On the morning of September 8, the Orientation Ceremony of 2024 New Students of the School of Philosophy of Renmin University of China (RUC) and the first lesson of “Masters Speak on the Great Way” were held in F116 of the Hall of National Studies. Zang Fengyu, Dean of the School of Philosophy and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, Shi Decai, Secretary of the Party Committee, Zhang Xiao, Vice Dean, Yuan Li, Vice Dean, , Xiao Jing, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee; Mr. Guo Zhan, renowned philosopher and Honorary First Class Professor of Renmin University of China, and Mr. Ou Yangqian, representative of the faculty and Wu Yuzhang Senior Chair Professor, as well as the teachers of all the freshmen, the School's academic and management teams, and all the freshmen of the class of 2024 attended the assembly, which was presided over by Shi Decai.

This year, the School of Philosophy had 190 new students enrolled, including 23 undergraduates in the PPE program, 101 master's degree students, 66 doctoral students, and 6 international students. In addition, there are 30 undergraduates in the Plan for Strengthening Basic Academic Disciplines. Shi De Cai expressed his heartfelt congratulations and warm welcome to all the new students. On the occasion of the 40th Teachers' Day, Shi De Cai sent his sincere greetings to all the teachers of the college, and expressed his heartfelt thanks to them for sticking to their original aspiration, taking up their mission, and making important contributions to talent cultivation, discipline construction, and the development of the school.

With the theme of “Continuing the glorious tradition, practicing the mission of life”, Li Rongting, the representative of the new doctoral students of the class of 2024, expressed his expectation for being immersed in the academic tradition of School of Philosophy of RUC and hoped that students would consciously practice their mission of life in the course of study. As for the career direction of philosophy researcher, he encouraged students to stick to the path of scholarly research, interpret philosophy and practice philosophy with their own life.

Lv Jiahui, the representative of the new master's degree student of class 2024, encouraged students to always remember the significance behind the emblem and motto of the university and to build their own spiritual home. With the key words of “persistence”, “cooperation” and “experience”, she inspired students to practice independent thinking, expand their horizons in communication, and better understand the world and themselves in the process of self-examination. In the future, during her study in RUC, she hopes to turn her study experience into nourishment for her thoughts and plant the roots of philosophy in her spiritual home.

Dang Shiyi, the representative of new undergraduate student of PPE program of class 2024, shared her excitement and expectation for studying in RUC. In her opinion, the School of Philosophy of RUC is an ocean of discourse, which stimulates the spark of one's critical thinking; it is a platform full of exploration, which allows students to explore the height of life while pursuing academic depth. She encouraged all students to cherish their time of study, uphold enthusiasm, wisdom and courage, explore the mysteries of philosophy, challenge the unknown of philosophy, and write the answer sheet of the era of philosophical researchers.

Sun Yifan, representative of the master's degree students of class 2023, shared his growth and thoughts in the light of the confusion and perplexity in the process of studying. In the face of diversified evaluation standards and differentiated discourse system, they have to be firm in their beliefs in thinking and practice; in the face of academic pressure, they have to learn to anchor themselves in anxiety; in the face of national development and upcoming personal ambition, they have to learn to realize their personal value. She encouraged the students to be practical, improve their skills, put aside distractions in the face of setbacks, be firm in their beliefs in the face of choices, and not change their obsession in the face of aspirations, so as to build a firm foundation for their ideals and beliefs, develop excellent skills, and dedicate themselves to the times with all sincerity.

Yanjie Ren, an undergraduate student of the class of 2022 in the Plan for Strengthening Basic Academic Disciplines, representative of the current students, welcomed all the new students. He shared a few reflections about life ideals and life plans. Firstly, we should insist on the love of wisdom and knowledge, and be a diligent and thoughtful philosophy student; secondly, we should remember the school motto of seeking truth from facts, and be a practical RUC student; lastly, we should have the courage to bear the responsibility, and be a Chinese young man who lives up to the times. In the face of the full and busy university life, he encouraged students to stick to the original aspiration, keep thinking, and find their own possibilities and certainties.

In 2024, the School of Philosophy invited eight full-time faculty members and management cadres to serve as freshman head teachers, and Dean Zang Fengyu issued letters of appointment to all the freshman head teachers.

Faculty representative, Mr. Ouyang Qian, Wu Yuzhang Senior Chair Professor, firstly welcomed all the new students and thanked them for choosing to come to study at the School of Philosophy of RUC. Prof. Ouyang Qian made three suggestions to the new students: first, the key to learn philosophy is to learn concepts; philosophers have created various theoretical concepts, which we need to learn and master. Our life experience is often in the situation of no-concept and pre-concept, thus making us feel strange and fearful, and philosophical concepts can help us overcome our fear and establish cognition. Secondly, learning philosophy is not based on the mastery of a single subject, but requires a more comprehensive and multidisciplinary knowledge, such as psychology and physics. In addition to book knowledge, attending performances and exhibitions is also a useful way to help us learn philosophy. Prof. Ouyang Qian encourages new students to take advantage of Beijing's rich cultural resources by attending concerts and art exhibitions. Third, there is also a practical orientation to studying philosophy. Practice in the broad sense means paying attention to and thinking about the social times, not burying oneself in a pile of old books, but also paying attention to the present. In the narrower sense, practice means to make philosophy one's own guide to life, and to make philosophy a personalized thought activity through practice of oneself.

On behalf of the School of Philosophy, Dean Zang Fengyu welcomed all the new students and gave them earnest words of advice. He mentioned three expectations: first, to establish the ambition of studying. Dean Zang quoted the classical question from Mencius, shared with the students the significance of upholding high ideals, and encouraged them to set up lofty academic aspirations. True philosophy resides at the spiritual peak of the times, and we will not only transcend ourselves in the process of studying philosophy in depth, but also understand existence itself in the process. Secondly, we should read and understand the tradition of School of Philosophy of RUC. As the philosophy department of the first new type of formal university founded in new China, the School of Philosophy has made important contributions to the development of the discipline, the study of philosophical thought and the enhancement of philosophical literacy of cadres in China, and epitomizes the evolution of philosophy teaching and research in new China. I hope that students will participate in creating a new history of the School of Philosophy of RUC in the process of reading and understanding the history of the discipline at RUC, so that the flame can be passed on from one generation to the next. Thirdly, we must maintain the academic stamina to study philosophical classics and to think about issues at the forefront of philosophy. We should face the problems of the times, grasp the pulse of the times, breathe with the times, grasp the essence and laws of the world based on deep thinking, and strive to present the times in our thoughts. Finally, Dean Zang Fengyu wished all the teachers of the School of Philosophy a happy holiday, and encouraged all the students to be enterprising and pragmatic, and to be persistent in the field of thought, believing that they will surely usher in a bright future in their philosophical careers, and realize a transcendent and valuable life.

Wish all the members in the School of Philosophy of RUC realize the charm of philosophical thinking, let fly the youthful dream, and write a magnificent chapter of life in the future study and life!