On May 27, the ceremony commemorating the 120th anniversary of Fudan University was held at the Zhengda Gymnasium. Nearly 4,500 alumni, faculty representatives, and delegates from domestic and international universities attended the event.
The crowd was fired up by the students’ energetic song performances, pushing the lively celebration to its climax.
One day earlier, President XI Jinping extended congratulations to Fudan University on the 120th anniversary of its founding, encouraging the university to promote a virtuous cycle between independent tech innovation and homegrown talent development.
In his congratulatory letter, Xi commended the university for keeping pace with the times, developing a glorious tradition of patriotism and a fine academic ethos, nurturing numerous outstanding talents, and producing a wealth of original achievements over the past 120 years.
“Innovation is Fudan’s defining hallmark,” said JIN Li, president of Fudan University, at the ceremony. He believes that an innovative university unlocks boundless possibilities for human creativity, serves as a cornerstone of national innovation, and constantly pushes boundaries to reinvent itself while leading with openness and vision.
“Fudan is both Chinese and global,” Jin added. Fudan will bridge China and the world by upholding common human values and promoting exchanges between different civilizations. In this way, Fudan will advance the pursuit of truth, enrich human knowledge, set coordinates for and explore new frontiers in global sustainable development, and serve the progress of the global community of shared future.
GONG Qihuang, President of Peking University, spoke on behalf of universities that have long-standing partnerships with Fudan. He noted that despite being located in different regions, Peking University and Fudan University share a profound connection. Over the years, the two institutions have built a strong partnership through shared challenges and close collaboration in talent development, research, and international exchange. In the future, Peking University looks forward to deepening this partnership and exploring new avenues of cooperation with Fudan University.
“I’ve been here in Fudan for nearly 14 years. I find it a very conducive place for productive research and teaching students,” said Professor Marie Harder from Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at the ceremony, who spoke highly of the academic environment at Fudan and the lifestyle in Shanghai. “More and more professors would probably start thinking about coming here, when they realize Fudan’s global status and the lifestyle that is so international in Shanghai.”
Simon Lichtenberg, a Fudan alumnus and founding chairman of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China, first came to Fudan University in 1987 to study Mandarin at the International Cultural Exchange School, where he developed a profound appreciation for Chinese culture. He credits his Fudan education with laying the groundwork for his successful entrepreneurial career. Recently, he was honored to receive a reply letter from President Xi, encouraging him and the Chamber to continue building bridges of understanding and friendship between China and Europe.
Alumni, faculty members, and student representatives addressed the ceremony, sharing their experiences and outlining their visions for the future.
Fudan alumni WANG Changtian, chairman of Elight Media and producer of the NAZHA 2, the 5th highest-grossing movie ever at the global box office, believes the Fudan temperament is a distinctive fusion of pragmatism and romanticism. This unique ethos drives both academic excellence and social impact while celebrating life’s joys and personal growth.
As a proud Fudan graduate, Wang hopes to contribute to his alma mater’s legacy. He envisions a community of Fudan alumni who lead extraordinary lives with vibrant spirits—continually inspiring one another and brightening the world around them.
Tiziana Lippiello, Rector of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and Fudan alumna, reflected on how her time at Fudan gave her the profound gift of reading both classical and modern Chinese texts. She highlighted how Fudan, deeply rooted in Chinese intellectual tradition, remains a source of global inspiration.
In these uncertain times, she noted, universities must do more than educate—they must lead. Knowledge brings responsibility, and education has the power to transform lives and redefine our future. Lippiello expressed confidence that Fudan’s scholars and students would continue advancing humanity’s sustainable development with integrity, creativity, and courage.
Professor PENG Huisheng from the Department of Macromolecular Science fondly recalled his graduate years at Fudan in 2000. Though a science researcher, he frequently visited the humanities library and attended lectures by distinguished scholars, discovering firsthand the power of interdisciplinary learning.
He noted that “patriotism, academic freedom, inclusiveness, and pursuit of excellence” are the values that have shaped generations of distinguished scholars and leaders in Fudan. Looking ahead, he aims to guide his team in conducting world-class research, developing groundbreaking scientific theories and transformative technologies that will not only revolutionize industries but also contribute to the progress of human civilization.
Student representative JIAO Kexin, a Ph.D. student at Huashan Hospital, has participated in pioneering research on innovative therapies including gene and targeted biological treatments. Jiao expressed her commitment to upholding the Fudan spirit and using her medical expertise to contribute to society, following in the footsteps of her predecessors.
XU Qingsen, vice-minister of the Ministry of Education, and ZHU Zhongming, deputy Party secretary of Shanghai delivered speeches at the ceremony. XIE Dong, vice mayor of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government attended the ceremony. QIU Xin, chairman of Fudan University Council presided over the ceremony.
The ceremony was also attended by leaders from sister universities at home and abroad, leaders from regions and organizations that have long cooperated with Fudan, descendants of Fudan’s founders, trustees and alumni representatives, former leaders of Fudan University and Shanghai Medical College, national honor awardees and their families, and on-campus teachers and students.
The university invited 120 academicians and senior liberal arts professors, 120 secondary school principals nationwide, and 120 alumni association representatives. This gathering aimed to advance academic excellence, honor scholarly achievements, and strengthen alumni connections.
Engaging in academic exchanges is a tradition of Fudan University’s anniversary celebrations. The university has held a variety of international academic exchange activities during its 120th anniversary celebrations. These events attracted numerous top-notch scholars and university presidents worldwide.
The International Conference on AI for Science was held on May 26. At the conference, Fudan University and Springer Nature jointly unveiled Science and AI, a new peer-reviewed journal dedicated to publishing high-quality original research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and scientific discovery across multiple disciplines.
During the conference, Fudan University partnered with the Shanghai Academy of AI for Science and Nature Research Intelligence to release The White Paper on AI for Science 2025. The event also saw the establishment of three major initiatives: the International Academic Alliance for AI in Science, the AI-aided Education and Innovation Center, and the upgraded CFFF (Computing for the Future at Fudan) 2.0 smart computing platform.
The University and Sustainable Development Symposium was held on May 27, under the theme “Building a Global Community of Higher Education: Innovative Pathways for Sustainable Development”. The event brought together dozens of university presidents and leading experts from China and around the world for in-depth discussions on advancing sustainability through education and research.
Writer: WANG Mengqi
Editor: LI Yijie
