Graduation ceremony and reception for the 2023 Graduate Class of Nanchang University Queen Mary School

The journey began in the clouds, and accomplishments multiplied. The future is promising, and the road is long. The graduation ceremony for the 2023 Class of the joint programme between Nanchang University(NCU) and Queen Mary University (QMUL) took place on June 21st at the University Concert Hall. Attendees included Professor Chen Yeguang, President of NCU and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Liu Yaobin, Vice-President of NCU and National Yangtze River Scholar, Professor Colin Bailey, Principal of QMUL and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, Professor Wen Wang, Vice-Principal of QMUL and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, leaders and teachers representing both universities. The ceremony was presided over by Professor Luo Zhijun, Dean of Queen Mary School.

The scene of graduation ceremony of the 2017 Cohort

During the ceremony, President Chen Yeguang highly praised the ten-year partnership and remarkable achievements of the Joint Programme. Mary Queen School has overcome various challenges and achieved a record-high graduation rate. This year, the postgraduate admission rate for the 2018 cohort reached 65.1%, with 161 students entering postgraduate programme including domestic “Double First-class or prestigious medical universities. President Chen Yeguang expressed his hope the graduates would live up to their youth, adhere to integrity while being innovative, diligent and pragmatic, and contribute to country, society, and the people.

Speech by the President of Nanchang University, Chen Yeguang

Principal Colin Bailey stated that Queen Mary University of London was a world-class institution, and the Joint Programme with Nanchang University was a pioneer in Sino-British medical education. Graduates of Queen Mary School possess a broad international perspective, extensive scientific knowledge, and clinical skills, making them highly valuable healthcare talents today. President Colin Bailey congratulated the graduates on their successful completion of their studies and encouraged them to seize the present, look to the future, and contribute to the advancement of medical science for the benefit of humanity.

Speech by the Principal of Queen Mary University of London, Colin Baiely

Afterwards, the leaders of both universities and the leaders of the joint programme presented the following awards to students, NCU Excellent Graduate Award, College Award and Presidents award of QMUL.  Next,  Bachelor of Medicine from NCU and Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences from QMUL were conferred respectively to the graduates by both Presidents. Following the degree awarding ceremony, Professor Huang Guojun, the representative of the teachers, Li Xiaomiao, the representative of the parents, and Qi Wenxin,  the representative of the graduating students, delivered speeches.

Conferment of Degrees on graduates

After the graduation ceremony, Vice Principal of QMUL Wen Wang along with the teachers and staff of the joint programme, gathered with the graduates for a reception.  During the reception, the students presented various choreographed performances, and the school arranged a surprise birthday cake for students born in June. Additionally, Mark Maconochie, the co-Director of the joint programme, Professor Luo Zhijun, the director of the joint programme and Dean of the Queen Mary School of Nanchang University, and Party Secretary Yin Zhonglin delivered speeches, imparting the "final advice and suggestions" to the students. Listening to the earnest advice from professors representing both China and Britain, the students were filled with mixed emotions. During the subsequent open speech session, the graduates expressed their heartfelt gratitude and reluctance to part ways with the teachers who had nurtured them with love and dedication.

Student Performance

Thousands of miles of dream-chasing road, the sound of the young phoenix's clear cry resonates.Nanchang University Queen Mary School adheres to the fundamental mission of moral education and talent cultivation. It upholds the educational philosophy of "Spirit of medical endeavour, knowledge and service. A bridge reaching out into the world. British and Chinese elites together building a world class education." The teaching conditions are continuously improving, and the quality of talent cultivation is constantly enhanced,  and looking to the future, Nanchang University Queen Mary School will deepen its educational and teaching reforms and innovative talents for the medical education causes for the   countries.

Our school is responsible for the operation and management of the undergraduate cooperative program in clinical medicine between Nanchang University and Queen Mary University of London. This program is the first Sino-foreign cooperative education project in China to offer a dual bachelor’s degree in clinical medicine and biomedical sciences. It has pioneered high-level Chinese-foreign cooperative education in the field of medical studies in Jiangxi Province and serves as a successful model for Jiangxi's education opening-up and innovative cooperative education. The program has a duration of five years and awards a bachelor’s degree in clinical medicine from Nanchang University and a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science from Queen Mary University of London.

The graduation ceremony and reception were conducted through online streaming,  over 500 people, including university leaders, department heads, faculty and student and parents, attended the event in person. Additionally, more than 20,000 graduates, alumni, and parents witnessed the unforgettable moment of the Class of 2023 embarking on a new journey through the university's live streaming platform.