On December 23, the inaugural ceremony of the School of Sociology of Nankai University was held on Jinnan Campus.

Li Peilin, Director of the Department of Social Politics and Law of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS); Yang Qingshan, Chancellor of Nankai University; Chen Yulu, President of Nankai University; Zhang Yi, Director of the National Institute of Social Development of the CASS and President of the Chinese Sociological Association (CSA); Chen Guangjin, Director of the Institute of Sociology of the CASS; Song Linfei, Deputy Director of the Academic Committee of the CSA and an alumnus; Bing Zheng, Deputy Director of the University Affairs Committee of Jilin University; Li Youmei, Deputy Director of Academic Committee of the Chinese Social Association and an alumnus; Xie Shouguang, Deputy Director of the Academic Committee of the CSA; Wang Sibin, Honorary President of the China Association for Social Work Education and an alumnus; Chen Yunsong, Vice Chancellor of Nanjing University; Zhou Da, Founder and Chairman of Kunlun Group and an alumnus; Zhang Jing, Director of the Faculty of Social Sciences of Peking University and an alumnus; Zhou Xiaohong, President of the Institute of Contemporary China Studies and an alumnus; Wang Aili, Vice President of the CSA; Xie Yu, an academician of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States; Wen Biao, Executive Chairman of the Nankai Alumni Business Association and Chairman of Yanbo Energy; Yang Kexin, Executive Vice Chancellor of Nankai University; and Bai Chengming, Vice President of Nankai University, were present.

More than 300 people attended the ceremony, including the discipline leaders of academic institutions under the schools of sociology at domestic sister universities, the heads of the secondary units of Nankai University, representative emeritus sociology faculty of Nankai University, alumni representatives, and faculty and student representatives. 

Chen Yulu, President of Nankai University

In his speech, Chen Yulu pointed out that sociology has been a leading discipline at Nankai University.

There is a call for the sociological community to offer feasible and effective solutions to a host of new problems confronting the process of advancing Chinese modernization, such as rural revitalization, prosperity for all, social governance, regional coordination, healthy China, and smart eldly care. It is hoped that the School of Sociology will address the major strategic needs of the country, shoulder its mission and tasks in the process of Chinese modernization, step up efforts to independently train talents, strenghthen its ability to make theoretical and practical innovations, and apply Nankai University’s wisdom and strength to Chinese modernization.

Yang Kexin, Executive Vice Chancellor of Nankai University

At the ceremony, Yang Kexin read out the Decision on the Establishment of the School of Sociology of Nankai University.

Chen Yulu, Li Peilin, Chen Guangjin, Bing Zheng, Li Youmei and Chen Yunsong jointly unveiled the plaque of the School of Sociology of Nankai University amidst the warm applause of the guests, faculty, students and alumni.

Zhang Wenhong, Dean of the School of Sociology, Nankai University

Zhang Wenhong introduced the development history of sociology discipline at Nankai University.

Li Peilin, a faculty member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Director of the Department of Social Politics and Law

Zhang Yi, Director of the National Institute of Social Development of the CASS and President of the CSA

Zhang Zhe, a cadre of the Counsellors’ Office of the State Council and a relative of Mr. Fei Xiaotong

Zhou Feizhou, Dean of the Department of Sociology of Peking University and Vice President of the CSA

Fu Xiaoxing, Vice Dean of the School of Sociology and Population Studies, Renmin University of China

Wang Tianfu, Vice Dean of the School of Social Sciences of Tsinghua University and Vice President of the CSA

Cheng Boqing, Dean of the School of Sociology of Nanjing University and Vice President of the CSA

Huang Xiaochun, Dean of the School of Sociology and Political Science of Shanghai University and Deputy Secretary-General of the CSA

Li Peilin, Zhang Yi, Zhang Zhe, Zhou Feizhou, Fu Xiaoxing, Wang Tianfu, Cheng Boqing, and Huang Xiaochun delivered speeches as guest representatives.

Su Tuo, founding head of the Department of Sociology, Nankai University

At the inaugural meeting, the student representatives presented flowers to representative emeritus faculty.

Professor Guan Jian of the School of Sociology

Feng Biying, a doctoral student in sociology of the 2020 cohort

Professor Guan Jian of the School of Sociology and Feng Biying, a doctoral student in sociology of the 2020 cohort, delivered speeches as representatives of young faculty and students  respectively.

