Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) Commencement for Bachelor Degree Graduates 2022 was held at the Gym of GTIIT South Campus on the afternoon of July 11. Prof. Gong Xingao, Chancellor of GTIIT, addressed a speech on the ceremony.

He pointed out that 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relation between China and Israel. The GTIIT students experience and witness China-Israel friendship and will pass on and carry forward the bonds of exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

He was proud that GTIIT students always uphold the GTIIT motto "Dream it, Do it." He hoped the graduates will all be full of patriotism and always bear a sense of mission and responsibility in mind, and dare to take the road less traveled by breaking new grounds for innovation.

On the ceremony, Prof. Gong Xingao asked all the graduates to stand up and express their gratitude for their parents with a deep bow. People were all moved by the actions of the students.

Below is the full text of the article

Distinguished leaders, guests, faculty members, parents, and dear students,

Good afternoon!

On this festive day in mid-summer, with soaring spirits, I am truly delighted to be with you all today at the GTIIT Commencement for Bachelor Degree Graduates 2022. Please allow me to extend my warmest welcome and heartfelt appreciation to our visionary and insightful friends from all walks of life for your presence today and your care for the advancement of GTIIT.

Today, 212 graduates of the Class of 2022 will walk out of this campus as newly minted graduates of GTIIT and embark on a new journey of their lives. Over the past four years, right here at GTIIT, you have all written a glamourous chapter while acquiring your Bachelor's degrees, and today marks a satisfactory end to that. As the Chancellor, on behalf of GTIIT, I would like to convey my warmest congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2022, and heartful appreciation and highest regards to all the teaching staff for their dedication to education and to cultivating the students.

For the graduates, university life can be compared to the poem Youth written by Xi Murong. I truly appreciate that you have all written your own poetry in the name of youth during your study at GTIIT. As a science and engineering university with a full-English teaching environment, GTIIT applies the same academic standards required in Technion. Students often joke that studying at GTIIT is like an extension of the final year before GaoKao, where you need to study even harder. Entering the university in 2018, you also need to overcome the gloom and anxiety brought by the pandemic. In the face of difficulties, you are more aware than anyone else of what it takes to complete four years of study. By taking a positive attitude, all of you rise to the challenges and thrive despite all these. You not only finished your study but also made outstanding achievements. You have lived your life to the fullest. I take pride in you and in our accomplishments of having educated you.

Looking back on the past four years, please never forget those who have lighted up the path and cleared barriers for you, especially your parents, who have raised and nurtured you with care and love. Most of them are present today. I would like to ask all the graduates to rise, bow to your parents, and say thank you.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relation between China and Israel. The Chinese and Jewish nations both have long histories and splendid civilizations, and the two nations enjoy longstanding friendship. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1992, the two countries have witnessed the steady progress of bilateral relations and remarkable achievements of exchanges and cooperation in economy, trade, culture, and education. As the first China-foreign collaborative university that introduces higher education resources from Israel to China, GTIIT embodies China-Israel friendship and the two nations' shared philosophy of prioritizing education. GTIIT is an epitome of China-Israel cooperation, where the two countries pool their advanced education concepts and successful higher education experience. The GTIIT students experience and witness China-Israel friendship and will pass on and carry forward the bonds of exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

Since its foundation, GTIIT has received care and support from CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee and Provincial Government and CPC Shantou Municipal Committee and Municipal Government. In particular, GTIIT has been taken special care by both Technion and Shantou University, all of which have enabled GTIIT to make significant progress in expanding the scale, improving teaching and researching capabilities, and achieving remarkable results in cultivating students. GTIIT and its students have received recognition from renowned universities across the globe within just a couple of years.

Though remotely located at the corner of Sangpu Mountain, GTIIT gathers outstanding teachers from around the world. Students can enjoy diverse international education of high quality without going abroad and share their thoughts and ideas with teachers of different cultural backgrounds. As for scientific research, students can have hands-on experience with state-of-the-art technologies, some of whom have delivered meaningful research results. I am proud that, with the education and research platform provided by GTIIT, many students have found their life dreams and pursued them persistently. Now, their dreams have been realized. Studying in California has always been Wu Zuodong's dream. He overcame the barriers of languages and received an offer from the University of California at Los Angeles. With unremitting efforts, Shao Yuanchuan has achieved tremendous personal growth and become the first GTIIT graduate to earn dual Bachelor's degrees within four years, receiving offers from world-famous universities, including Columbia University. With the dream of film-making, Lei Zhanlan has been encouraged by Ofer Prag and will soon further his studies in Film and Television at Savannah College of Art and Design. I may be unable to elaborate on every inspiring story of the graduates. Still, I can assure you every graduate has their own remarkable stories and vivid interpretations of our motto: "Dream it, Do it."

Dear graduates, upon the beginning of your new journey, it is my privilege to say a few words about the path ahead.

First, as GTIIT graduates, I hope you will all be full of patriotism and always bear a sense of mission and responsibility in mind. Every generation of youth has unique opportunities in their times. Every generation of youth shoulder the future of a country and the hopes of a nation. It is your lifelong question to think about how to integrate personal development into the trend of national development and make your personal advancement at the same pace as the country's destiny. Currently, our country urgently needs talents equipped with scientific knowledge. I sincerely hope you will always uphold the motto "Dream it, Do it," spare no effort, go forward with no fear, and let hard work paint a bright backdrop for your life, contributing GTIIT strength to the Chinese Dream. As you have received an education with the essence of both China and Israel, I hope you will take advantage of both cultures, bear in mind the community of a shared future for humankind, and contribute the strength of youth to the prosperity of the country and the progress of the humanity.

Second, show no fear and dare to challenge in the face of difficulties and scale new heights in innovation—many innovations derived from challenging environments that require exceptional courage and resolve. Israel is known for its vigorousness of innovation, which carves out its room for survival and development. The sense of innovation is rooted in their education, where "thinking out of the box" and "thinking beyond limits” are encouraged. These concepts are also alive here in GTIIT. At this moment, the international landscape is full of complexity, and the world economy is confronted with challenges, "uncertainties” have become the only certainty. With the education of innovation and the spirits of Chutzpah, I hope all of you will have the sense of urgency, break the shackles and dare to challenge the conventional ideas fearlessly, and dare to take the road less traveled by breaking new grounds for innovation.

Dear graduates, four years ago, you entered the north campus, carrying your luggage and your dreams and hopes; four years on, you will leave from the brand-new south campus, taking the achievements you have made during your university life.

As you leave today, though you may be thousands of miles away from GTIIT, our hearts will always be with you, and you will forever be a member of GTIIT.

As you leave today, you will see an even bigger world, and a new chapter of your life will unfold. You will leave your unique mark in the world as a GTIIT graduate.

Dear graduates, once again, I wish you all the best and every success in your future! Please remember, GTIIT will always be your home.

Thank you!