On 31 August 2026, the Institute for International and Area Studies (IIAS) at Tsinghua University held its 2026 New Student Opening Ceremony for doctoral students. Professor Jiang Jingkui, Dean of IIAS, He Xuebing, Party Branch Secretary and Associate Dean, all faculty members, and the 2026 cohort of new students attended the ceremony. The ceremony was chaired by Li Yuqing, Head of the Graduate Student Affairs Group. At the beginning of the ceremony, the host introduced the university leaders and faculty members in attendance and extended a warm welcome to the new students on behalf of the Institute. The new students then introduced themselves in turn, creating a warm and friendly atmosphere.
Professor Jiang Jingkui subsequently delivered the students' “first lesson”, entitled “Rigorous Scholarship, Integrity in Academic Pursuits and Personal Conduct”. Drawing on current international affairs, he noted that, as an emerging interdisciplinary discipline, area studies should be grounded in China's experience and guided by the goal of serving national strategic needs. He encouraged the new students to actively explore new areas of research and strive to become leading scholars in the field. He stressed that field research is an irreplaceable academic foundation of area studies and has always been a key pillar of talent cultivation and academic research at IIAS. Academic work should begin with the smallest details, with researchers devoting themselves to precise and focused studies of developing countries. Researchers must genuinely enter and become rooted in the countries they study, developing an understanding of local societies through long-term and in-depth field research They should go down to the “lotus pond” and undertake solid foundational research into the “water and mud”, rather than remaining at the level of superficial analysis focused merely on the “lotus flowers and leaves”. He noted that Tsinghua University and IIAS would continue to provide firm support for students undertaking long-term field research in their countries of study, helping them gain first-hand resources and conduct rigorous research. At the same time, he reminded students that, while making good use of artificial intelligence tools, they must strictly observe academic standards, uphold the ethics of fieldwork, and always regard academic integrity as the bottom line of their scholarly work. Finally, he encouraged the new students to remain committed to their aspirations and devote themselves to scholarship, without allowing external distractions to disrupt the rhythm of their academic development. He called on them to respond to the demands of the times, put action before words, and demonstrate their commitment through practice.
He Xuebing delivered the first Party lecture for the new students, entitled “Choices and Values”. Through an interactive exercise on career values, she encouraged students to reflect on what constitutes an “ideal choice”. Drawing on the career choices of several young Tsinghua alumni, she encouraged the new students to bear in mind General Secretary Xi Jinping's expectations for researchers, closely align their academic interests with the needs of national development, and have the courage to make choices and take responsibility, while pursuing a steady and purposeful path of seeking truth and pursuing practical knowledge.
The 2026 cohort of graduate students registered on 26 August. IIAS organised a series of activities for new students under the modules of “Academic Ethics and Scholarly Conduct”, “Introductory Party Education for New Students”, “Frontier Discussions on Professional Development”, “Introduction to the Training Programme”, “Mentor–Student Ideological and Political Education Seminar”, “University Rules and Regulations”, and “Career Development Education”. These activities were designed to help new students adapt to campus life and address questions concerning their studies, daily lives, and future development.
Group photo of the ceremony participants
