April 6, 2021 marks the centenary celebration of Xiamen University(XMU). The Xiang’an and Zhangzhou Campus of  International College made preparations early to welcome alumni from home and abroad to gather in Xiamen to participate in the grand event, actively participate in various school celebration activities, and show the centenary glory of Xiamen University.

Keep Up with the School Pace, Carry Out Series of Centenary Celebration Activities

On March 27, on the occasion of the 10-day countdown to the centenary celebration of Xiamen University, Deputy Dean Huang Guanhua and representatives of the teachers and students of International College participated in the launching ceremony of the youth school run with the theme of "One Hundred Years Xiamen University Family" on Zhangzhou campus. They gathered together on Zhangzhou campus. At Kah Kee Square, students from Institute of Creativity and Innovation, Tan Kah Kee College and children from Kindergarten of Tan Kah Kee College presented the "I Have a Date with 2021" 100-person dance performance, paying tribute to the school’s centenary glory with youthful dance.

On the morning of April 4th, He Yuanzan, Party Secretary of International College, Chen Xiangliu, the Deputy Secretary, and the representatives of the teachers and students from International College attended the solemn and simple memorial ceremony held on the Zhangzhou campus and the Xiang’an campus respectively. They deeply cherished the memory of Mr. Tan Kah Kee, made three deep bows to the bronze statue of Mr. Tan Kah Kee, and also laid wreaths and fresh flowers, expressing sincere remembrance and gratitude to Mr Tan Kah Kee.

From the day of its birth, Xiamen University has shared the destiny with the nation and walked with the times. On the occasion of celebrating the centenary celebration, we not only cherish the memory and gratitude to Mr Tan, but also carry forward his spirit On the afternoon of April 4th, " Flag of Overseas Chinese, Glory of the Nation "-Tan Kah Kee's life and deeds exhibition was launched on the Zhangzhou campus. He Yuanzan, Party Secretary of the International College and representatives of teachers and students participated in the opening ceremony and visited the exhibition of Mr Tan Kah Kee's life and deeds. Mr. Tan’s hard work and self-improvement spirit, his country-oriented and nation-oriented character, and his sincerity in caring for the construction of the motherland and devotion to education, encourage every teacher and student to stay true to their original aspirations and shoulder their mission bravely and contribute to the development of the school and college in the new century.

On the afternoon of April 5th, the opening ceremony of Bamin Park, Xiamen University was held at the 9 Cities and 1 District Cultural Square of Bamin Park, Xiang'an Campus. Dean Tao attended and presided over the opening ceremony of the Xingye Lake branch park jointly built by our college. Representatives of the Industrial Bank, Co.,Ltd., Chinese International Language Education College/Overseas Education College and the teachers and students of our college attended the ceremony. Prof. Tao Tao, Dean of International College, and Sun Xiongpeng, Vice President of Industrial Bank, Co.,Ltd., jointly unveiled Xingye Lake. Both parties stated that they will regularly carry out practical teaching, scientific research, popular science, labor education and other activities, and strive to build Xingye Lake into an education platform that demonstrates the results of school-enterprise cooperation.

On April 6, Xiamen University celebrated its 100^th anniversary with joy and peace. Representatives of teachers and students of International College gathered in the square of Xiang'an and Zhangzhou campuses respectively to hold a grand and solemn national flag-raising ceremony. International College leaders and administrative team watched the XMU centenary celebration meeting in the form of online and offline, sharing the centenary glory of Xiamen University.

Welcome Alumni from All Over the World with First-Class Service

In order to provide alumni with professional and refined services, the college set up a special working group for alumni reception. The leaders of the college personally acted as the team leader, carefully planned, arranged the venue in advance, and created a warm atmosphere for the school celebration. Alumni liaison team was specially set up to confirm each alumnus’ return date, schedule in advance, and to issue warm reminders to ensure that each alumni can return to school smoothly.

