Students educated for a decade are in a number and Nankai will open a new chapter. On October 16, the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of Nankai University and the College of Foreign Languages were held in the 138 Lecture Hall of the CFL.
The participants were Yan Guodong, President of the college; Chang Yaoxin, Jiang Huashang, Liu Shicong, Xiao Futang, Wang Jianyi, Li Bing, former leaders of the college; Fischer, Ruyas, Chishang Masaharu, Ikegami Sadako, Toki Tetsuyoshi, former foreign teachers; Chen Mingjun, Mr. Chen Kui’s son, Li Zhenghui, Mr. Li Weiye’s grandson, and alumni representatives Lv Congmin, Gao Dongshan, Wang Lili and Zhao Wei. The conference was presided over by Zou Yujie, secretary of the Party Committee of the College of Foreign Languages. Alumni and their family members at home and abroad, representatives of teachers and students from the CFL were present to join the ceremony.
Foreign Languages of a Century: today and future
The anniversary meeting started with the national anthem in a solemn manner. Formerly known as a department of the School of Liberal Arts set up in 1919, the College of Foreign Languages was founded at the NKU in October of 1997.
Chen Kui, a famous poet graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1931 served as the head of the department. The following year, he was succeeded by Mr. Liu Wuji, son of Mr. Liu Yazi and a Ph. D student of the Yale University. At the end of 1932, Ms. Situ Yuelan, a graduate from the University of California, USA, worked as a teacher in the NKU. After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War in 1937, the College of Foreign Languages moved to Kunming, in Southwest China united with the School of Foreign Languages of Tsinghua University and Peking University as the National South-West Associated University. After a century of development, the college now boasts 7 departments, including 10 majors in 9 different languages, and 7 interdisciplinary research centers and post-doctoral research stations focusing on foreign languages and literature. In addition, the Department of Public English Teaching undertakes the task of English teaching for all students. Over a century, Nankai Foreign Languages has made great achievements in personnel training, scientific research, social services, innovation in cultural inheritance and international exchanges and cooperation yeilded many outstanding scholars and a talent pool of students, which earned it a good reputation and recognition all over the world.
At the ceremony, Mr. Yan Guodong gave a welcome speech and welcomed the alumni to their alma mater for the centennial celebration of the school. He made a report on the state of the college from many aspects, including teaching and research, academic exchanges, international cooperation, quality education, and community services. He said that the College of Foreign Languages was committed to producing high-euality personnel of foreign affairs equipped with systematic and well-round linguistic proficiency, compelling cross-cultural communicative competence, provider of language services and researchers on international issues. On the occasion when the NKU has witnessed the 100 years' development of the disciplines of foreign languages. All Nkers focusing on foreign languages across the world, should with confidence and expectations, unite as one to move forward with the goal of the world-calss university and discinpline. It is time to strive to create great achievements for the new era when opportunities and challenge meet!
Centennial Nankai: dedication to public interests, acquisition of all-round capacities and aspiration for progress with each passing day
Liu Shicong, the first president of the College of Foreign Languages, expressed in his speech warm welcome to alumni at home and abroad on the fabulous accasion, for a gathering to talk about the past and the future. He said, In my prime years teaching and studying with students, what I feel most excited about the education is when the students in my class become the backbone of the motherland.
American experts Ruyasi and Fischer, on behalf of foreign teachers, delivered their congratulations to the 100th anniversary of the founding of Nankai University and the disciplines of foreign languages. They said that the college has produces a talent pool. Besides, they expressed that, in the new era, NKers are expected to continue their efforts to pursue the spirit of dedication to public interests, acquisition of all-round capacities and aspiration for progress with each passing day, and open a new chapter for the education featuring qualified linguistic talents.
Wang Lili, a alumnus 1972 and former deputy governor of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (head office), representing the global Nankai foreign language alumnus, presented her sincere blessing to his alma mater. When recalling of her study experience, she expressed her heartfelt thanks to her teachers, and deternmined to dedicate her youth to the financial sector where the conutry was in dire need of personnel. She said that Nker of foreign languages remained commitment to hold strong belief in serving the country and promoting the development of the country. Over the past 100 years, the foreign languages alumni have been found in every corner of the world. They dedicated themselves to serve China and the world using languages, and be part of China's development. In the future, they will tap their potential and energy to contribute to China's rejuvenation and the development of Nankai University.
