On the evening of 31st August 2026, Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences (BiUH) held the Convocation Ceremony for the 2026 Cohort in Yangpu, Danzhou. Mr. LIU Xiaoming, Governor of Hainan Province, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech. Mr. ZOU Guang, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee, and Secretary of the CPC Danzhou Municipal Committee; Ms. XIE Jing, Vice Governor of Hainan Province; Mr. CAI Qiang, Secretary-General of Hainan Province, attended the ceremony.
On behalf of the provincial government, Governor Liu Xiaoming extended a warm welcome to the new students, conveyed his greetings to all faculty, staff and students, and expressed his appreciation to the German experts who had travelled from afar, as well as to all friends from across society who have long supported and contributed to the development of Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences.
He noted that education lays the foundation for national development and social progress, while openness and cooperation are essential to meeting the demands of the times. As the first university independently established by a foreign higher-education institution in China, Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences represents a landmark achievement in Hainan’s efforts to advance the opening-up of education and deepen educational cooperation between China and Germany. The University has drawn on the strengths of both Chinese and German approaches to education and pioneered a “work-integrated” model for talent development, enabling its programmes to respond more closely to the needs of Hainan’s industries. In doing so, it has opened up new pathways for the innovative development of international education in Hainan and made a positive contribution to the cultivation of internationally minded, practice-oriented professionals.
He expressed the hope that the University would remain committed to both academic excellence and innovation, while continuing to develop its distinctive strengths and enhance the quality of its education. He encouraged it to become a leading educational symbol of the Hainan Free Trade Port and a talent incubation hub, cultivating more globally competitive professionals to drive its development.
He encouraged the new students to remain passionate about learning and curious about the unknown, and to pursue their aspirations with dedication and determination; to become a bridge for Sino-German friendship and mutual learning among civilisations, putting openness and cooperation into practice; and to strive earnestly to make the most of their youth, translating their aspirations and efforts into Hainan’s high-quality development, while striving to become the best versions of themselves as they contribute to the success of others. The Hainan Provincial Government will, as always, continue to support the development of Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, deepen international educational exchange and cooperation, further enhance the quality of talent development, and work to make the University a model of China-Germany cooperation in education and cultural exchanges.
Prof. Dr. Ingeborg Schramm-Wölk, President of Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, extended a warm welcome to all members of the 2026 cohort in her address. She noted that, rooted in the Hainan Free Trade Port, the University brings together the strengths of Chinese and German education and is committed to cultivating internationally minded, versatile graduates equipped for the future. She expressed her hope that this young university would serve as a bridge between Germany’s universities of applied sciences and Hainan Free Trade Port, and encouraged students to learn with dedication and think critically, embrace different perspectives and learn from one another, and remain grounded in practice as they strive to become the best versions of themselves at BiUH.
In 2026, a total of 14 incoming students at Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences received Freshman Entrance Scholarships. At the Convocation Ceremony, Prof. Dr. Ingeborg Schramm-Wölk; ZENG Weilu, Vice President for Public Relations and Admissions; and Prof. Dr. Michael Stricker, Chairman of Hainan BiKe Education Development Limited Company, Board Member of Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, presented the scholarships to the recipients.
MAO Jiaguo, a scholarship recipient majoring in Industrial Engineering of the 2026 cohort, spoke on behalf of the new students, sharing his reflections on the aspirations that drew him to international education and the experiences and growth he gained during Orientation Week.
BiUH is committed to a “work-integrated” approach to education, placing practical learning at the heart of its teaching and continuously strengthening partnerships with industry. Dr. Dirk Klann, a faculty representative from Germany, shared his teaching experiences at BiUH in a presentation entitled “Extend the Classroom into Practical Exercise”. He encouraged the 2026 cohort to engage boldly, ask questions actively and remain curious, reminding them that meaningful growth often comes from learning through trial and error.
The ceremony reached its highlight with a vibrant performance of song and dance by 2026 cohort students YANG Xueying, SHEN Jinyi, WANG Zhixian, YANG Jing and GONG Xinnuo. Their performance of “Try Everything” captured a message at the heart of every new beginning: setbacks and challenges are an inevitable part of growth, but by embracing every opportunity to try and refusing to give up, we can continue to push beyond our limits and discover the endless possibilities that lie ahead.
At the end of the ceremony, teachers from the German Language Department and students of BiUH joined together to perform a bilingual Chinese-German rendition of “Ode to Joy”. The performance symbolised BiUH’s commitment to bringing together Chinese and German educational traditions, embracing the world and fostering an open and international learning environment.
Danzhou, a city where Su Dongpo once taught and shared his wisdom, has carried forward a rich cultural and intellectual heritage for more than a thousand years. Today, generations of young people with dreams and aspirations are gathering here to begin a new chapter of their lives in the open and dynamic environment of Hainan Free Trade Port.
May the 2026 cohort make the most of their university years, embrace every opportunity to learn and grow, and challenge themselves with ambition and determination. May they grow through both study and practice, and move forward together with the development of Hainan Free Trade Port, contributing their energy and aspirations to its future.
Mr. WANG Peng, Vice Secretary-General of Hainan Province; Mr. DENG Lisong, Director General of the Hainan Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology; Mr. HUO Peijun, Director of the Research Office of Hainan Province; Mr. CHEN Yang, Mayor of Danzhou; Ms. WANG Lingrong, First-Grade Inspector of Danzhou City; Mr. YANG Shanhua, Deputy Director of the Hainan Provincial Development and Reform Commission; Mr. XING Kongzheng, Vice Director-General of the Hainan Provincial Department of Education; Mr. WANG Lei, Vice Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province; Mr. QIN Sibo, Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Division, Hainan Provincial Department of Education; Mr. YANG Yongfei, Party Secretary of the Danzhou Education Bureau; Mr. LIANG Jun, Director of the Education Bureau of the Danzhou Municipal Government; Ms. GUAN Jian, Chief Supervisor of Education of the Danzhou Municipal Government; Mr. Stefan Bienefeld, Head of Transnational Education and Cooperation Programmes at the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD); Ms. Ruth Schimanowski, Head of Section Transnational Education and Cooperation Programmes in Europe, Asia and Central Asia, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD); Mr. HUANG Yongping, Assistant General Manager of Yangpu Holdings and Board Member of Hainan Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences; Mr. Sonic Cheng, Mr. Eric Geng, and Mr. Wesley Wu from Weidmüller Interface (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., our strategic partner in university-industry collaboration, along with all faculty, students, and staff of BiUH and parent representatives of the 2026 cohort, also attended the convocation ceremony.
