A series of activities for the 2021 graduation season of the HNU-ASU Joint International Tourism College, Hainan University (HAITC) was successfully held from May 24 to 26.

The group photo of all 2021 graduates of HAITC.

Zhu Dingjian, member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and president of Mission Hills Group, a key player in the country’s fledgling sports and leisure industry, as well as Zhang Chao, first-class researcher of the higher education office of the Education Department of Hainan Province, and Luo Qingming, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of Hainan University (HNU), attended the activities.

Other leaders participating included Liao Qinglin, deputy secretary of the HNU Party Committee, HNU Vice President Fu Guohua, and Ye Guangliang, vice president and Standing Committee member of the HNU Party Committee.

Professor Jonathan Koppell, Dean of Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, Arizona State University (ASU), and Professor Kathleen Anderick, who were unable to be present due to epidemic prevention and control measures, attended online through video link. More than 90 parents also came to the event. 

With the strong support of HNU and the general public, the activities practiced the school’s education concept of “focusing on students’ growth”, achieved the expected results, and won the unanimous praise of teachers and students, parents and other attendees.

Graduation Exhibition

The HAITC Graduation Exhibition was held on May 24 at the International Academic Exchange Center of HNU. Edward Yuan, general manager of the Sanya Edition Hotel, a luxurious brand of Marriott International Inc, a leading lodging company, and Fu Qiongfen, director of Hainan Farvision Law Firm, the largest law firm in Hainan, were invited to be the judges. All teachers and students of 2017 participated in the event.

HAITC Graduation Exhibition is held on May 24.

The exhibition is an important part of graduation in HAITC. Last year, the college implemented the comprehensive innovation reform for undergraduate graduation project, combined the requirements of Chinese and American universities for graduation theses and internships, and built the graduation project as a combination of production, study and research.

Through cooperation with related units, the problems faced by the tourism industry are brought in for research. The team members put forward and solved the problems together through team cooperation.

According to the arrangement, the students carried out thesis research and writing in groups, refined the key and difficult points and research problems for their graduation thesis, and finally displayed the results in the form of a poster.

This exhibition covered 53 posters of 53 thesis projects from hotel management, human geography and urban/rural planning and administrative management. After fierce competition, one first prize, two second prizes and three third prizes were awarded.

Graduation Thesis Defense Presentation

The 2021 Graduation Thesis Defense Presentation of HAITC was successfully held at the Tin Ka Ping building on May 25. It is an important part in the implementation of comprehensive innovation reform of undergraduate graduation projects at HAITC.

The 2021 Graduation Thesis Defense Presentation of HAITC is held on May 25.

The defense presentation was attended by students majoring in hotel management, public management, urban and rural planning, marketing and tourism management. They were divided into 53 groups with 23 judges selected from tutor teams.

Students made a comprehensive statement to the judges on the research issues, research significance, research content, research methods and innovative points. The judges carefully and rigorously inspected the graduates’ proficiency in professional knowledge by asking questions directed at the thesis. They then evaluated the highlights and shortcomings of each thesis and put forward suggestions for revision.

This year’s graduation thesis topics had a broad field of vision, which better reflects the international characteristics of HAITC. 

Excellent topics included “opportunities and challenges of international NGOs in China”, “coupling degrees of Hainan’s regional economy, tourism and ecological environment”, “motives, restrictions and advantages of visiting national parks in China”, and “research on the market strategy of high-end hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic”.

Finally, exceptional graduation project teams at school and university levels will be selected based on the results of graduation exhibitions and thesis defense presentations.

Graduation & Degree Award Ceremony

The 2021 Graduation & Degree Award Ceremony of HAITC was held on May 26 at the Siyuan Auditorium. The guests, school leaders, all senior students and some parents participated.

The 2021 Graduation & Degree Award Ceremony of HAITC is held on May 26.

In the ceremony, a review video was played which evoked students’ precious and beautiful memories of four years of campus life. The guests shared personal experiences with students to encourage young people to fight bravely, to be time managers, and to pursue their dreams. Representatives of graduates and teachers shared the most touching words with the students.

Vice President Ye Guangliang delivered a speech in the ceremony. He congratulated all graduates on their successful completion of studies as the first batch of Sino-US double degree students. He reviewed the rapid growth of HNU, HAITC, and all the students, and also proposed several expectations for the graduates and encouraged them to actively participate in the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

Wang Lin, dean of HAITC, conducted tassel shifting for 248 graduates, expressing her blessings for them all. The HAITC Alumni Association was also established in the ceremony.

Wang Lin, dean of HAITC, conducts tassel shifting for the graduates.

A group photo of all graduates was taken in the International Academic Exchange Center of HNU. President Luo had a cordial conversation with students and expressed care for their study and career planning. The atmosphere was harmonious and warm.

The HAITC Alumni Association is established at the ceremony.

On the evening of May 26, a graduation wine party, rich in activities, was held in the square of Tin Ka Ping building. Teachers and students wore elegant dresses and stepped onto the red carpet in pairs. 

At the party, the students reviewed the ups and downs of life in the four-year study program, and shared their happiness and sadness of campus life with classmates and teachers. The successful holding of this series of activities created a wonderful graduation season, and received a warm response from students and parents. So far, more than 3 million people have watched the video and viewed the photos of the event on the live-streaming platform.

Students walk in pairs to attend the graduation wine party.