JIN Li, president of Fudan University, addressed how to become a capable learner in the age of AI. He highlighted three key qualities: first, being a discoverer who cultivates critical thinking; second, developing the ability to learn collaboratively with AI assistants; and third, embracing challenges as a creator. He concluded by encouraging every student to be an individual with both a free mind and an interesting soul. As he put it, AI equals “Action + I”, and now is the time for every Fudaner to write their own legend.
Faculty representative SU Hao, dean of the Institute for General Physical Intelligence, delivered a speech on how to understand the relationship between us and AI. He said that even if AI may rewrite the how, but the why is ours to write. Answers from AI are only a starting point for acquiring knowledge and seeking for truth, instead of the ending point of thoughts. Su called on us to deal with the real world not only with AI, but also with a clear perception of ourselves.
Freshman representative HE Zixuan from the eight-year clinical medicine program, expressed her excitement of entering a new life phase in Fudan. She believes what makes Fudan truly remarkable is its inclusiveness as it never defines success in a single way, nor does it confine anyone to a fixed path. Here, Fudan will give her and her fellow students the confidence to try, the courage to dream, and the freedom to find ourselves.
LI Xinhao, a first-year graduate student at the Shanghai Center for Mathematical Sciences, shared his journey from Fudan undergrad to grad student. For him, the joy of math goes beyond getting the right answer — it’s about seeing the order behind complexity. At Fudan, he said, students can dig deep into theory while keeping their feet on the ground, and take abstract formulas into the real world.
Ola Sherief, a graduate student from Egypt at Fudan’s School of Journalism, spoke as an international student representative on cultural transmission. In 2025, she took part in the “Chinese Bridge” competition, during which she learned Bajing Quan, a traditional martial art from Luoyuan, Fujian Province, and joined the filming of the documentary A Tale of Two Cities, which follows the stories of Chinese and Egyptian youth. On the 70th anniversary of China-Egypt diplomatic relations, she chose to come to Fudan to further her commitment to global cultural communication.
We wish all our new students the wisdom and courage to steer their own lives.
(END)
Writer: WU Zhengyang
Editor: LI Yijie
