On the afternoon of September 2, 2025, the Institute for Global Public Policy (IGPP) at Fudan University held its 2025 Opening Ceremony and Orientation, welcoming over 60 new students from 20 countries across six continents. The event was attended by Dean Yijia Jing of IGPP, Deputy Secretary Yinghao Wang of the School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Professor Ke Shen of the School of Social Development and Public Policy, Dr. Yanyan Huang of the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, along with the full faculty and administrative team. The ceremony was hosted by Postdoctoral Fellow Lijianan Zhang of IGPP.  

After a group photo and the singing of the national anthem, the host announced the 20 countries represented by the new students. In a video message, Secretary-General of the Arab Universities Association and Fudan University Honorary Professor Amr Ezzat Salama welcomed the students, encouraging them to embrace global perspectives and fully utilize IGPP’s academic resources and international network.Faculty representatives Associate Professor Ping Jiang and Professor Ke Shen encouraged students to combine academic exploration with social awareness and personal growth with contributions to society, emphasizing the importance of developing not only professional skills but also wisdom, responsibility, and empathy beyond the classroom.

Alumni sent video greetings, sharing their experiences and achievements. Ruoyu Li, from the Class of 2022, reflected on how IGPP prepared her for a career at UNESCO’s International Center for Higher Education Innovation, while Italian alumnus Giovanni Bray shared his cross-cultural learning experiences and encouraged new students to actively engage in discussions and exchanges at Fudan.

New student representatives also shared their expectations. MGPP student Yang Li reflected on how global challenges, such as conflicts and climate change, highlight the connection between public policy and human destiny. GPE student Philip Stormberg mentioned a family connection to Fudan spanning forty years, emphasizing the continuation of Fudan’s tradition of openness. DGPP student Yizhe Wu quoted Benjamin Franklin, underscoring the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and diverse communities in addressing global challenges.

During the ceremony, participants viewed a video showcasing IGPP’s “Global Leadership Activities.” Office Director Rong Zhang introduced IGPP’s achievements in international collaboration and recent developments, highlighting partnerships with LSE, as well as scholarship opportunities and global internship programs.

In his closing remarks, Dean Jing encouraged students to embrace their responsibilities as global scholars, citizens, and leaders, invoking the saying “One who does not sweep at home cannot sweep the world” to emphasize the importance of personal cultivation alongside global ambition.

The ceremony featured three “Lucky Moment” draws, during which Associate Professors Ziteng Fan and Haoqi Qian, along with Dean Jing, presented IGPP’s symbolic “Fudan Lucky Bears,” representing the institute’s talent cultivation goals: the Scholarship Bear, Citizenship Bear, and Leadership Bear. Award-winning students introduced themselves and shared their future aspirations.

The opening ceremony concluded with the singing of the Fudan University anthem.

During the orientation period, IGPP organized student registration, program introductions, and campus tours.