On the morning of September 28, The Fourth Overseas Distance Undergraduate Graduation Ceremony jointly organized by the Overseas Education College of Xiamen University and the Bandung International Foreign Language Academy (BIFLA) was held in the auditorium of BIFLA. Present at the ceremony were Tao Tao, Dean of the Overseas Education College and International College of XMU, Pan Chaoqing, Vice Dean of Chinese Language Department, Liu Qiang, director of distance teaching, Liao Xiuqiu, Chairwoman of Bandung Jinsong Foundation, the Foundation’s supervisors, delegation of Indonesian Alumni Association of XMU, representatives of local Chinese communities and education circle, social elites and parents of graduates.
The graduation ceremony officially commenced with Dean Tao Tao tapping the gavel three times. Then Dean Tao Tao and Chairwoman Liao Xiuqiu delivered speeches after the Indonesian National Anthem and the alma mater song of Xiamen University were played. Dean Tao first expressed his warm congratulations to the graduates, and introduced the history of Xiamen University and the Overseas Education College, as well as its cooperation and exchanges with the Indonesian education community. He pointed out that OEC has been running for more than 60 years and has trained nearly 60,000 professionals in all walks of life for more than 100 countries and regions around the world. Most of the Xiamen University alumni in Indonesia are also students of the early correspondence programs. Tao said, “The program jointly organized by the two institutes has nurtured nearly 300 undergraduates since it was launched in 2009, and has provided a large number of talents for local Chinese education in Indonesia. It is a successful attempt combining Internet-based distance education and Chinese education. We are looking forward to exploring new models of distance teaching to better serve Chinese education, and promote cultural exchanges with countries along the Belt and Road based on this cooperation program.” He stressed that it was the students’ own efforts, the support of their parents, the hard work of BIFLA and Jinsong Foundation that contributed to the successful graduation. What’s more, he put forward three expectations for graduates: the first one is to strive to contribute to social development; the second is to continue to promote friendly exchanges between China and Indonesia and to become a goodwill ambassador between the Chinese and Indonesia people; the last is to actively participate in alumni activities and support the development of their alma mater. He hoped the graduates will visit Xiamen and their alma mater in person when they have the chance.
Chairman Liao Xiuqiu expressed her gratitude to all circles for their support for Chinese education in Indonesia. She said that Chinese education in Indonesia had been interrupted for 30 years, and encountered countless obstacles during its recovery. Thanks to the strong support from all walks of life, Xiamen University and Hanban, the cause has developed gradually and is growing stronger. She was particularly grateful to the Overseas Education College for providing a rare distance learning platform and helping Chinese education community in Indonesia to train a group of young and aspiring teachers.
Following that, Dean Tao Tao performed the turning of the tassel for every graduate, and presented the diploma and the degree certificate to them. OEC also presented a graduation gift to each graduate, expecting that they will remain attached to their alma mater and bear the mission of Chinese language education in mind.
The graduate representative Li Runxiang delivered a speech, expressing her deep gratitude towards Xiamen University for providing Indonesian students with such learning opportunities, and gratitude to the teachers for their hard work as well as her family for their support.
After expressing gratitude to each other by presenting gifts, Dean Tao Tao announced the successful completion of the graduation ceremony with three gavel tapping.
Since the Overseas Education College of Xiamen University and Bandung International Foreign Language Academy launched the distance education undergraduate program in 2009, it has had nearly 300 undergraduate graduates. The project relies on the online course system of OEC. Currently online courses for six majors are offered, namely Chinese language (Chinese international education track and Business Chinese track), Chinese language and literature (literature track and teaching track), International Economy and Trade, Accounting, Hospitality Management and Marketing.