On September 18th, 72 freshmen of School of Data Science officially registered in CUEB. With eagerness for knowledge and persistence of dreams, students of the Freshman Grade of 2021 from everywhere around China became members of the School and CUEB. The first orientation of the School was highly praised by heads of CUEB and its relevant departments. After visiting the registration and activity site and learning more details about arrangements, leaders gave credit for the work and helped guide the next step of student training and professional teaching.

Phase One: Registration and Check-in

CUEB leaders and relevant departments visited the registration and activity venue.

On the morning of the registration day, teachers, student assistants and volunteers dressed in school uniforms came to the service points of the north gate, No. 6 Student Apartment and the west gate of Saiou Apartment to welcome the new comers. Under the guidance of the principles of the safety standards, order and efficiency, voluntary workers carefully and patiently answered freshmen’s doubts, checked their materials and ushered them to check in to the dormitory. Led by volunteers, the students went to the second lecture hall of Boyuan Building to complete the registration procedures and receive enrollment materials.

The school prepared fancy gifts including the school’s cultural and creative handbag, uniform, emblem, campus map and schedule of enrollment education for freshmen to welcome their arrival and give them a sense of security and belonging on the first day of enrollment.

Phase Two: Freshmen’s Class Meeting

On the afternoon of September 18th, to develop further acquaintance with classmates and learn the requirements for epidemic prevention and control during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, Class 1 and Class 2 of the Freshman Grade of 2021 held class meetings in the first and second lecture hall of Boyuan Building. Beginning with ice-breaking activities, class advisers Ge Ruilin and Zhang Yilan introduced CUEB’s arrangement for entrance education, relevant requirement for safety education during the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday and the School’s application procedures for leaving and returning to CUEB. Later, the two teachers also collected students’ academic files and helped students to complete information filling work. In the meeting, students also introduced themselves, immersing everyone in an atmosphere of pleasantness. Then, teachers encouraged students to lead a brilliant college career by first orienting themselves in the class and uniting with classmates to step forward together. 

Phase Three: Opening Ceremony

On the afternoon of September 18th, the School of Data Science held the opening ceremony for the 2021 freshmen in the press conference hall of Boyuan Building. Dean Zhang Baoxue, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee Zhao Lingfei, Professor of the School of Statistics Nie Li, Project Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Office and adviser of Class 2 of the Freshman Grade of 2021 Zhang Yilan, Secretary of Student Affairs Office and adviser of Class 1 of the Freshman Grade of 2021 Ge Ruilin, Secretary of Academic Affairs Office Li Kexin, General Administrative Secretary Jin Xin, student assistants and all freshmen attended the opening ceremony. The ceremony was presided over by Deputy Dean Ruan Jing.

First of all, on behalf of the faculty and staff of the school, Ruan Jing extended a warm welcome and heartfelt congratulations to the first batch of freshmen, the Statistics Major (Business Big Data) of the Grade of 2021, and thanked the student assistants and volunteers for participating diligently in the school’s orientation In his opening speech, Ruan Jing mentioned that students of the Statistics major are very promising as Statistics, Data Science, and Big Data are three of the most popular majors in the world and major Data Analysis ranks sixth in the ranking of 2021 US News Best Jobs . He said that the school is committed to creating an international and multicultural learning environment for students and earnestly hopes for them to concentrate on study and self-growth to achieve success and gains in the next four years. As the saying goes, when you are young, you need to carefully make your plan of your life and go ahead with your country’s development. Ruan stressed that from the moment of the school opening ceremony, students should meet future challenges with new attitude and appearance, arm their minds with rich knowledge and finally repay themselves and their efforts with fruitful achievements.

