SII-DUFE holds inaugural opening ceremony for 2025 PhD cohort
Surrey International Institute (SII) at Dongbei University of Finance and Economics (DUFE) successfully hosted the opening ceremony for its inaugural 2025 PhD cohort on Monday, 8 September in the Lijin Building.
Prof Shi Da, Dean of SII（DUFE), Dr Gary Rivers, Dean of Operations (University of Surrey), and Prof Shi Fangfang, Associate Dean of SII DUFE), delivered welcome speeches in sequence. They elaborated on the educational objectives of this collaborative PhD programme and extended sincere wishes to the new students. Also in attendance were representatives of SII’s PhD co-supervisors, who were invited to witness this important milestone in the students’ academic careers.
Following the welcome speeches, the three PhD students - Bao Yiwen, Yue Danni, and Sun Mingqian - took turns to introduce themselves. They shared details of their academic backgrounds, including prior research experiences and academic interests, as well as their learning plans for the upcoming PhD studies, demonstrating clear academic goals and enthusiasm for their future research.
The ceremony concluded with introductions by heads of SII’s subject groups and directors of key functional departments. They outlined the responsibilities and services of their respective units, helping the new cohort gain a clear understanding of the academic support, research resources, and daily administrative services available to them throughout their PhD programme - laying a solid foundation for their upcoming studies.
As a flagship joint programme between DUFE and the University of Surrey, the inauguration of this first PhD cohort not only reaffirms the two universities’ commitment to deepening cross-institutional collaboration but also highlights their shared dedication to nurturing high-calibre talents with global perspectives and cutting-edge research capabilities. This ceremony sets a strong foundation for the smooth advancement of future joint PhD training initiatives.
