On June 28th, 2022, the School of Public Health of Peking University held an impressive Online Graduation Ceremony for the first graduates of the Executive Masters of Public Health Program (EMPH). This ceremony was attended by 4 EMPH graduates of the class of 2022 as well as directors of relevant administration departments, the representatives of graduate supervisors and teachers attended the ceremony. It was presided by Prof. Yajun Xu, Deputy dean of PKU School of Public Health.

The ceremony began with a specially produced video showing the most familiar landscapes and landmarks of Peking University, reviewing the recent highlights of the school of public health, and recording the online learning activities of graduates in the past two years. This video ends with a summary of the graduates' study career and their expectations for the future. They thanked all the teachers, classmates and family members who had helped them.

Following the video, Prof. Ming Xu, Dean of the Graduate school of Peking University Health Science Center, delivered an opening speech. He said that amid the mounting global public health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, graduation is not an ending but a fresh start. As Peking University graduates, global citizens, future global health leaders, whenever and wherever you are, remember to take responsibility on your shoulders and join hands to build of a community of common health for mankind.

After that, Mr. Xiaoguang Zuo, Deputy directors of PKUHSC International Cooperation Office, began to speak. He appealed to all graduates of Peking University's EMPH program to make contributions to the cause of disease control and prevention, and help to enhance the public health system both domestically and internationally using their knowledge and expertise. He believes that the "diligent, rigorous, realistic and innovative" style of study and the "kind" spirit of Peking University health science center will be continued and inherited by the graduates.

Prof. Siyan Zhan, the Dean of PKU School of Public Health, stressed in her speech that in the face of adversity, global solidarity is the key to overcoming obstacles that affect us, as no man is an island. She hopes that students can always strive to be a better person wherever they go in the future, care about their families, the world around them and beyond, and give back to society. She believes that learning does not begin at University, nor does it end with graduation. She urged the students to remain curious and seek solutions. Because it is this questing for greater expertise and deeper understandings that will shape the future, along with the personal qualities and values.

Next, Prof. Fuqiang Cui, supervisor representative, said that earning an MPH degree is not the end of learning, but rather, the beginning of life, the starting point of a new milestone. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us the needs of professional talent. The world needs good global governance and excellent public health professionals, and we need to work together for the health of people. He believes that students will bear in mind their professional honors and missions, and contribute their wisdom and ability for the pursuing of global public health.

In the subsequent speech, Esther Debora Ngegba, a Sierra Leone girl fom West Africa who studied under Prof. Fu qiang Cui, delivered a speech on behalf of the graduates. In her speech, Esther shared her growth experience in the school of public health, Peking University. Today, PKU has assisted all of them to become more effective and productive citizens in their respective countries. At PKU, they have discovered new abilities and able to reach full potential, achieving goals they had never imagined. This Graduation symbolizes the completion of a journey and the achievement of a goal.

After the speeches, Prof. Siyan Zhan, Dean of the school of public health, turned the tassel for degree candidates and awarded diplomas. When the graduates are asked to turn their tassel from one side of their cap to another and this signifies the earning of a degree.

At the end, Deputy dean Prof. Yajun Xu congratulated the graduates and said, "graduation marks the completion of your current academic journey, but it also signals the start of a new phase of your lives and your careers.". She wished the students well in their future endeavours, and she hoped that one day, their career journey would bring them back to Peking University as continuing students, colleagues, mentors, supporters and friends.

The ceremony ended with the presentation of gifts for the graduates, and congratulated the graduates of the same age all over the world.

Congratulations to all the graduates:

Mutesi Christine Fortunate Rebecca, Tembo Elijah, Kpaka Rashid Bundu, Ngegba Esther Debora

Source: PKU School of Public Health

Writer:Xiaoxia Wang, Xiaochen Yang

Editor: Yajun Xu, Xiangrong Xu