On the afternoon of January 4th, the graduation ceremony for the 2019 cohort of Burmese international students at the School of International Education was held in the Cloud Classroom of Building No. 3. The following leaders and teachers attended the ceremony: President He Xingyue, Dean Tao Yu, Secretary Zhou Lin of the Party General Branch, Vice Dean Wang Yaojun, as well as the professional teachers, head teachers, and counselors of the Burmese international students at the School of International Education.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic both domestically and internationally, only one Burmese international student, Aung Htet Paing, was able to participate in the graduation ceremony for the 2019 cohort. The ceremony was presided over by Counselor Xiao Longzhong.

Firstly, the gold medal-winning micro-video titled “My Stories in Hangzhou” by Aung Htet Paing, which was created for the China-ASEAN 30th Anniversary of Dialogue Partnership Youth Art Competition, was played. The video mainly tells the story of his experiences in studying and living in Hangzhou, and highlights the care and support provided by the university to the international students who stayed on campus during the pandemic.

Then, President He Xingyue took to the stage to deliver his speech. He expressed his hope that the international students, after graduation, would be able to apply the knowledge and skills they had acquired to serve their motherland and contribute to society. President He noted that while textbooks are books with words, society is a book without words. Graduates, once they step out of the campus, will inevitably face greater challenges. He encouraged them to remain calm and composed in the face of honors and setbacks, and to use their knowledge to carve out their own path in the world. He also expressed his wish that the graduates would not forget their alma mater after graduation and would stay in touch with us.

Then, Mr. U Sein Nyunt, a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Myanmar-China Friendship Association, expressed his gratitude through a video message. He thanked Zhejiang Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (ZIME) for the care and high-quality vocational and technical education provided to the Burmese students. He also expressed his hope that the Burmese international students from the 2018 and 2019 cohorts would have the opportunity to return to ZIME for further studies.

After that, President He conducted the solemn and sacred“tassel-turning”ceremony for Aung Htet Paing. The moment the tassel on his graduation cap was moved to the left side, it signified that his university life had come to a successful conclusion and he was ready to soar into a broader sky. Holding his diploma in hand, Aung Htet Paing’s face was beaming with happiness and pride.

Subsequently, Aung Htet Paing delivered his graduation speech. He expressed his gratitude to the teachers and classmates for their care and assistance, especially during the pandemic when he was stranded in China. The university teachers frequently visited him in person or checked on his health through online video calls. He also expressed his hope of returning to ZIME for a visit after graduation. His sincere speech was met with enthusiastic applause from the entire audience.

Finally, Dean Tao and Secretary Zhou presented him with the certificates and graduation souvenirs. The teachers from the School of International Education signed on Aung’s T-shirt and wrote messages of encouragement. All the attendees and the graduate took a group photo as a memento of the occasion.

The graduation ceremony concluded successfully. In the new year, Aung Htet Paing, the Burmese international student, will set off from ZIME with his dreams and aspirations, heading towards a broader and more expansive world. Best wishes to all international students for a smooth and successful future, and may they achieve great success!