Beijing, 5th September 2026 (BISTU)--- BISTU held the opening convocation for the 2026-2027 academic year at Zhangjiakou Campus on 5th September 2026.

The Convocation was attended by Vice Mayor Yan Liyan of Zhangjiakou, Director Wang Yong of Education Department of Zhangjiakou, Mayor Zhao Tiecheng of Huailai County, Chairman Xie Jiangling of BISTU University Council, President Guo Fu, all other BISTU senior administrators, 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 of Astra Residential College.

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 faculty and staff to uphold the fundamental mission of fostering virtue through education and be committed to nurturing students and supporting their growth.

Guo Fu extended warm congratulations to all new students. Since its founding 90 years ago, BISTU has always aligned itself with the priorities of our nation—moving from "industrial salvation" to "national service through industrialization" and now to "strengthening the nation through information technology." The year 2026 saw that the University entered the global top 1,000 in Shanghai Ranking’s Academic Ranking of World Universities for the first time. He pointed out that Astra Residential College is not merely a change of place but a new domain development for future higher education. It is a new space, a new model of education, a new growth, and a new relationship between teachers and students. We are remolding the model of talent cultivation to nurture new talents of our time who can adapt to the future, lead changes, and contribute to development of new quality productive forces.

Guo Fu shared three insights with all new students. First, it is worth to go to college, because it teaches you how to choose and then how to find your true self. The complete credit-based system offered not only the freedom of choosing courses but also an invitation to turning school timetable into a sense of direction. Second, it is worth to pursue college education in that it enables you to meet others and grow up to become a complete self in interaction. The college is both a place of imparting knowledge and a place of intellectual encounter, character formation, and communal living. And third, the college is worth efforts and energy because it connects knowledge to reality and makes you gain strength through creation. Intelligent manufacturing, data economy, and new energy are not vague concepts. They are the unfolding scenario of our time. Students should step into laboratories and industrial research institutes to understand both the difficulty and the glory of creation in the real world. He encouraged all new students to turn freedom into purpose, turn encounters into strength, and turn knowledge into creation. He hoped that students would become a broader and fuller version of themselves with a light in heart, a path beneath feet, and a mission on shoulders.

Yan Liyan extended warm welcome to all new students. She pointed out that BISTU Zhangjiakou Campus, as a milestone achievement of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated educational development, has brought in strong momentum into regional talent cultivation and industrial upgrading. The vibrant growth of big data, new energy, and high-end manufacturing industries in Zhangjiakou provided a broad stage for students. She added that Zhangjiakou would provide due and sufficient support with the College.

Vice Chairman Shi Zhenjun hosted the convocation.

Prof. Ni Yuan of Business School shared his thoughts and experiences of working at BISTU for thirteen years and the insights on the transformation of “business plus AI”. He said that new students should take time to learn and to find answers. They should actively embrace frontier knowledge, participate in subject competitions and social practices, and implement the spirit of “diligence in learning and honor for life”.

Xiong Ping, the founder of 51CTO and an alumnus of BISTU graduated in 1997 from Computer Science, shared three key words with new students: start, divergence, and choice. It does not matter if you do not have a good start. It matters much if your ambition is not enough. Divergence is natural. Truth grows clearer through debate and people grow closer through engagement. When you do not know how to make a choice, just target at “new things” and keep going for at least half a year. Time will always surprise you. He said.

Liu Chengyi and Lv Jinhuan spoke as a representative of new students. Liu Chengyi commented that she is from Hebei Province. She is both a witness of coordinated educational development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei and a beneficiary of educational resources of Beijing. She would be committed to building an even better Astra Residential College. Lv Jinhuan said he would carry forward the pioneering spirit of the College and become a role model for future students.

University badges were presented with representatives of new students. The badges symbolized that they have officially become BISTUers.

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

The ceremony concluded with all participants singing "My Motherland and Me". Their resounding voices filled the site with passion and the resolution to building a better future.