The Opening Ceremony of the School of Global Governance of Renmin University of China (RUC) for the academic year of 2023-2024 was held in classroom 403 of Lide Building on the morning of October 9, 2023.

Du Peng, Vice President of RUC, Song Yunfu, former Director General of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Ministry of Health, and representative of the faculty of the School of Global Governance, Sun Qian, Strategic Planning, Risk Management, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the United Nations Development Program Representative Office in China, and an alumnus of RUC Law School of the class of 2017, Chen Fang, Dean of the School of Foreign Languages and Vice Dean of the School of Global Governance, Cui Shoujun, Vice Dean of the School of Global Governance, Zhu Ting, Deputy Director of the Division of Admissions and Employment of RUC, Li Chen, Vice Dean of the School of International Studies of RUC, and Yu Yuyuan, Professor of the School of Environmental Studies of RUC, as well as other guests and students and faculty members from the School of Global Governance attended the event. The ceremony was moderated by Zhang Xiaomeng, Dean of the School of Global Governance.

Du Peng expressed his warm welcome to the new students for joining the School of Global Governance. Du pointed out that, in the process of globalization, to better handle the new challenges in the global arena, it is necessary to cultivate talents correspondingly to meet the needs of national development and social development. Du believed that, through the study in the School of Global Governance, students can build interdisciplinary ability, and become capable of solving complex problems.

Du urged students to accumulate interdisciplinary knowledge, exercise the ability to think in an interdisciplinary way and strive to become interdisciplinary talents with both professional expertise and international vision. Also, he stressed the importance of bearing in mind the interests of our families, country and the world at large. He also calls for the students to be open-minded and liberal, striving to carry forward the Chinese culture, and promoting the accommodation of different cultures. In the end, he noted the importance of keeping the curiosity of lifelong learning and integrating the growth and development of oneself into the progress of the times and human civilization. 

Song Yunfu, a teacher representative of the School of Global Governance, the former director of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Ministry of Health and the coordinator of the World Health Organization's Partnerships and United Nations Reform, introduced the importance of the three core values, eight core competencies and six managerial competencies of the international staff of the United Nations. He also elaborated on the four values and five norms of conduct for the staff taking positions in the UN. Song also demonstrated the importance and urgency of training talents in this regard and the importance of participation in international governance with detailed data. Song said that students enrolled in the School of Global Governance are in a sense responding to the call of the country and the call of the times. Song went on to express his wishes that the newcomer could have high aspirations and strive for glory for the country.

Sun Qian, a 2017 alumnus of RUC Law School, currently working in the Strategic Planning, Risk Management, Monitoring and Evaluation Office of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Representative Office in China, shared his experiences and stories in work with the audience from his own experience. Sun Qian said that during his seven years of work, he has seen more and more Chinese joining the United Nations, and he has also been impressed with the unique qualities of many Chinese employees. He hopes that these qualities can help students handle all the difficulties in work in the United Nations, and he also hopes to meet with more RUC students in the United Nations in the future.

Chen Zhenchao, a 2023 master’s student of the School of Global Governance, on behalf of the second season of the Talent Cultivation Program for Global Governance and International Organizations launched by the School of Global Governance, also shared his feelings. In his speech, he shared his experience of joining the School of Global Governance through the simulated climate negotiation. Thereafter, he was able to explore himself in the open and diversified university life, enriching his knowledge and broadening his horizon via down-to-earth practice, looking at the world while bearing in mind the interests of China. Chen expressed his gratitude to the School of Global Governance for providing him with a more colorful university life and hoped that, together with old and new students, he would continue to contribute wisdom and strength to the cause of world peace, development and justice.

Baima Sazen, a 2022 undergraduate student of the School of Sociology and Population Studies, also addressed the audience on behalf of the fourth season of the Talent Cultivation Program for Global Governance and International Organizations launched by the School of Global Governance. She said that the program brought together students from different majors and that the program boasts a galaxy of courses for students to choose from, which help students have an in-depth understanding of global issues. At the same time, she added, the program offers a wide range of activities such as lectures, visiting tours and internships, which endows students with valuable opportunities to experience international organizations in person. Going forward, Baima hopes to work with her fellow students and teachers in the future to contribute to global governance.

The ceremony was concluded with a group photo of all attendees, including the guests and the students and teachers of the School of Global Governance.