On September 10th, SWUFE-UD Institute of Data Science at SWUFE successfully held the Welcome Ceremony for Inaugural Class & Appointment for Joint Program Directors in Room 105 of the Hongyuan Building on the university’s Liulin Campus. ZHUO Zhi, the President of SWUFE and LI Yongqiang, Vice President of SWUFE both attended the ceremony, along with the department heads from the Office of the University President, the Student Affairs Department, the Office of Academic Affairs , and the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation. The ceremony was hosted by YANG Shilei from the SWUFE-UD Institute of Data Science at SWUFE. The ceremony invited parents and representatives of overseas partners to participate via online live broadcast.

In his speech, President ZHUO Zhi represented university faculty and students in extending a warm welcome to the inaugural class of the SWUFE-UD Institute of Data Science at SWUFE, the first Joint Educational Institute at SWUFE. ZHUO pointed out that the founding of data science institute is the result of the efforts and wisdom of both universities and that it is an important achievement of Sino-US educational exchange. ZHUO expressed that it is his hope that the institute will fully utilize the strengths of both universities, and that it will strive to achieve breakthroughs regarding international training of data science undergraduate talent and build the institute into a first-class international demonstration site for undergraduate education.

ZHUO proposed students should develop an international mindset and global awareness through exchange and mutual learning, and with a spirit of innovation, they will become pioneers of their times with the courage to recognize, meet, seek and lead change.

In the welcome video, the University of Delaware President, Dennis ASSANIS expressed his highly praise for the establishment of a first-class Joint Educational Institute and, on behalf of all faculty and staff at the University of Delaware, extended a sincere welcome to all students of the Institute. ASSANIS pointed out that the SWUFE-UD Institute of Data Science is a combination of the best educational resources and models of both universities and that it will prepare students to become elites in diversified fields with a global cultural outlook and the creative thinking ability to conquer any future challenges.

Representatives from both universities and a student representative from the inaugural class delivered speeches respectively, expressing their greetings to new students and their confidence in the prosperous development of the institute. SWUFE Vice President LI Yongqiang awarded the appointment certificates to the Joint Program Directors of SWUFE-UD Institute of Data Science. Joining the ceremony via live stream, the three joint program directors from the University of Delaware expressed their gratitude and their confidence in engaging academic quality.

With the unison of "Anthem of Southwestern University of Finance and Economics" , Welcome Ceremony for Inaugural Class & Appointment for Joint Program Directors ended successfully.

Editor: LOU Yaqi

Proofreading: LIU Xiaona