Twenty years ago, a group of pioneers took the lead and introduced liberal arts education to China and established UIC. Today, as UIC is firmly rooted in the country and has well-developed, nurturing batches of comprehensive talents with national sentiments and global perspectives, it starts the celebration of its 20th anniversary.
On 9 March 2004, Hong Kong Baptist University and Beijing Normal University sign an agreement to establish UIC in Zhuhai
More events to come after the launching ceremony
As the prelude to UIC's 20th birthday, a ceremony was held, gathering its Founding President Prof Ng Ching-fai, second President and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Prof Tang Tao, President Prof Chen Zhi and distinguished guests to witness and turn on a new chapter of UIC's development.
During the ceremony, Prof Chen affirmed UIC's 20 years of commitment to liberal arts education. He pointed out that when facing challenges brought by the new era, UIC will focus on three directions at its 20-year milestone: crafting a Chinese solution for future interdisciplinary and international education, building a global academic network through its new Boston Center and cultivating more intercultural talents to promote Chinese culture.
UIC President Prof Chen Zhi
Prof Ng expressed his gratitude towards the collective efforts of UIC's faculty and staff and the support UIC has received over the twenty years that has propelled it to strive forward. He expected more students to grow with UIC's educational philosophy in this beautiful and well-facilitated environment in Zhuhai.
UIC Founding President Prof Ng Ching-fai
Prof Tang cherished UIC for its courage to lead in liberal arts education, its commitment to fostering well-rounded students, and its persistence in the core of education. He looked forward to the university continuing its legacy, amplifying the voice of Chinese liberal education globally from its 20th-anniversary milestone.
UIC second President and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Prof Tang Tao
At the ceremony, the plaque for the Mr & Mrs Ching-Fai Ng Performance Theatre was officially unveiled. This momentous occasion serves as a testament to Prof Ng's patriotism and spirit of innovation, inspiring future generations to strive forward.
The plaque unveiling for the Mr & Mrs Ching-Fai Ng Performance Theatre
UIC presents certificates to honour its education allies at the ceremony
The ceremony is presided by UIC Party Secretary of the College Party Committee, Vice President (Administration) Prof Mao Yaqing
UIC's history exhibition, A Trailblazing Journey of UIC, co-hosted by the School of General Education and the Learning Resource Centre, was opened to the public on the same day. The exhibition highlights the important figures, events, and educational concepts during the early stages of UIC's establishment.
UIC senior management and guests at the exhibition
Teaching blocks in PhaseⅡ campus topped out
Earlier in the day, UIC also topped out the first phase of its PhaseⅡ campus teaching blocks, witnessed by its students, faculty, staff and guests.
This phase, with a floor area of approximately 93,000 square meters, consists of five teaching and laboratory buildings, an office building, and associated facilities, resembling an open eye of wisdom, and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
The rendering picture of the first phase of the teaching blocks in the PhaseⅡ campus
Prof Chen extended thanks to the government, members of the UIC community, and industries for their collaborative efforts and solid support in constructing the campus to empower the university's international development and liberal arts education practice.
The PhaseⅡ campus, with an area of around 400,000 square meters, will feature three clusters of scientific research buildings, teaching blocks, and residence halls. UIC will continue to build a university town with the historical Huitong Village in the future.
Logo and theme for 20th-anniversary
The anniversary logo, along with the theme, was unveiled on the same day.
The number "20" as the core element depicts the important milestone of the establishment of UIC, and the "wave" element reflects its geographical location in the Greater Bay Area and also the courage to ride waves in the development of China's higher education. The logo is embedded with the bilingual theme of the anniversary, "Two Decades We Grow, in Liberal Arts We Glow".
An invitation to the globe
Consistently, UIC has made efforts in innovative discipline construction, global talent recruitment, and internationalised education. This has been witnessed from the graduation of the first 244 undergraduates in 2009 to over 20,000 undergraduate, master's, and doctoral graduates spread across the globe today.
To celebrate its 20th birthday, UIC has prepared various activities, including a global tour by the Yayue Orchestra, musicals, an alumni homecoming day, academic forums, and more, all aimed at creating more memorable moments.
From MPRO
Reporter: Cecilia Yu, Cheryl Chen, Koga Song
Photographer: Hanna He, Season Li
Videographer: Owen Li, Mi Xiuqi
