On the afternoon of July 4, the 2026 Graduation Ceremony of the School of Management at Fudan University was held at Zhengda Gymnasium. Over 4,000 graduates, together with their families and friends, gathered at the venue, while many more relatives and friends joined the event online via a bilingual livestream.

The ceremony opened with a performance by the "Fanxin" Chamber Orchestra of the School of Management at Fudan University. Composed of children of Fudan faculty and staff, this youthful orchestra delivered bright, melodious music to extend sincere best wishes for every graduate's joyful graduation and promising future.

Moment of Glory: Witnessing the Start of a New Journey

Professor Yimin Sun, Associate Dean of the School of Management at Fudan University, presided over the graduation ceremony. More than 40 distinguished guests from Fudan University and partner institutions attended as members of the ceremony platform party to witness this moment of honor belonging to each graduate.

A total of 2,295 students of the Class of 2026 completed their studies this year. They came from the following programs:

• Undergraduate Program

• Master of Science Programs

• Master's graduates of Fudan SoM, including the MF, DDIM, GMiM, and DS&BA programs

• Doctoral Programs

• Fudan MBA Program

• Fudan IMBA Program (in collaboration with MIT Sloan)

• Fudan EMBA Program

• Fudan-National Taiwan University EMBA Program

• Fudan MPAcc Program

• Fudan-City University of Hong Kong Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)Program

• Fudan-Washington University EMBA Program

• Fudan-BI MBA Program

• Fudan-University of Hong Kong IMBA Program

Professor Yuanyuan Wang, Vice President of Fudan University, and Professor Xiongwen Lu, Dean of School of Management at Fudan University, joined other guests in turning tassels and presenting graduation certificates to the graduates.

Professor Yuanyuan Wang, Vice President of Fudan University, turns tassels for graduates.

Professor Xiongwen Lu, Dean of School of Management at Fudan University, turns tassels for graduates.

After their tassels were turned by their teachers and mentors, graduates received their certificates with both hands, then turned and strode forward toward a brilliant tomorrow.

Message to Graduates:

Become Management Talent Rooted in Values and Guided by Innovation

In his address, Professor Yuanyuan Wang spoke highly of the School of Management as China's first business school to launch a Sci-Tech Innovation Strategy. The school has led innovation in management education, integrating management science into the nation's broader sci-tech innovation agenda, conducting research that responds to the realities and needs of China, and applying management knowledge in real-world settings. He shared three core expectations for all graduates:

First, be grounded Fudaners who anchor your bearings amid the tides of the times. Management goes far beyond project execution and financial data analysis—it embodies vision and breadth of perspective. Bear firmly in mind Fudan's motto: Rich in knowledge, steadfast in purpose; earnest in inquiry, close to reflection. Align your personal aspirations with national development and social progress.

Second, be innovation-driven managers bold enough to break predefined boundaries. Scientific and technological breakthroughs rely not only on scientists'flashes of inspiration, but also the empowerment of modern management science. The School's Sci-Tech Innovation Strategy is, at its core, boundary-breaking innovation. Harness managerial wisdom to accelerate the commercialization of technological achievements and tackle complex global challenges that shape humanity's long-term future.

Third, be resilient practitioners who sharpen genuine capabilities through real-world practice. After leaving Fudan, you will no longer face standardized exam papers, but a real world full of variables and uncertainties. Stay patient and persistent through hardships. Hold lofty aspirations that reach for the stars, while maintaining down-to-earth resilience.

Commencement Keynote:

Becoming Outstanding Management Talent in the AI Era

Professor Xiongwen Lu, Dean of School of Management at Fudan University, delivered a memorable commencement keynote speech.

Titled Become Outstanding Managers in the AI Era, Professor Lu began by unpacking the fundamental nature of AI and management, firmly refuting the so-called "Twilight of Management" argument. He pointed out that AI is the only quasi-human intelligent entity created by humanity that cannot be fully and absolutely controlled by humans. While AI can replace human cognitive functions, it can never grasp humanity's unique spiritual pursuits—the search for emotion, spirit, meaning and faith. The more AI disrupts traditional paradigms, the more prominent management's value becomes: management bears the mission to define ethical standards and boundaries for human-AI collaboration, acting as the core hub coordinating all forms of productive forces. As long as human society survives and evolves, management remains irreplaceable, functioning as a generator that aggregates, catalyzes, and gives rise to other factors of production.

Dean Lu outlined three core competencies for outstanding managers in the AI age: Constructive capacity for proactive creation, enabling you to become rule-makers; Holistic orchestration capacity for cross-disciplinary integration, building order amid chaos; Accountable steering capacity, guiding technological innovation with humanistic values.

He offered three pieces of advice to the graduates: First, recognize that management stands as a productive force that integrates all technologies and production factors. Second, commit to lifelong learning, break the confines of traditional management knowledge, and guard against the erosion of critical judgment brought by AI tools. Third, always remain fully human: love, grieve, rejoice, struggle, experience and embrace all that defines humanity. These feelings AI can simulate yet never truly feel-and they are what set you apart from machines.

In closing, he shared a set of guiding principles for graduates: Counter fear with faith; counter impetuosity with core values; counter superficiality with critical thinking; counter narrow-mindedness through reading; counter rigidity with curiosity; counter emptiness with profound human affection.

The full transcript of Professor Lu's speech will be released separately soon; please stay tuned for updates.

A century-old Fudan leads the south; free thought reigns supreme in pursuit of true scholarship.

Cultivate both literary grace and logical rigor; pursue both wisdom and insight, abiding by our motto: rich in knowledge, steadfast in purpose; earnest in inquiry, close to reflection.

Uplift our nation, cherish our Fudan; glory marks a new starting line, as we march forth without pause.

The solemn oath etched deep in our hearts, we forge ahead with lofty aspirations.

"Forward, forward, ever onward.

Fudan, Fudan, ever renewed; sun and moon shine bright as one!"

All attendees stood and sang the Fudan University Alma Mater.

You Raise Me Up, a classic anthem for all Fudan SoM community members, was performed jointly by the Fudan SoM Elite Alumni Choir and graduate representatives, conveying sincere gratitude to faculty and bright hopes for the future.

"Beyond the pavilion, beside the ancient road,

Green grass stretches far as the distant sky.

Willow branches sway in evening wind, flute notes fade away,

Sunset drapes layered mountains far and wide.

At the edge of heaven, the corners of earth,

Old friends scatter far and wide…"

The timeless ballad Farewell carries endless parting farewell:

"With a cup of humble wine, we spend the last of our joy; tonight, parting dreams may feel cold."

Graduation means not only bidding farewell to your former selves, but also carrying with them their teachers' earnest guidance and classmates' laughter as part of the journey ahead.

Capturing Precious Memories

After torrential rain the previous day, the sun shone brilliantly and brightly on the ceremony day, yet nothing outshone the graduates' radiant spirits. Smiles and warm hugs filled every corner of the venue.

Family and friends provide the warmest support throughout one's growth journey, and they stand as central figures on this unforgettable graduation day.

Graduates could be seen taking commemorative photos across the Guoshun Campus and at the ceremony venue.

A wave goodbye is not an ending, but the start of a new journey. 

May you dare to dream, dare to forge ahead, and shoulder great responsibility on your journey ahead.

May the road ahead be bright and full of promise.