Recently, Mr. Zhao Xingmin—a 1984 graduate of the English Department at the School of Foreign Studies (SFS) of Nankai University and former Senior Translator and Editor in the Chinese Section of the United Nations Office at Geneva—demonstrated his deep affection for his alma mater (SFS) by making an additional donation of 200,000 RMB as a donor to the Liangyu Translation Scholarship, thereby providing a strong boost to SFS’s efforts in cultivating translation talent. This donation not only upholds the scholarship’s original philanthropic mission but also demonstrates the deep affection and sense of responsibility of distinguished alumni who give back to their alma mater and contribute to the high-quality development of foreign language education.
The Liangyu Translation Scholarship was established with a donation from Mr. Zhao Xingmin and is specifically designated to recognize and reward foreign language students who have demonstrated outstanding performance and academic excellence in the field of translation. Since its inception, the scholarship has consistently adhered to its core mission of “rewarding and nurturing promising translation talents who are diligent in their studies, reflective in their thinking, and possess both a sense of national pride and a global perspective”, and has established a standardized, orderly, fair, and impartial evaluation mechanism. Since its establishment in 2007, a total of 89 outstanding students has received the award. The Liangyu Translation Scholarship has not only become a key component of SFS’s diversified financial aid system but has also built a solid bridge connecting the generosity of alumni with the growth and development of current students.
Over the past two decades, the Liangyu Translation Scholarship has consistently demonstrated its motivational value. Inspired by this support and encouragement, successive cohorts of recipients have dedicated themselves to the field of translation, achieving dual improvements in both professional competence and overall personal development. Mao Jingwei, a 2024 grade Master student in English Interpretation at SFS and a recipient of the 20th Liangyu Translation Scholarship, stated: “I will use this recognition as motivation to continuously refine my translation skills. I am committed to building bridges of communication through language and contributing the energy of my youth to the nation’s international exchange endeavors.”
As the founder and long-time supporter of the scholarship, Mr. Zhao Xingmin has always regarded giving back to SFS and supporting education as his personal mission. He has transformed his gratitude toward Nankai University into concrete actions, including establishing the Liangyu Translation Scholarship, donating high-quality professional publications such as Business Translation: Translation, Annotation, and Commentary, and organizing the special lecture series “Exploring the Field of Translation: Telling China’s Stories Well”. Through these diverse initiatives, he has consistently leveraged his professional expertise to empower the development of SFS’s foreign language disciplines.
In the future, the School of Foreign Studies will continue to uphold and promote the “Public Service and Capability” spirit, guiding students to take distinguished alumni such as Mr. Zhao Xingmin as role models. We will help them solidly hone their professional skills, cultivate a deep sense of patriotism, and strive to develop into well-rounded foreign language professionals who possess both an international perspective and a strong sense of responsibility. In this way, they will contribute the strength of Nankai to advancing in-depth exchanges and cooperation between China and the rest of the world.
