On the afternoon of September 23, Xi’an University of Technology (XUT) held an opening ceremony and orientation for its 2026 international students at the Yifu Information Building on the Qujiang Campus. Vice President Dong Xiaobing attended the event and delivered remarks. The ceremony was presided over by Yang Yuan, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Office; International Education College).
Dong extended his sincere congratulations and warm welcome to the new international students on behalf of the University. He provided a brief introduction to XUT’s history, disciplinary strengths and achievements in international education, noting that the University has provided degree education for more than 520 international students from over 30 countries. He then shared three expectations for the students’ growth and development. First, he encouraged them to devote themselves to their studies, build strong professional competence, make effective use of the University’s academic resources and practical platforms, and closely integrate classroom learning with research and practice. Second, he encouraged them to become active members of the campus community and ambassadors for cultural exchange by embracing cultural diversity with openness and inclusiveness and serving as bridges of friendship between China and the rest of the world. Third, he urged them to observe laws and regulations and pursue their studies in safety and good health. He emphasized that students must strictly comply with Chinese laws and regulations as well as University rules, adding that XUT would gradually advance the integrated management of Chinese and international students so that every student could experience the warmth of a home away from home.
Yang introduced the overall profile of the 2026 international student cohort. This year, XUT welcomed 95 new students from 16 countries, including Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Russia, Germany, Morocco, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. The students are enrolled in undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programmes across 15 fields of study. The increasingly diverse range of countries represented and the continued improvement in the composition of the international student body reflect the steady development and growing diversity of international education at XUT.
During the faculty and student representative session, Liu Feng, Party Secretary of the School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, welcomed the new students. He encouraged them to make the most of their time studying abroad and to become ambassadors for mutual learning among cultures, practitioners of the unity of knowledge and action, and innovators dedicated to serving society through infrastructure development. He also called on them to apply their professional expertise to creating a safer, greener and more sustainable future for the world.
Fu Bo, a faculty member from the School of Computer Science and Engineering, spoke as the faculty representative. Drawing on his own experience of studying in the United States 19 years ago, he encouraged the students to face language and academic challenges with courage, remain curious, communicate proactively and continue improving themselves through reflection and perseverance.
ALYYEV DOVLETGELDI, a second-year student from Turkmenistan majoring in Water Resources and Hydropower Engineering, spoke on behalf of senior international students. He shared his experiences of studying and living in China and offered advice on adapting to a new environment, encouraging the new students to remain committed to learning Chinese and take an active part in campus life. NEDJAR MERIEM, a postgraduate student at the School of Humanities and Foreign Languages, spoke on behalf of the new international students. She described her first impressions of Xi’an, a city distinguished by both its rich history and modern vitality, and expressed her aspirations for her academic journey and her determination to study diligently.
A formal yet warm ceremony was also held to present the new students with University badges and welcome packs. Receiving and wearing the XUT badge marked their official entry into the Xi’an University of Technology community.
Following the ceremony, Officers Fu Shiyan and Cui Jiu from the Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of the Xi’an Municipal Public Security Bureau delivered a “First Lesson in China” presentation to the University’s international students. Nie Gaoyang, Head of the International Student Affairs Section of the International Education College, conducted an orientation covering student affairs, University rules and regulations, campus safety and other relevant matters, providing clear guidance to help international students study with confidence and live safely in China.
The event was also attended by Li Hongying, Party Secretary of the School of Humanities and Foreign Languages; Liu Feng, Party Secretary of the School of Civil Engineering and Architecture; Jiang Rengui, Vice Dean of the School of Civil Engineering and Architecture; Fei Rong, Vice Dean of the School of Computer Science and Engineering; Jiang Xiaolong, Deputy Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange; as well as class advisers, international affairs coordinators, course instructors and staff members from relevant schools and all 2026 international students.
Written by: Nie Gaoyang
Reviewed by: Jiang Xiaolong