Gentlefolk,
The big event this week was UPC's graduation, described in this post.
About 6,000 students are graduating this week (roughly 5,000 undergraduates and 1,000 Post-graduates). This is a BIG BIG day for the students - the culmination of years of hard study.
First, on Monday morning there was a big ceremony held in the Gymnasium, attended by all 6,000. They sat in Colleges, wearing different coloured shirts - an impressive sight. There were three speeches, and the top 50 Post-graduates received Awards. It all took about an hour (8.30 - 9.30am).
Second, awarding of degrees to each student. This took place in the Yi Fu Conference Center. Different majors came in (about 150 students at a time) and one-by-one the students received their degree from UPC's President, Professor Shan Hong Hong. The awarding of degrees takes 3 days.
Can you imagine how exhausted she must be after shaking 6,000 hands and giving them their degrees?
Here are some photos of these events. I have more photos related to my ex-classes, but this post is already long enough, so will do a separate post.
The Gymnasium
 |
| The front steps of UPC's iconic Gymnasium |
 |
| Inside the Gymnasium, the students were seated according to their Colleges, denoted by different coloured shirts. An impressive sight. The whole event was very well organised. |
 |
| Another view of the Gymnasium. |
 |
| Another view of the Gymnasium. It is an amazing structure, with an interesting 'honey-comb' roof. |
 |
| The Leader's area. Today the President (we call them Vice Chancellor in Australia) was present together with Vice Presidents and Deans of Colleges. |
 |
| Everyone stood for the National Anthem. |
 |
| President of UPC, Professor Shan Hong Hong, made the key-note address. It's rare for a woman to head a major university in China, especially one which is science-focused. She is a geologist by training, and highly respected. |
 |
| Only a couple of hundred parents and friends turned up. This is a very significant event in a student's life, and I thought more relatives would attend. But, realistically, it is a work day, and 95% of students come from outside Qingdao, many from far away. Pity. |
 |
| At the conclusion, the students on the 'floor' took their chairs back to their dormitories. |
Students - faces of the future
 |
| I taught these students 3 years ago, International Trade classes 1201 and 1202. They remembered me! |
Awarding of degrees
 |
| There was a huge poster outside the Yi Fu Conference Center announcing the graduation details. |
 |
| First, the students lined up in their classes outside the Yi Fu Center. |
 |
| Second, they sat in allocated places in the main conference hall inside the Yi Fu Center, and waited for their turn to go to the stage. |
 |
| Third, students lined up on the side on the stage, waiting their turn. |
 |
| Fourth, the students bowed and approached President Shan one-by-one. She shook their hand and gave them their diploma. Photo taken. Sometimes a student insisted on giving President Shan a quick hug - threw out the system - to the delight of on-lookers. |
 |
| President Shan Hong Hong and one of the graduants in International Trade. |
...
It all went very smoothly. A major exercise handling 6,000 graduates, but Chinese are used to dealing with large numbers and are usually well-organised.
As mentioned, I have some photos of specific students, but will do a separate post with them This post is already long enough.
Best wishes, keep well and keep smiling.
Alex & Vera Olah
English teachers at the China University of Petroleum, Qingdao
www.upc.edu.cn
Wednesday, 29 June 2016
