News
SYNU College of International Business Holds 2026 Commencement for FHSU Single-Degree and SYNU-FHSU Dual-Degree Programs
Shenyang Normal University’s College of International Business held its 2026 commencement and degree-conferral ceremony for FHSU single-degree and SYNU-FHSU dual-degree graduates at the college auditorium on May 20, 2026. Attending the ceremony were Xu Huifeng, full-time member of the Education Working Committee of the CPC Liaoning Provincial Committee; Zhao Hongbin, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Liaoning Province; Tisa Ann Mason, president of Fort Hays State University; Alysia Johnston and Neelima Parasker, members of the Kansas Board of Regents; Yang Song, president of Shenyang Normal University; and Zhao Liqiang, vice president of Shenyang Normal University. Liu Chunzhi, dean of the College of International Business, presided over the ceremony.
Prior to the ceremony, leaders and guests from both universities held friendly talks to review the long-standing partnership and deep, fruitful collaboration between Shenyang Normal University and Fort Hays State University. The talks highlighted the achievements of the two universities in joint talent cultivation, academic exchange, and resource sharing. Participants also exchanged views on future cooperation, including learning from each other’s educational practices and philosophies, deepening educational linkages, expanding areas of cooperation, exploring diverse forms of partnership, and further enhancing the quality of education.
During the ceremony, Xu Huifeng, full-time member of the Education Working Committee, expressed his sincere appreciation to the guests from the United States, faculty members from both universities, and the graduates’ parents for their presence and support. In his remarks, Xu emphasized that educational cooperation served as an important bridge for people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries. He noted that Liaoning remained committed to advancing international cooperation in education, and that the College of International Business at Shenyang Normal University, as one of the province’s well-established international cooperative education institutions, had cultivated a deep partnership with Fort Hays State University for over two decades. Together, the partnership had fostered a collaborative talent cultivation system, producing generations of business graduates with a global perspective, a deep devotion to family and nation, and a strong sense of social responsibility. These efforts have contributed to regional economic development and educational exchanges between China and the United States. Xu also encouraged the graduates to stay true to their original aspirations, cherish a deep devotion to family and country, serve as envoys of friendship and mutual understanding between China and other countries, and pursue excellence with courage and determination as they embarked on the next stage of their lives. He added that the Liaoning Provincial Department of Education would continue to provide greater support for the development of Shenyang Normal University and the College of International Business, further enhancing the international engagement of higher education in Liaoning Province.
President Yang Song congratulated the graduates on earning their degrees. She thanked the faculty members of both universities for their dedication, as well as the graduates’ parents and all those who had supported the development of Shenyang Normal University. She highlighted the graduates’ outstanding achievements in cross-cultural learning, professional practice, innovation and entrepreneurship, noting that their growth and accomplishments were a testament to the university’s commitment to quality education. In the age of artificial intelligence and amid profound changes unseen in a century, President Yang outlined four expectations for the graduates. First, she encouraged them to harness technological transformation with scholarly wisdom, while staying clear-headed amid the tides of the times and maintaining an independent mind and an innovative spirit. Second, she urged them to embody true knowledge through practice, embrace the unity of knowledge and action, and pursue steadfast practice to reach distant horizons, applying their expertise to serve society. Third, she called on them to ground themselves in virtue and righteousness to become young people of their generation with aspirations, a strong sense of responsibility, and a deep sense of purpose. Fourth, she expressed the hope that they would embrace the spirit of universal harmony to shoulder the mission of the era, foster mutual understanding between Chinese and foreign cultures, serve as storytellers of China’s narrative, and act as practitioners of civilizational exchange between China and the world.
President Tisa Ann Mason noted that the knowledge, skills, and friendships graduates had forged during their studies would serve as a compass guiding them as they explored new horizons in life. She urged the graduates to become citizen leaders devoted to the global community who work hard, think wisely, lead with humility and kindness, remain true to their inner convictions, and embrace the world with the pure heart of a child.
President Tisa Ann Mason, Regent Alysia Johnston, and Vice President Zhao Liqiang read out in turn the degree-conferral decisions of the two universities. Leaders from the two universities then presented degree certificates to the graduates, turned the graduates’ tassels, and awarded certificates of honor to recipients of the Outstanding Graduate Award.
Representatives from the graduating class, parents, and alumni delivered remarks, expressing heartfelt gratitude for the education and support provided by the two universities over the past four years and extending their best wishes to the graduates. A faculty representative then took the stage, delivering an earnest charge and encouraging the graduates to pursue their dreams as they embarked on a new journey of their lives.
Attendees included Sharon Graham, cross-border education specialist at Fort Hays State University; Sun Xiao, assistant to the dean of the School of International Education, SIAS University; Han Dongmei, director of the Division of International Cooperation and Exchange, Liaoning Provincial Department of Education; Hou Yongsen, director of the Division of American and Oceanian Affairs, Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Liaoning Province; Zhang Ye, director of the Office of Academic Affairs, Shenyang Normal University; Geng Jiana, director of the Office of Student Affairs, Shenyang Normal University; Zhang Yuhui, secretary of the Party Committee and chairman of China Liaoning International Economic and Technical Cooperation Group, who also serves as an industry mentor at the College of International Business; alumni representative Zhi Wanyu; faculty members of the College of International Business; the Class of 2026 and parent representatives.