From April 3rd to 6th, Siming, Xiang'an and Zhangzhou, three campuses respectively set up a centralized reception place for the International College alumni. Each reception booth was carefully decorated, warm and festive.  “Xiaobai” and “Xiaoxia”, two centenary celebration mascots and the welcome messages reflect each other, and 558 alumni were welcomed home successively. The leaders of the college greeted the arrival of the alumni at each reception desk, had cordial exchanges with the alumni, asked them about their current situation, expressed gratitude and congratulations on their outstanding achievements, and wished them a better future. The administrative team and student volunteers work together to carefully check and register the alumni information, distribute centenary celebration cultural souvenirs, enthusiastically guide alumni to participate in school celebration activities, and provide alumni with real-time online consultation services, so that every alumnus returning to Xiamen University can feel the warmth of family.

Returning to the dreaming alma mater, meeting the classmates and mentors who have been separated for a long time, the alumni are all excited, thinking of the old classmates, talking about the gold old days, expressing deep gratitude to teachers, watching the beautiful scenery of Xiamen University. They took precious group photos with their families, friends or teachers.

After many years, returning to Xiamen University, the alumni can't help being amazed at the rapid development and achievements of their alma mater. Seeing the centennial new appearance of Xiamen University, the alumni expressed their affection to the university in their own way and sent sincere blessings to it.

Visiting the campus, Tang Zhuoyi, an alumnus in 2015, expressed his feelings: “I feel that the entire college has changed a lot. The hardware facilities such as the dormitory environment, the school’s gymnasium, and sports fields have become more complete. The development of the college and campus also drives the development of the surrounding areas, like Xiamen University Science and Technology Park, etc. Our college has its own special advantages in English training. I hope that the college will continue to grow and become better and better!  Happy 100^th Anniversary to Xiamen University!"

Fang Yuan, Secretary-General of the International College Alumni Association, an alumnus in 2007, said: "We were very excited to hear the news of our alma mater’s centenary anniversary. I made an appointment with old classmates and went back to Zhangzhou campus together and met our former teachers, and everything was so familiar. I sincerely wish my alma mater “Happy 100^th Anniversary!  Pursue excellence, strive for perfection.”

Yu Bin, an alumnus in 2008, shared his feelings of returning to the alma mater: "I am very happy to return to my alma mater. I saw the former dormitories and classrooms on campus with my classmates. I feel that I have returned to the university time. I wish my alma mater a complete success in the centenary celebration and International College gets better and better."

An alumna in 2014, Zhou Yuqi obtained a master’s degree from the Adam Smith School of Business at the University of Glasgow, one of the best business schools in the UK, expressed her deep gratitude to the college’s cultivation, “All experiences are stories. The past has become accumulated wealth. Without the platform of International College, studying abroad would not be so smooth. Thanks to International College for giving us so much help and support, I hope that the International College will become better and better."

"I hope that the college will receive more and more freshmen, everyone will get good grades, and can go to their favorite schools for further studies."

"Happy 100th birthday to Xiamen University, and hope that the classmates still keep young when they return!"

"I hope the XMU’s century-old spirit will be carried forward, and I wish the students have good health and academic success in the future!"

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After many years of graduation, many alumni have become parents, but their love and concern for their alma mater remain unchanged. The development of Xiamen University is inseparable from the great help of the alumni who are attached to Xiamen University and the inheritance and promotion of Tan Kah Kee's spirit is inseparable from the endeavor of thousands of students. Today, students from all over the world are participating in the grand event, and in the future, the strength of the South will create greater glories.

Embark on the New Century

The century-old journey has been magnificent, and the century-old aspiration will grow stronger in the new century. In the past century, Xiamen University bears the struggle and hardship, vision and glory of the Chinese nation. With the courage and devotion, glory and dream, generations of XMU teachers and students promote Mr. Tan Kah Kee's grand vision of "the university of the world". With the attention from all over the world, taking root in China, XMU has repeatedly opened a brand-new era of creating a world-class university which highlights the characteristics of Xiamen University. As a direct affiliated college of Xiamen University, since its establishment in 2005, International College has always adhered to the school running tenet of "developing educational and cultural exchange and cooperation between China and other countries". It has trained 6340 students of 15 sessions successively, and sent batches of students to overseas cooperative colleges and universities for further study, and also ushered in batches of international professionals who have returned to China and aspire to serve the country. New century, new journey, the college will always adhere to the goal of establishing morality and cultivating talents, constantly improve the internal construction, pay close attention to the teaching quality, improve the quality of talent training, and contribute to the internationalization and opening up of Xiamen University and the construction of double first-class university.