On September 15, 2026, the Orientation Assembly for the 2026 Cohort of Postgraduate Students and the Dean's "First Ideological and Political Course" of the School of Marxism, Shenzhen University, were held in Room 2623, Huiwen Building. Professor Liu Zhi, Dean of the School; Vice Deans Associate Professor Sun Tingting, Professor Zhang Shoukui and Associate Professor Ren Heng; and Wang Ping, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the School, attended the event, together with all faculty members engaged in student affairs. All master's students of the 2026 cohort were present. The assembly was chaired by Wang Ping, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the School.

At the start of the assembly, Deputy Secretary Wang Ping, on behalf of all faculty and students, extended a warm welcome to the 2026 cohort of master's students joining the School of Marxism of Shenzhen University. Centering on the core theme of campus safety, she delivered a special orientation session on safety education for the new students, focusing on the two priorities of personal safety and ideological security, and clearly set out the code of conduct and the red lines that must not be crossed during their graduate studies. She pointed out that physical health is the fundamental cornerstone of academic endeavor, and that safety is the prerequisite that makes all study and life possible. Drawing on the realities of campus life, she explained in detail the key safety points concerning dormitory electricity use, daily travel, protection of personal property, and the adjustment of physical and mental health, and went through the prevention measures and responses for various safety risks one by one, guiding the new students to develop all-round safety awareness. In light of the distinctive training characteristics of students majoring in Marxist theory, she emphasized that all new students should build a solid ideological line of defense, keep the strings of ideological security and national security taut at all times, firm up their ideals and convictions, and take a firm political stance. She also set out earnest expectations for the 2026 cohort of master's students. First, devote themselves wholeheartedly to academic study. Building on a solid professional foundation, they should carry out theoretical study and research in a down-to-earth manner, and fully invest their precious study time in reading and academic inquiry, deep thinking and personal growth. Second, maintain rational communication. In their daily study, life and interpersonal interactions, they should keep a calm mindset and rational thinking, stay composed and think critically when issues arise, and put themselves in others' shoes, so as to jointly foster a united, friendly and positive collective atmosphere.

Subsequently, the three Vice Deans — Sun Tingting, Zhang Shoukui and Ren Heng — carried out systematic orientation education, each addressing a different area: academic culture development, research training, and personal growth and development. Vice Dean Sun Tingting stressed that new students should adopt a correct academic value orientation, reject impetuous and utilitarian mindsets, and focus on improving their own abilities. She advocated a long-termist approach to scholarship, the proper use of AI-assisted tools, and resolute resistance to all forms of academic misconduct; she also guided the students to view academic competition rationally, to properly handle the dialectical relationship between competition and cooperation, and to proactively seek advice and learning from their teachers, so as to achieve self-renewal and upgrade their capabilities within a fine academic atmosphere of mutual help and shared progress. Vice Dean Zhang Shoukui, grounding his remarks in the overarching development trends of the new era and the distinctive features of the discipline of Marxist theory, urged all new students to cherish the valuable learning opportunities of graduate study. He emphasized that the graduate period is a key stage for elevating one's vision and broadening one's horizons, and expressed the hope that the students would keep pace with the development of the times, stay down-to-earth, study diligently and act earnestly, and live up to the expectations of the times and to their original aspiration for study. Vice Dean Ren Heng, taking as his starting point the development trends of the humanities and social sciences against the backdrop of artificial intelligence, guided the new students toward a sound approach to reading and scholarship. He noted that artificial intelligence cannot replace humanistic reflection and attention to reality, and expressed the hope that all new students would always hold a sense of reverence for scholarship, delve deeply into professional theories, and show concern for social realities, so as to uphold the true intent of scholarship amid the waves of change in the times and achieve steady growth.

Finally, Dean Liu Zhi delivered the "First Ideological and Political Course" to all master's students of the 2026 cohort. He began by extending a sincere welcome to the students for joining the School of Marxism, and stressed that the graduate stage is a new starting point in life as well as an important period for solidifying professional foundations, enhancing overall competence and clarifying the direction of development. On how to make the most of the precious three years on campus, he put forward three expectations for the new students. First, settle down and delve deep into one's field. They should cherish their study time, build a solid theoretical foundation and broaden their academic horizons, honing their overall competence through sustained accumulation. Second, build on what they learn and set a clear course. They should link their professional study with personal growth and the development of the times, clarify their development goals, and integrate their personal ideals and pursuits into the broader cause of the times. Third, face up to a changing landscape and take responsibility through solid action. In the face of the new environment and new challenges brought by the rapid development of artificial intelligence, they should identify their own position, clarify their personal role and value, and translate their understanding of ideals into hands-on practice and earnest responsibility-taking. In conclusion, he encouraged all new students to stay anchored to their goals, uphold the unity of knowledge and action, and maintain composure and press on with unwavering commitment amid a changing era.

With an unwavering original aspiration, we embark on a new journey; through earnest action, we reach far into the future. The Orientation Assembly of the School of Marxism for the 2026 cohort thus drew to a successful close. All new students will keep firmly in mind the School's earnest expectations, abide by the bottom line of discipline, devote themselves wholeheartedly to scholarship and research, and join efforts in tempering themselves and growing, so as to write a splendid chapter of youth as young people of the new era at the School of Marxism of Shenzhen University.