On December 17, 2025, the Main Forum and Academic Light Lighting Ceremony of Beijing City University’s (BCU) 2025 Graduate Academic Month was grandly inaugurated at the Hangtiancheng Campus. The event was hosted by BCU’s Graduate Department, co-organized by various Graduate Education Development Centers, and supported by the editorial office of the Journal of Beijing City University.
Guests in attendance included Professor Wang Sibin, Professor of the Department of Sociology at Peking University, Honorary President of the China Social Work Education Association, and President of the Chinese Society of Social Work; Deputy Research Librarian Wang Lixue from the National Science Library, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and recipient of the "Outstanding Talent Support Program in the Field of Bibliographic Information"; and BCU Vice President Hu Liqin. The opening ceremony was attended by representatives from all Graduate Education Development Centers, master’s supervisors, and graduate students. The Main Forum was moderated by Director Lou Binyuan of the Graduate Department.
Themed "Cultivating Roots and Forging Souls: Shouldering the Mission of the Times, Advancing Research and Innovation Together", the 2025 Graduate Academic Month aims to implement the spirit of the National Education Conference, foster graduate students’ innovative thinking and scientific exploration, enrich campus academic culture, and enhance the academic and research capabilities of faculty and students.
During the Main Forum, guests and participants jointly lit the "Academic Light" to launch the series of academic activities for 2025.
Hu Liqin emphasized that graduate education bears the critical mission of cultivating high-level talents and driving innovation, serving as a cornerstone for national development and social progress. She outlined four key expectations:cherish academic platforms and engage in in-depth exchanges; embrace exploration and innovation; uphold academic integrity and ethical standards; and cultivate patriotism and aspire to global horizons. She encouraged every graduate student to seize this rare opportunity for academic exchange, fostering knowledge, friendships, and personal growth through dialogue and collaboration.
The Main Forum featured three keynote speeches addressing graduate research innovation and talent development:
Professor Wang Sibin delivered a report titled "Writing Applied Academic Papers", systematically explaining the definition of applied academic research and empirical methodologies. He provided a detailed framework for structuring practice-oriented academic papers, offering clear guidance for application-focused scholarship.
Deputy Research Librarian Wang Lixue presented on "Fastening the First Button of Academic Life: Responsible Research in the AI Era – Standards and Case Studies", highlighting types of academic misconduct, AI-related ethical challenges, and best practices for responsible research. His insights provided actionable guidance for faculty and graduate students.
Pei Zhitian, an outstanding young faculty member from BCU’s School of International Culture and Communication (SICC), shared a report titled "Promoting Innovation through Competitions: Upgrading Mindsets and Breaking Barriers in Radio and Television Graduate Programs". He analyzed the necessity of competitions, student mindset transformation, mentorship systems, and outcome validation, demonstrating the logic and practical impacts of competition-driven education.
The experts’ insightful reports combined cutting-edge research, academic reflections, and years of teaching experience. The interactive session sparked enthusiastic discussions, with participants praising the depth and practical value of the presentations.
Throughout the Academic Month, BCU will focus on nurturing graduate research capabilities through six sub-forums:"Mentorship Guidance, Peer Leadership, Competition Empowerment, AI Sustainability, Faculty Support, and Outcome Presentation". These events will build a multi-layered academic platform to inspire critical thinking, refine research outcomes, and elevate the quality of high-level talent cultivation.The series aims to cultivate future scholars who can innovate, collaborate, and contribute meaningfully to national and global progress.
