How to adapt rapidly to university life, transform from youth to young adults and then to a global citizen, are common questions for Year One Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University students who just entered university from high school.
To guide freshmen to address these questions, three sessions of an induction lecture were held, with each being attended by approximately 1,500 students, to introduce the educational philosophy of XJTLU, the value of university learning, the importance of active learning and how to use various kinds of infrastructure and software around campus.
Professor Youmin Xi, executive president of XJTLU, delivered a speech titled ‘Five-Star Education Model & Learning How to Learn’. “The most important thing in the coming four years is to improve your abilities,” he said.
From Professor Xi’s point of view, students can gain more from university apart from the degree. The degree can bring them an employment opportunity with a probation period, but whether they can stay in the job or not depends on their capacities.
Therefore, XJTLU students need to constantly improve their professional qualities and cross-cultural leadership and become global players who are equipped with international competitiveness so that they can survive in a world full of changeability and uncertainty.
Professor Xi also emphasised the significance of learning how to learn, saying: “University learning is totally different from that in high school. Students need to change from a passive learner to an active learner and then to be a research-led learner. Meanwhile, you should find your learning interests and have a clear plan for your life.”
In addition, he suggested that the news students communicate actively with international students and foreign staff in order to improve their English level, adapt to different accents and learn to adapt to the complex and diverse environment.
Dr Minzhu Yang, vice-president of XJTLU, then introduced several strict progress and assessment policies of XJTLU. “You need to work hard if you want to achieve success but to fail is very easy,” said Dr Yang.
He also pointed out several elements for becoming a successful student, including to fully understanding the unique features of XJTLU, treat oneself as an adult, be responsible for one’s behaviour, realise the importance of learning and study actively, set a personal goal, use the University’s resources effectively and actively communicate with staff and classmates.
Professor Barry Godfrey, vice-president for academic affairs at XJTLU, introduced the University’s unique teaching style and encouraged students to express their own ideas in class actively and suggested new students use English as much as possible in their study and daily life.
He also introduced several new programmes that XJTLU plans to open and welcomed all the students to continue their masters degree at XJTLU upon graduation.
Chenwei Wang, a new student from the cluster of Mathematical Sciences, said: “I think it is a smart decision for me to choose XJTLU after attending the induction lecture. XJTLU can provide students with such a good international platform.”
He also made a plan for his commencing university life, saying: “I will work hard to improve my English fluency and well-rounded knowledge and capacities. I hope that as I pride myself on studying at XJTLU, XJTLU will also be proud of my success.”
(translators: Guojuan Wang and Yaqi Fu, editor: Jacqueline Bánki, photos by Xiaoxi Zhao)