On September 28th, the first lesson for the 2025 freshmen of the College of Marine Science and Engineering, titled "A Date with the Sea", was held in Bangjian Lecture Hall of the university. Wang Weiyi, Secretary of the Party Committee of the College; Feng Daolun, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Dean; Dong Chaoqun, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee; Guo Jiamin, Vice Dean; Chao Zhiming, Vice Dean; Xu Sihao, an alumni representative from the 2010 class of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering; as well as directors of various professional departments and counselors of the college attended the event. Teacher Gao Rui presided over the meeting, and all 2025 undergraduate freshmen attended the first lesson.
Professor Wang Weiyi, Secretary of the Party Committee of the College, gave the first lesson of the new semester to freshmen under the theme of "Gathering Waves in Marine Science, Sailing Far with the Sea". Starting with the college's micro-film "Heading to the Poles", Secretary Wang Weiyi elaborated from three dimensions: China's shipping history, the September 3rd Military Parade, and the preservation of traditions and innovation in Chinese culture. Through vivid cases and detailed data, he systematically talked about the centennial changes of China's shipping industry, the magnificent development history of the People's Liberation Army Navy of New China, and the strength of Chinese manufacturing demonstrated by the "Xuelong" icebreaker. He expounded on the unprecedented grand occasion of the September 3rd Military Parade and the confidence in building a strong country and a strong military it embodies, and depicted the leapfrog development of China's military strength. Combining with the recently popular film "Little Monsters of Langlang Mountain", he shared his unique thoughts on inheriting and innovating Chinese culture. He encouraged the students to draw the ambition of serving the motherland from China's shipping history, feel the responsibility and confidence of a military power from the September 3rd Military Parade, and cultivate an open and inclusive mind of marine civilization from the preservation of traditions and innovation in Chinese culture. At the end of the course, Secretary Wang Weiyi profoundly explained the pioneering and guarding spirit contained in the two characters "Mu Hai" (managing the sea), encouraging all freshmen to inherit the spirit of scientists, dare to surpass themselves, aspire to become future "masters of marine engineering", and contribute their splendid youth to the protection and development of the "blue territory" in the new era.
Professor Feng Daolun, the dean of the college, started with discipline construction, faculty strength, and research teams, outlining a comprehensive picture of professional development for the new students. This not only consolidated the students' foundational understanding of their major but also aimed to guide them in comprehending the social value and scientific spirit behind the discipline, achieving a leap from "cognition" to "identification". Building on this, he focused on "action", encouraging the new students to bravely explore and actively strive forward on the basis of a deep understanding of the professional heritage and industry prospects, deepen their professional identification through practice, integrate personal growth into disciplinary development, and establish lofty aspirations to serve the industry.
During the roundtable discussion session, Dean Feng Daolun, Vice Dean Chao Zhiming, alumni representative Xu Sihao, and 2022-level student representative Wen Lie, as interview guests, conducted an open discussion with the new students. In the interview, Teacher Chao Zhiming shared his struggle experience from a young scholar to a scientific research leader, encouraging the students to integrate the "small self" into the "big self" and truly write their theses on the land of the motherland. Alumni Xu Sihao, based on his own career development, suggested that students should seize the tide of the times' development, continuously learn cutting-edge knowledge, so as to maintain core competitiveness in the industry. Student Wen Lie, combining his experience in university, shared tips and methods for study and life, advising everyone to take more actions, reduce anxiety, and strive to make their university life more wonderful. In the free question-and-answer session, the guests and new students had discussions on various aspects such as academic research, industry development, employment prospects, and study life, with a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. At the end of the roundtable interview session, Dean Feng made a summary and comments, and sent a message to the new students, urging them to be strict with themselves, take the initiative to learn, achieve the unity of knowledge and action, and strive to become new people of the era with ideals, responsibilities, and achievements.
At the end of the course, all maritime science students of the class of 2025 solemnly took an oath: "I volunteer to be a maritime youth of the new era! Manage the oceans, strive for strength through the seas; be loyal, trustworthy, sincere, and respectful, strengthen the seas and rejuvenate the nation..." The sonorous oath resounded throughout the venue. This is not only a passionate inheritance and firm guardianship of the dream of a maritime power, but also a profound remembrance and loyal practice of the mission entrusted by the times.
On the occasion of the National Day, a new chapter is about to unfold. Gathering waves at the College of Marine Science, we sail far into the sea. The college will continue to focus on the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education, adhere to utilizing important time nodes, comprehensively deepen students' professional identity education, and transform a sense of ceremony into students' sense of mission and internal motivation. All students of the College of Marine Science will surely keep in mind the earnest instructions of their teachers, be determined to forge ahead towards the forefront of science and technology and the needs of the country, and contribute their youthful wisdom and strength to the great cause of building a maritime power and a shipping power!
Written by: Gao Rui
Photography: College Student Union
Figure 1 Secretary of the Party Committee of the College Wang Weiyi gives the first lesson to new students
Figure 2 Dean Feng Daolun introducing the situation of the college
Figure 3 Roundtable Interview Scene
Figure 4 Guest Communication
Figure 5 Interaction of Freshmen's On-site Questions and Answers
Figure 6 New Students' Collective Oath-Taking