Song Linfei, chief expert at the Institute of Modernization in Southern Jiangsu, Changzhou University, Deputy Director of the Academic Committee of the CSA, and an alumnus

Wang Sibin, Honorary President of the China Association for Social Work Education and an alumnus

Hu Ming, Chairman of the partner conference of Beijing DHH Law Firm and an alumna

Song Linfei, Wang Sibin, and Hu Ming delivered speeches as alumni representatives.

Bai Chengming, Vice President of Nankai University

The inaugural ceremony of the Sociology Branch of the Nankai Alumni Association was held concurrently. Bai Chengming read out the Nankai Alumni Association’s Written Reply on Consent to the Establishment of Sociology Branch of the Nankai Alumni Association. Yang Qingshan, Zhou Da, Zhang Jing, Zhou Xiaohong and others jointly inaugurated the Sociology Branch of Nankai Alumni Association.

Yang Qingshan presented letters of appointment to President Zhou Da, co-presidents and vice presidents

Zhou Da, Vice Chairman of Nankai Alumni Association, President of Nankai Shenzhen Alumni Association, founder and Chairman of Kunlun Group, senior trustee of Nankai University, and an alumnus

In his speech, Zhou Da called on alumni to aid the development of the School of Sociology. At the recently-concluded 2023 Alumni Conference of the Nankai Shenzhen Alumni Association, Zhou Da again donated 5 million yuan to support the development of Nankai University’s sociology discipline, which is the first dedicated donation received by the School of Sociology after its establishment.

Nankai University’s alumni are highly concerned about the establishment of the School of Sociology and also provided generous help. In addition to the 5 million yuan donation from Zhou Da, the School of Sociology has so far received a donation of 5 million yuan from Wan Li, an alumna of the 1983 cohort; 3 million yuan donation from Wang Yufeng, an alumnus of the 2007 cohort, on behalf of Tianjin GloryMed-Ai Co., Ltd.; 2 million yuan donation from Zhou Zhanhong, an alumnus of the 1989 cohort; one million yuan donation from Hu Ming, an alumna of the 1989 cohort; and one million yuan donation from Wang Jingyu, an alumnus of the 2005 cohort. 

Yang Qingshan accepted donations on behalf of the University and presented plaques to the donors  

Wan Li, an alumna of the 1983 cohort 

Wan Li delivered a speech on behalf of donors.

After the inaugural ceremony, the participating experts and scholars as well as faculty and students of the School of Sociology held roundtable forums on topics such as “Development of Sociology Discipline and the Establishment of the Three Major Systems”, “Development of Sociology Major and Establishment of New Liberal Arts”, “Establishment of Social Work and Social Policy Discipline as well as Talent Training”, “Establishment of Anthropology and Folklore Discipline as well as Talent Training”, and “Alumni Forum on Sociology Talent Training”. 

Nankai University began to run sociology program more than 100 years ago in the early 20th century. The School consists of three teaching institutions: the Department of Sociology, the Department of Social Work and Social Policy, and the Department of Social Psychology; research institutes including the Institute of Social Construction and Management, the Institute of Anthropology, the Institute of Demography, the Center for Investigation and Study of Society, the Research Center for Psychology, the Research Center for Chinese Community Construction, the Nankai University-Chinese University of Hong Kong Joint Research Center for Social Policy, the Marxist Sociology Research Center, the Research Center for the Cause of Persons with Disabilities, and the Research Center for Autism, as well as the Laboratory of Computational Social Sciences, the Laboratory of Social Work, Laboratory of Applied Psychology, etc.

Nankai University’s sociology discipline focuses on promoting the establishment of think tanks and platforms, undertakes decision-making consulting tasks for the central and state ministries and commissions, people’s organizations and Tianjin city, participates in the formulation of national and local national economic and social development strategic plans and policy, and cooperates with urban and rural communities, enterprises and non-governmental organizations. It has established diverse forms of field investigation sites, teaching practice bases, professor studios, and rural workstations in many parts of the country. It carries out rich cultural and social construction practices, and has established a routine decision-making consulting and social service system.

（Edited and translated by Nankai News Team.)