Then, Zhang Baoxue gave a keynote speech on the theme of “Setting New Sails and Struggling Now”. Starting with the background of the scientific and technological revolution and industrial change represented by big data and artificial intelligence, he introduced the establishment of the School of Data Science, depicted the prospects of talents in statistics and big data and thanked all relevant departments and personnel for their help since the establishment of the School. He pointed out that the school will always follow the principle of the “global vision, Chinese cultural connotations and capital emotion” and CUEB’s developing direction of “being based in Beijing, serving the capital, supporting the nation and looking to the world” to explore innovative talent training mode required in the era of globalization by integrating foreign high-quality education resources into Chinese culture under the school-developing concept of world-class universities. The school will build a modern, international and characteristic education platform of high quality in partnership with American universities and strive to cultivate high-quality and innovative talents with international vision, statistical theories and methods, interdisciplinary skills of data science and big data technology for the major needs of the development of data-driven industry in China, especially in Beijing. Furthermore, Zhang put forward three expectations on the freshmen: first, to cherish valuable learning opportunities to study hard, so as to create China’s own academic achievement in data science; second, to be good at learning and master learning skills, think more and ask more and make full use of learning resources while being down-to-earth; third, to be open, inclusive and self-improved as a participant and promoter of civilizational exchanges and to be a member of “Strength of China” to change the world by contributing youth and strength to realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation and building a community with a shared future for humanity!

On behalf of the teaching staff, Nie Li welcomed the students and congratulated them for being the first group of students of the School of Data Science. She indicated that the school’s teachers are professional and will guide students on their way of exploring the field of Data Science with passion and professionalism. She also gave three pieces of advice on how to spend their college years, what kind of person students grow into, and how students could take their responsibilities. The First is to set goals and achieve them with thinking, questioning and hardworking determination. Second is to have perseverance, be optimistic towards life, be brave and conquer difficulties, be active in cultural and sporting activities, and be confident in asking for help so as to stay healthy both mentally and physically. Third is to learn to cooperate and join clubs to learn how to communicate and be inclusive. With the intersection of disciplines being stronger, a university which provides students with communal living has become a miniature of society and a good place for students to learn about society. It’s therefore important for students to participate in professional practice during the vacations of senior school year to learn what is collaboration, solidarity and friendship, accumulate experience, broaden horizons and pursue their dreams.

Next, Zhou Sanjun gave a speech on behalf of the new students. According to Zhou, every CUEBer is deeply inspired by the university’s motto of “advocating morality, valuing competence, strategizing national development, and serving the people”. Enjoying the school’s international and diversified educational resources, freshmen should make plans for their college life of practicing English, improving quality, opening minds, broadening horizons and being innovative so as to think, judge and face global challenges with international views, and then take up the era’s mission of international dialogues as members of the young “Strength of China” to change the world.

Zhang Baoxue wore the school emblem as the representative of new students and the rest of the students stood up and wore emblems themselves. Another four representatives showed the school flag. The emblem and flag are designed to include the elements of the emblem and color of both CUEB & USF (Capital University of Economics and Business and University of South Florida), standing for the cooperation and friendship between the two universities, the culture of fostering character and civic virtue, the consistent pursuit towards science, wisdom and truth and the concept of CUEB’s commitment to Sino-foreign education cooperation. It conveys the wish to students to follow CUEB’s motto and gain the strength in pursuing wisdom and truth. The two ceremonies are the historical moments in school’s history witnessing the freshmen’s participation.

In the end, all the staff and students of the School of Data Science took the first group photo at the ground floor of Boyuan Building to record the Data Sciencers’ union.

Phase Four: Visit to Dormitory

On the evening of September 18th, the night before the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, Zhang Baoxue, Ruan Jing and other school leaders as well as student assistants visited the freshmen in dormitory and brought them CUEB-made moon cakes and school directories as holiday gifts. 

The school’s teachers chatted with students about their dorms and encouraged them to adapt to group life in college. In addition, teachers advised students to participate in the education activities held by CUEB and the school and make reasonable plans for studying and living. Considering the upcoming holiday, teachers also reminded the students to protect themselves from the epidemic and make a good timetable while keeping connection with class advisers and student assistants.

The visit has become a warm memory for students, which helped them get familiar with their teachers, receive the care of the college and enhanced their feelings of belonging both in the dorm and the college.

With the joint efforts of all staff, student assistants and volunteers, the First Freshman Registration Activity and Opening Ceremony came to a successful close. We wish all the students to treasure every moment and realize their dreams with loads of gains at this fresh beginning!