Beijing, 6th September 2026 (BISTU)--- BISTU held the opening convocation for the 2026-2027 academic year at Shahe Campus on 6th September 2026.

The Convocation was attended by Chairman Xie Jiangling of the University Council, President Guo Fu, all other senior administrators of the University, General Principal Ren Weidong of the Beijing No. 80 High School Group, representatives of the second-tier professors, directors of relevant department and offices, chairpersons and deans of BISTU colleges, faculty representatives, alumnus representatives, representatives of parents of new students, and all 2026 incoming students.

The Convocation commenced with solemn national flag-raising and national anthem-singing ceremony.

Xie Jiangling presented letters of appointment to student counselors, class mentors, and academic mentors for the 2026 incoming class. He encouraged the appointed faculty to uphold the fundamental mission of fostering virtue through education and be committed to the frontline of education. Teachers should be the pathfinders and navigators for students and architect for students’ dreams so that they would illuminate the growth of young people. Xie Jiangling said.

Guo Fu extended warm welcome to the incoming class of 2026 and addressed the opening ceremony with a speech “Turning freedom into purpose”. Guo Fu pointed out that 2026 is a year of profound significance – it is both the start of the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan and a key moment for the University in deepening its educational reforms and accelerating its pursuit of becoming a world-class institution. This year, the University welcomes the first cohort of students into the complete credit-based academic system. Through a series of initiatives, including the credit-based system and the integrated undergraduate-to-graduate pathways, the University offers greater autonomy to students in major selection, course choice, and academic planning. Students are no longer confined to a rigid, predetermined timetable. He hoped that students would not merely complete the required credits but also cultivate a deeper foundation of confidence - the confidence to think independently, to excel in their professional fields, and to face courageously with the ever-changing world.

Centering on “turning freedom into purpose”, Guo Fu sent three hopes to new students. First, he urged them to become people of judgment and not to confuse what is popular with what is meaningful.“Trends change. Deep interests endure. Markets shift. Real ability remains.”He told the new students not to follow suit without thinking and to use their university years to discover the questions truly worth asking - learning to locate their own coordinates among the needs of society, personal aspirations, the logic of their disciplines, and their own strengths. Second, he said that students should become people who connect and remember that a major is a doorway, not a wall.Solutions to the great challenges of the new era demanded multiple dimensions in technology, society, institutions, and the humanities. He encouraged students to step out of the comfort zone of their major and go deeply into a field. They needed both the imagination to connect outward and the discipline to take root so that they may become whole persons - technically capable, intellectually serious, morally grounded, and humanly generous. Third, he inspired them to become people of action and not to wait for a perfect script before they begin their life’s journey.The university favors only those who take initiative; the greatest danger is not moving slowly, but never truly setting out. He encouraged the new students to take the initiative to speak with their professors, to ask questions actively, to join conversations, to enter laboratories, to know people of various backgrounds and ideas, and to seek answers not only in books and screens, but in the real world.

Guo Fu encouraged students to earn three lifelong“credits that will never appear on a transcript”during their university years: thecredit of curiosity- the habit of seeking inward; thecredit of stillness- the discipline of taking root; and thecredit of agency- the courage to break new ground outward. He noted that the deeper purpose behind the University’s credit-based academic system and integrated undergraduate-to-graduate reform - is to guide young people to turn freedom into purpose, and ultimately, to live for what they love. He offered his final wishes to all new students: may they turn freedom into a sense of direction, turn choices into sound judgment, and temper their passion into long-term commitment; may they pack those invisible credits into their journey’s luggage, and then, with confidence and conviction, step into every scene of the times that belongs to their generation.

Vice Chairman Shi Zhenjun of the University Council hosted the ceremony.

Ren Weidong said that 43 graduates of Beijing No. 80 High School were admitted to BISTU this year, a seamless connection between basic education and higher education. All new students should view “diligence” as the foundation to delve deep into their professional fields, “honor” as the root to uphold moral integrity, cultivate self-discipline, and stay true to original aspiration, and “innovation” as the wing to help them shoulder responsibilities of our times and contribute to national development. Said Ren Weidong.

Jia Yudong of College of Instrument Science and Opto-electronics Engineering shared personal feelings and insights on leapfrog development of the University in the past 15 years. The new model of complete credit-based system provided a sound ground for all new students. He added that students should hold onto their original aspirations, be diligent in learning knowledge, uphold integrity, and be bold in make innovations.

Representative of alumni Liu Quanhua, a winner of the second prize of State Technological Invention Award graduated in 2005 in Communication Engineering, recalled the days at BISTU. He commented that BISTU armed him with the confidence and courage to make tries. He told new students to learn knowledge in an earnest manner, make better use of artificial intelligence, keep independent thinking, and integrate personal growth into national development.

Representatives of new students were presented with university badges, a logo of identity of BISTU and the spiritual bond among generations of BISTUers. All incoming class of 2026 now joined BISTU as a new generation of BISTUers and embarked on a new journey to the future.

Representatives of new students included Xie Xiang, a doctoral student of College of Automation (College of Artificial Intelligence), Yang Jiayi, a postgraduate student of College of Information and Communication Engineering, Wang Ruoyang, an undergraduate student of Illinois Tech College of Engineering, Liu Tianhao, an undergraduate student of College of Computer Science, and Filippova  Anastasiia, an undergraduate student of College of International Education. They affirmed that the university motto “diligence in learning and honor for life” would be upheld and carried forward.

At the convocation ceremony, all faculty and staff, and students rose in solemn silence to greet the university flag. Led by the oath leader, all new students raised their right fists and took a solemn pledge.

The ceremony concluded with all participants singing "My Motherland and Me". The stirring chorus saw young students express their deep devotion to the nation - integrating their personal aspirations into national development and embarking with determination on a new journey to their dreams.