HEU continues to implement the guiding principles of President Xi Jinping’s remarks during his university inspection, practicing the “five persistences and five emphases” and promoting open education. On July 3, the 2026 Undergraduate Graduation and Degree Awarding Ceremony of the JEI, alongside the JEI Alumni Association Inauguration, took place at the Qihang Theater. 198 graduates successfully completed their studies, receiving dual bachelor’s degrees from HEU and UoS as they began a new life journey. HEU President Yin Jingwei attended and spoke. Attendees from the University of Southampton included Vice-President Andrew Atherton; Associate Vice-President and JEI Executive Dean Anna Barney; and Michael Butler, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences.
Yin Jingwei congratulated the JEI graduates on behalf of HEU, thanking the teachers for their dedication and the parents for their support. He noted that through four years of deep Sino-UK university cooperation, students broadened their horizons and honed their skills in an openand culturally diverse environment. He offered three expectations: first, embrace altruism and achieve win-win collaboration by helping others succeed; second, maintain a balanced, inclusive approach, navigating between Chinese and Western cultures, tradition and modernity, and ideals and reality; third, uphold harmony as cultural ambassadors, connecting the world inclusively to help build a global community with a shared future. He encouraged graduates to set sail from the ocean, question the future, and make their youth count in this era.
Representing the University of Southampton, Andrew Atherton congratulated the 2026 graduates. He emphasized that university is for shaping personality and expanding horizons as much as gaining knowledge. The solid expertise, resilience, and friendships formed at the JEI will underpin their future success. Calling graduation a new beginning, he urged students to remain curious, embrace challenges openly, and use their skills to create societal value. He also encouraged them to cherish their cross-border academic ties, act as Sino-UK cultural envoys, and author their own brilliant futures globally.
Speaking for the parents, Wang Yihan’s father sincerely thanked the university and teachers for nurturing the students. Graduate representative Tan Xin reflected onfour years ofhis study, expressing deep gratitude for the alma mater’s cultivation and the teachers’ guidance.
Attending leaders presented awards for Provincial and University-Level Outstanding Graduates, the “Most Popular Poster Award”, the “Excellent Individual Project Award”, and “Outstanding Graduation Project Supervisor”.
During the event, the JEI Alumni Association was officially inaugurated. The head of HEU’s Development and Liaison Department read the association's approval document. Yin Jingwei presented the flag to JEI Alumni Association President Duan Wenyang, who then issued appointment letters to the vice presidents and deputy secretaries-general. Executive Secretary-General Wang Qiuying presented appointment letters to the inaugural alumni organization members and liaisons.
The head of the JEI read HEU’s decision on graduation and degree awarding for the JEI undergraduates. The University of Southampton’s Executive Dean of the JEI read the corresponding decision from Southampton.
Following the graduation, the Degree Awarding Ceremony for the 2026 JEI graduates took place. Graduates took the stage individually as supervisorsfrom both sidespresented their degree certificates and turned their tassels.
Concurrently, the annual Joint Management Committee meeting convened, a supplementary cooperation agreement was signed, and the JEI Alumni Cultural Wall was unveiled.