At the anninersary meeting, Yan Guodong announced the release of the collection--the Centennial Oral History of Nankai Foreign Languages Discipline. Since the birth of the foreign languages disciplines in 1919, there have been pioneers and guides in the building of foreign languages disciplines. They either sew the seeds of knowledge, opened a patch of land for academic research or the bridge lingking China with other countries. Focusing on their stories, the project took about five months to interview ten professors, compile and record the verbal speeches, which depicted a sketchy history of the development of the college. Centennial Oral History of Nankai Foreign Languages Discipline (Volumn 1) was offically issued at the ceremony accompanying the interview video He and Nankai.
Ma Hongqi, vice president of the college, announced the recognition decision of Alumni Contribution Award and Friendship Contribution Award. Lv Congmin and other 100 alumni won the Alumni Contribution Award, and five foreign teachers such as Fischer received the Friendship Contribution Award. Alumni are a valuable asset for Nankai University and the College of Foreign Languages. Actively engaged in all walks of life, the alumni are a knowledge-intensive, informative group closely who have intimate relationship with the college. They are a treasure and a part of building a first-class university and a first-class discipline. The alumni together with the teachers and students will strive to shape the characteristics of Nankai and enhance its prestige in the international community.
Regeneration of Centennial Foreign Languages Disciplines: regeneration with each passing day
Wang Dongyu, an English teacher from the Department of English said in her speech that we met at a time when the 100th anniversary of the NKU and the CFL, centennial vicissitudes and celebration as well happened. Staying true to the heart, and keeping the mission in the mind. Staying true to their heart, the faculty and staff would be strong in their belief in the step they have taken.
Zhao Lei, an English major undergraduate of 2016, shared his stories of how to grow, against the background of Nankai University, from an ignorant young boy with curiosity to ambitious and responsible student. In the meantime, he treats the interrelationship in the dormitory, classroom and community the same way he acquired the knowledge and developed a manner of gentlemanship. He himself is the driver of making changes and creation. The NKU and the alumni associations all over the world are the most solid backing for students of the CFL.
At the ceremony, the new website of the College of Foreign Languages was announced to be released. Against the background color of Nankai purple and the CFL orange. the website setting is lovely but sedate. We have fully implemented the Double Thousand Plan under the Ministry of Education for first-class disciplines development. On the website, we highlight disciplines and departments in ways that build a more comprehensive platform for publicizing the progress made in double first-class foreign language disciplines development.
To pay tribute to the centennial celebration, six donation ceremonies were held in the anniversary meeting. Mr. Gao Dongshan, a English major alumnus of 1960, Honorary President of Nankai Alumni Association of Foreign Language and a consultant of the American Branch of Nankai Alumni Association of Foreign Language , donated to the college USD 45,000 to establish the “Gaodongshan Patriotic Education Fund”; Mr. Chen Mingjun, the eldest son of Mr. Chen Kui, a famous scholar of Nankai University, donated to the Museum of College History Poetry Selection; Mr. Wang Zhenliang, alumnus of the College of Libral Arts and president of Wenjin Academy, donated 10,000 books to the CFL; Li Zhenxi, a alumnus of the Department of Jaapanese 1983, donated a collection of books to the Museum of College History Japanese and Nankai; Ms. Tang Manqing, a famous young female calligrapher from the Nankai Tianjin Alumni Association donated her calligraphy to the college; Wang Yuchen, a alumnus from the Department of Germany 2012 donated a Duke piano. In return, Yan Guodong on behalf of the college issued a donation certificate to each of them.
And on behalf of the teachers and students of the college, Zou Yujie once again expressed her heartfelt thanks to the alumni for their generosity! She said that it was Premier Zhou’s remark “I love Nankai” that inspired NKers to learn, to create, to struggle, to deliver their commitment to the college and the school where they had acquired knowledge and gained strength. NKers will, under the support of the spirit “dedication to public interests, acquisition of all-round capacities”, remain true to the heart and keep the mission in mind, shoulder their responsibility to make contribute to the development of Nankai and foreign language disciplines. Standing at present, each one witnesses the great changes in Nankai Park and the development of foreign languages disciplines. Looking ahead, before the new century starts, the Nkers of new generations remain commitment to be part of the development of China in their prime youth.
Centennial Nankai witnessing the lush Spring and fruitful Autumn. At last, the participants sang Nankai Anthem, which marked the end of the opening ceremony.
