Since UIC put down its roots in Zhuhai fifteen years ago, with the attention, care and love from all walks of life, UIC has successfully created an experimental field for higher education reform and become one of the model colleges for higher education cooperation. In addition to UIC staff and students, such joys and pride deserve to be shared with others who have witnessed UIC's growth.
On 18 December, the UIC Education Foundation (UICEF) held the 15th Anniversary dinner and charity auction to express gratitude for the people who have supported UIC's development.
Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and President of UIC, Professor Tang Tao, said in his welcome speech that this event gathered UIC's friends from many places, hoping to expand more opportunities for the development of the Foundation. President Tang Tao mentioned that hopefully, in the next fifteen years, UIC will become a high-quality liberal arts university in Zhuhai to cultivate more outstanding talents for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the whole country.
President Tang Tao hopes that UIC can cultivate more outstanding talents
When talking about the second-phase construction of the campus, President Tang Tao believed that with UIC and Huitong Village's joint efforts, the second-phase campus would be unique. He expressed his gratitude to Zhuhai Municipal People's Government for their strong support to the campus construction and hoped that UIC's friends and alumni could come back and visit UIC to witness the development.
Ms Lin Chaohui and Mr Min Tao, UIC students' parents and the nationally registered auctioneers, hosted the auction session. In the end, all 26 auction items were successfully auctioned off, raising a total of 1.763 million yuan, which will be used for the future development of UIC.
At that night, many auction items were carrying the witnesses and blessings to the development of UIC. Prof Xu Jialu, Chairman of the UIC Council and the former Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, donated the calligraphy Ren Cai (Talent) created by the famous crosstalk artist Mr Hou Baolin. This displayed Prof Xu's deep affection as well as the ardent expectation for UIC to continue to cultivate talents. This item was finally acquired by Dr Xu Hong, the Executive Director of Zhujiang Education Medical Group and the Founding Chairman of the UIC Education Foundation, for RMB 310,000.
Ms Lilian Li, Secretary-General of UICEF, Assistant to President and Director of Institutional Development Office, introduces the calligraphy Ren Cai
Mr Liu Feng, Chairman of Hetu Education Technology, acquired the item Cheers donated by President Tang Tao for RMB 160,000. Ms Zeng Dayan, General Manager of Zhuhai Jing'e Brand Management, won the calligraphy Du Fu's Three Poems on Birds donated by UIC Provost Prof Chen Zhi, for RMB 102,000. The participants in the donation, auction and collection truly showed their deep love for UIC, and UIC is sincerely grateful for their support.
Prof Chen Zhi introduces the calligraphy Du Fu's Three Poems on Birds
President Tang Tao and Dr Xu Hong (right) present the two auctioneers with the white gloves for 100% closing of deals
In this extraordinary year of 2020, the Solidarity Emergency Fund, initiated by UIC and used to assist students, faculties and alumni who encounter major emergencies, received positive feedback from all social sectors and received about 4.736 million yuan donation from 876 units and individuals. At present, five students have received financial support. The videos expressing their gratitude were released at the dinner party.
Vice President (Administration) of UIC and the Chairman of the Foundation, Prof Mao Yaqing, presented an appreciation certificate to the donors' representative, Ms Zeng Dayan. Ms Zeng Dayan said that they have witnessed UIC's vigorous development and will share their due social responsibilities with UIC and convey warmth and love. Ms Song Yakun, who is also the donor of Solidarity Emergency Fund and the chairman of Jilin Fuyuanguan Food Group, said that UIC is tirelessly and steadily creating bright prospects for its development, and she hoped that everyone could applaud and cheer for the better future of UIC.
Prof Mao Yaqing presents the certificate to Ms Zeng Dayan
Ms Song Yakun (right) is appreciating the auction items
The dinner party's performance also reflected UIC's liberal arts education and the eclectic cultural atmosphere of Chinese and Western culture. Before the dinner started, UIC Yuzhen Jinsheng Yayue Orchestra performed with the drums. A student dance club performed a traditional dance with modern elements, and Mr Jacob Algrim, a lecturer of the English Language Centre, played a piece on the guqin.
The dinner came to an end in the touching song of UIC's A Capella group. In this activity, 50 student volunteers from assisting in the activities such as reception and auction items display. Chen Yongxi, a second-year student from Accounting, said that being a volunteer not only expanded their knowledge, and more importantly, they felt the concern and support for UIC from all walks of life, which made them feel proud of being a UICer.
From MPRO
Reporter: Ma Yiran
Photographers: Covee Wang, UICEF
Editors: Samuel Burgess, Deen He
