On the afternoon of April 23, Renmin University of China (RUC) held its inaugural appointment and training ceremony for newly hired graduate advisors. This event is part of RUC’s efforts to build a team of graduate advisors that possess both academic expertise and humanistic mentorship.

RUC Council Chair Zhang Donggang attended the ceremony and delivered a speech, while President Lin Shangli hosted the event. Feng Shizheng, Vice President and Dean of RUC Graduate School, also attended the event.

During the ceremony, Zhang Donggang and Lin Shangli presented letters of appointment to the new graduate advisors.

In 2024, following individual applications, preliminary reviews, and university approval, 62 new doctoral advisors and 119 new master’s advisors were appointed. RUC now has 1,126 doctoral advisors and 1,836 master’s advisors.

In his speech, Zhang Donggang highlighted RUC’s distinguished tradition of attracting exceptional scholars throughout its 88-year history. The university has recently strengthened its faculty development through systematic reforms and institutional improvements, achieving remarkable progress in building its graduate advisor team.

Zhang Donggang also called upon new advisors to uphold the highest ethical standards, serving as exemplars of professional conduct while building meaningful relationships with students. He especially highlighted advisors’ responsibility to inspire students to contribute meaningfully to national development through their scholarly work.

Lin Shangli emphasized that the ceremony represents a concrete step toward enhancing graduate education quality and developing world-class academic standards. He also stressed the importance of balancing research excellence with effective student mentoring, advocating for creative approaches to graduate education that advance academic frontiers.

Feng Shizheng introduced the university’s graduate advisor system reforms, which include improvements in advisor management, recruitment, training, and evaluation to ensure comprehensive support for advisors’ professional growth.

New faculty representative Professor Zhang Youlang from the School of Public Administration and Policy pledged to fulfill his mentoring role through five commitments: advancing academic frontiers, fostering team collaboration, engaging with societal needs, and upholding professional ethics.

Professor Hao Lixin from the School of Marxism, with over 30 years of advising experience, shared key mentorship principles: cultivating students’ professional and personal development, demonstrating sustained commitment to their growth, and providing comprehensive guidance through academic challenges. He stressed the importance of supporting students’ research and career development with patience and dedication.

RUC has been accelerating the development of its distinctive graduate education system since 2022, aiming to cultivate leaders and innovators who will contribute to the nation’s revitalization.