On September 8, 2025, the School of Marxism at Shenzhen University successfully held the 2025 Cohort Welcome Ceremony and the Dean’s “First Ideological and Political Lecture” in Room 2623 of the Humanities Building. The event was attended by Professor Wang Hong, Member of the University Party Committee and Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Marxism; Professor Liu Zhi, Dean; Associate Professor Sun Tingting, Vice Dean; Professor Zhang Shouku, Vice Dean; Associate Professor Ren Heng, Vice Dean; Wang Ping, Deputy Party Secretary; as well as academic leaders and all faculty and staff members. All 2025 master’s degree students of the school participated in the ceremony, which was presided over by Deputy Party Secretary Wang Ping.

At the beginning of the meeting, Professor Wang Hong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Marxism, extended a warm welcome to the new graduate students on behalf of all faculty and staff. She expressed great expectations for the newcomers, encouraging them to set lofty ideals and strengthen their faith. Professor Wang emphasized that students should integrate their personal aspirations into the cause of the Party and the nation; maintain both physical and mental well-being along with a love for “mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas”; and embody the university’s spirit of self-reliance, self-discipline, and self-improvement. She urged students to let their dreams take root and flourish in the campus of Shenzhen University, growing into young people of the new era who are aspirational, responsible, resilient, and industrious.

Academic Leaders’ Guidance: Learning, Thinking, and Growing

Following her remarks, the heads of various disciplines shared introductions and words of encouragement.

Professor Wang Shuangyin, Head of the Discipline of the Sinicization of Marxism, emphasized that students should possess a critical spirit, deeply cultivate their professional knowledge, and uphold the principle of “seeking truth from facts”—learning both from books and from reality.

Associate Professor Huang Jichao, from the Research Discipline of Modern and Contemporary Chinese History, reminded students that “all history is contemporary history,” encouraging them to think about the development of the individual, the nation, and society from the perspective of the present.

Associate Professor Sun Tingting, representing Ideological and Political Education, advised students to set clear goals, make the most of their time at the School of Marxism, and actively utilize the school’s rich academic resources for self-improvement.

Professor Zhang Shouku, Head of the Discipline of Basic Principles of Marxism, urged students to remain grounded in their studies in an age of fragmented information, read the classics attentively, and strengthen their theoretical foundation to achieve meaningful academic results.

Practical Guidance for Graduate Life

Vice Deans Sun Tingting and Ren Heng, along with Deputy Party Secretary Wang Ping, provided targeted orientations on academic conduct, research, teaching, and career planning.

Sun Tingting encouraged students to approach graduate study with focus and initiative, to communicate effectively with mentors, and to make steady progress step by step, thereby laying a solid foundation for future success.

Ren Heng highlighted the significance of mastering ideological and political theory courses and assured students that the school will foster a strong environment for reading and writing. He encouraged students to read more, read well, and read deeply, and to integrate theory with practice in the pursuit of unity between knowledge and action.

Wang Ping introduced the employment trends for the 2025 graduates, encouraging students to plan early, maintain a positive mindset, and approach their careers proactively. She also emphasized awareness of telecommunication fraud prevention, fire and cybersecurity, and ideological safety, while inspiring students to participate in social practice and public service to strengthen their sense of responsibility, belonging, and mission.

Dean Liu Zhi’s “First Ideological and Political Lecture”

After the welcome meeting, Professor Liu Zhi, Dean of the School of Marxism, delivered the “First Ideological and Political Lecture” to all 2025 master’s students. He warmly welcomed the new students, noting that the School of Marxism at Shenzhen University is a fertile ground of thought, entrusted with the mission of cultivating talent for the nation. He encouraged students to cherish this opportunity, absorb intellectual nourishment, and grow vigorously.

Dean Liu put forward two key expectations for the new cohort:

Develop Theoretical Thinking. In an age of overwhelming information, theoretical thinking serves as the key to discerning essence from appearance. He urged students to be diligent in research, think deeply about the logic behind theoretical viewpoints, and continually seek to grasp the essence of Marxist theory through exploration.

Embrace “Productive Pain.” Drawing on Nietzsche’s philosophy, Liu emphasized that pain is the catalyst of growth and the ladder of intellectual advancement. He encouraged students to confront discomfort, resist shallow distractions, and transform challenges into opportunities for reflection, perseverance, and transcendence.

He concluded by reminding students that the school’s rich academic resources and vibrant scholarly environment will always serve as their spiritual harbor and intellectual fortress. He expressed hope that students would make full use of these resources to achieve academic excellence and holistic personal development, ultimately becoming pillars of the nation and contributors to social progress.

Dean Liu Zhi delivering the “First Ideological and Political Lecture”

Passing on the torch, letting the path of research blossom. The 2025 Welcome Ceremony and the Dean’s “First Ideological and Political Lecture” of the School of Marxism successfully concluded amid warm applause. A new journey has begun — all faculty members and students will take this as an opportunity to use firm belief as their sail and unremitting effort as their oar, writing a brilliant new chapter of “speaking Marxism and practicing Marxism.”