On December 13, the matriculation ceremony was held at GZU (Guizhou University) for the 2022 freshmen of North Alabama International College of Engineering and Technology. GZU President Song Bao’an, and Vice Presidents Zhou Shaoqi and Zhang Dalin attended the ceremony in Conference Room 115 of Dezheng Building; Kenneth Kitts, president of the University of North Alabama (UAN) in the United States, attended online. Heads of relevant departments and colleges from both sides and all the teachers and students of the college attended either online or on the spot. The ceremony was presided over by Zhou Shaoqi.

In his speech, Song Bao’an recognized the concerted efforts in the establishment of this international college by GZU and UAN. This college, he said,integrates Chinese and western cultures and aims to cultivate talents with professional skill, international insight, cross-cultural ability, independent thinking and noble virtues. Song also expressed his wishes for the students in terms of ability-empowering, challenge meeting and thankfulness to others. He hoped that the students can forest their ability and achieve fruitful results in their study, face challenges with an optimistic and open-minded attitude, and be always thankful to the world and ready to help others.

Kenneth Kitts congratulated the students on entering the college and said that they would receive wholehearted support and professional guidance from the teachers, administrators and staff of both sides in their future study and life. He also encouraged the students to make full use of the resources of the two universities, improve their professional ability, expand their international vision, and realize their career dream and life goals.

Zhang Dalin pointed out that this college is a milestone in GZU’s history as the first cooperative educational institution between GZU and other countries. Zhang stressed the role of the college in higher educational cooperation and hoped to cultivate well-rounded talents and maintain the long-term and sound relationship between both sides in win-win cooperation.

Those who addressed at the ceremony also included Dr. Ross Alexander (provost and executive vice president of the UNA and deputy director of the Joint Management Committee of the college), Zhang Chunsheng (vice president of International Affairs of the UNA and academic dean of the college), and representatives of the faculty and freshmen of Grade 2022.

Hong Yun, director of the Department of International Exchange and Cooperation of GZU and dean of the college, introduced the basic conditions of the college to the teachers and students.

After the ceremony, the heads of the college held a meeting between deans and department chairs to exchange ideas of the educational affairs.

Editor: Zhang Chan & Gao Xiujuan

Chief Editor: Zhang Yajun

Senior Editor: Yang Nan

Translator: Xiao Qi