On the afternoon of September 13, 2024, the opening ceremony for the 39th Certificate Program and the 19th Master’s Program of the Johns Hopkins University–Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies (HNC) was held in the West Auditorium. Ding Aijun, Assistant President of Nanjing University, attended the event and delivered a speech. James B. Steinberg, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Dean of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University (SAIS), addressed the gathering via video.

In his speech, Ding Aijun welcomed the new students on behalf of Nanjing University. He mentioned that as a century-old prestigious institution, Nanjing University upholds the philosophy of “cultivating oneself, harmonizing the family, governing the country, and bringing peace to the world,” by continuously accelerating its internationalization process. The university has been keeping an open and inclusive mindset, daring to innovate and deepening international cooperation in educational and cultural exchanges. As an exemplary education project under international cooperation, HNC has transcended language, cultural, institutional, and ideological differences to nurture over 3,700 professionals with a global perspective and adaptability to the development of globalization, and has promoted academic and cultural exchanges between China and the United States. He shared his own story of how he discovered a new line of research during an air pollution incident which then led to deep collaboration with the University of Helsinki, to inspire students to understand that success stems from a combination of diligence and keen insight. He then encouraged students to firstly, keep eyes on the stars and set high aspirations, as well as establish grand ideals, a global perspective, and an international awareness; secondly, be pragmatic and observant, and actively engage in thinking to seize opportunities for extraordinary achievements; thirdly, be inclusive, and embrace new ideas while respecting differences in the diverse environment of the HNC, so as to enhance people-to-people exchanges, and help advance the historical trend toward peace, development, cooperation, and win-win outcomes.

James B. Steinberg, in his video message, welcomed the newcomers to the HNC and expressed excitement about their participation in this unique educational collaboration. He stated that HNC is dedicated to cultivating elite scholars with an international vision, a deep understanding of the cultures of both countries, and the ability to actively respond to global changes and challenges. The interconnected teaching model involving the United States, Italy and China closely links students from around the world, allowing them to profoundly experience and understand multiculturalism and complex issues within a global context, and to engage in broader international affairs research and practices. He encouraged the students to maintain an open mindset and a spirit of collaboration, and work together to promote academic progress and international exchange to create a brilliant future. He also looked forward to visiting Nanjing to engage in in-depth discussions with students and alumni, so as to strengthen inter-institutional connections, and pursue new visions for development.

Li Xiaorong and Adam K Webb, the Co-Directors of HNC, hosted the ceremony and introduced all faculty members and visiting scholars from both sides for the 2024–2025 academic year. Li Xiaorong welcomed the 118 new members from around the world and by quoting the ancient saying “the customs and habits of people differ in each locality,” emphasized that HNC is a confluence of diverse cultures. She encouraged new members to embrace differences in an environment of varied languages, cultures, and academic backgrounds, and strengthen communication and cooperation to become open-minded international talents. She noted that during the orientation week, students had been deepening their understanding of each other, and both faculty and students had committed to building a unique HNC. She encouraged the new students by saying “seize the day, and make your life extraordinary,” and urged students to cherish time, pursue excellence, and leave imprints not only in their academic careers but also in their life paths.

Adam K Webb reflected on the unusual experiences of the past several years, stating that the gathering of the HNC students is even more precious today. With the development of the times, China and other countries around the world are facing the future in new ways, which not only highlights the pulse of social development, but also challenges the traditional cognitive model. He emphasized the importance of discarding ingrained concepts, focusing on practical issues, and examining the world from a dynamic and developmental perspective. After multiple adjustments and optimizations, the HNC now provides modern facilities and a more comfortable environment, and it is building a high-quality international exchange platform to promote cultural understanding and cooperation and to assist in addressing global challenges. He encouraged students to fully utilize the resources and opportunities provided by the HNC, maintain a continuous academic passion and a vigorous spirit of exploration, and develop cross-cultural understanding and a global perspective to achieve self-improvement and innovative breakthroughs in a diverse academic environment.

The faculty, staff, and alumni of the HNC, along with over a hundred new students from China, the United States, Germany, Singapore, and Italy, attended the opening ceremony. They then took a group photo and enjoyed dinner together.

Source: Hopkins-Nanjing Center