The second graduation ceremony for students who minor in Sustainable Development (the class of 2013) of Tongji University was held on Jan. 5th. The ceremony was attended by Prof. ZHENG Shiling (a member of CAS), Vice President of the university, Mr. WU Jiang, Graduate School administrators, leaders of the office of teaching affairs and of relevant schools and departments, representative teachers, and 160 students of the minor attended the ceremony.
In his speech, Mr. WU Jiang introduced the background and goal of the sustainable development minor. He encouraged the students to deepen their understanding of the idea of sustainable development and to incorporate and expand what they have learned into their majors. He also called on the teachers to take an interdisciplinary approach in integrating the concepts of sustainable development into their research and teaching, which will cultivate (on a world-wide basis) students’ talents in the field of sustainable development. He also created a better vision for the School of Sustainable Development, encouraging it to strive and struggle to make Tongji University a “sustainable-oriented first class university in the world”.
GU Gang, an alumnus of the Law School, is one of the first students of the sustainable development minor (class of 2012). In his speech, he share his learning experience in the minor; he emphasized the happiness and benefits he received from the interdisciplinary communication and cooperation, and the positive effects it has made in his work, study and life after graduation. He wishes that the students could fully exercise themselves and earn more achievements through their study in the minor.
Afterwards, guests and teachers issued certificates to the students of 2013 Sustainable Development minors. They also took pictures with the graduates.
It is reported that 121 students graduated from the sustainable development minor in the class of 2013. For the class of 2014, the UNEP-Tongji School of Environment and Sustainable Development together with the Environment School, the School of Economics and Management, the School of Ocean, the School of Transportation, the Germany Research Center, and the Institute of Higher Education, has opened ten minors which focus on sustainable development to more than 500 students. Currently the school is soliciting suggestions from teachers and students on how best to adjust the arrangement of study and practice, and on how to enhance communication and cooperation with between schools and departments. The goal is to further develop a new training program for sustainable development and to contribute to the cultivation of students’ talents.
Translated by May Language Studio
based upon http://news.tongji.edu.cn/classid-10-newsid-45827-t-show.html
