On the afternoon of September 27, 2024, the School of Business held a career planning course for freshman orientation education at Jingxian Hall on the main campus. Teacher Zi Hong from the International Cooperation and Exchange Office of Soochow University delivered a wonderful lecture on the topic From Soochow University to the World for the students. This lecture was chaired by Teacher Ke Zheng from the School of Business.

Through this lecture, the students of the School of Business not only gained a deeper understanding of Soochow University's internationalization level but also acquired a more specific understanding of their future plans.

Zi Hong introduced the origin and history of Soochow University's internationalization genes. From gazing at the world, to reaching out to embrace the world, and now to stepping into the world, we have an excellent team of global faculty, 57 partner universities spread all over the world, and an international atmosphere with many international students. The achievements of Soochow University's international development are remarkable.

Zi Hong provided a comprehensive and multi-faceted explanation of three types of international exchange programs and the overseas research situations of the school and college. She encouraged students to actively broaden their international horizons and proactively expand their learning resources. Among them, diversified programs, such as exchange studies with partner universities and winter/summer research programs, offer every student of Soochow University the opportunity to step onto the international stage.

Over the years, Soochow University has produced a large number of outstanding alumni with international perspectives and advanced studies. These alumni either teach abroad, return to their alma mater, or enter enterprises and institutions. Their shining resumes will serve as a guide for the growth of freshmen.

In the subsequent Q&A session, Zi Hong engaged in an in-depth exchange and provided detailed answers to the students' questions regarding various aspects of applying for, studying, and living abroad (or in other regions). She encouraged everyone to bravely step onto the international stage, to embrace the diversity of the world, and to experience the collision of different cultures, thereby adding new colors to their dreams. Zi Hong used four key words—motivated (激励), outreached (拓展), prepared (准备), resilient (韧性)—to convey her message to the students of the School of Business. She emphasized that strengthening language skills and cultivating professional qualities are the hard levers for applying to prestigious overseas universities, and are the prerequisites and keys to going abroad and pursuing knowledge and action. She encouraged the students to make full preparations, stimulate their internal motivation, actively seek expansion, maintain the resilience for growth, and serve their country with what they have learned.

At the beginning of the freshmen's enrollment, holding a special lecture on overseas research undoubtedly laid a solid foundation for the students to move from Soochow University to the world. It is believed that with the strong support of the school and the college, and the joint efforts of the teachers and students of the School of Business, the wings of the students' dreams will surely soar in the blue sky of international exchange, writing a wonderful chapter that belongs to the students of Soochow University.