching, student projects, research, and competitions.
The event concluded with a special lecture, “Reflections from a Media Veteran” by Shizhao Ding, a nationally recognized media and cultural professional and former head of Shenzhen Press Group who currently serves as President of Hong Kong Commercial Daily and Hong Kong Economic Herald. Drawing on his four decades of frontline media experience, Ding encouraged students to think creatively, read widely, analyze critically and communicate effectively. He stressed that while AI can generate content, it cannot replace human judgment, emotion, or values, urging students to develop the ability to distinguish truth from falsehood, exercise sound ethical judgment and build strengths that make them stand out in any field.
The welcome ceremony introduced the 2026 cohort to university life and the rapidly evolving field of communication. By combining academic learning, technological exploration, and industry engagement, SMC will continue to equip students with the knowledge, practical skills and perspective needed to navigate the future of communication.
