The New Year Tea Part 2017, chaired by Prof. Tao Tao, executive dean of Graduate School, was held on the afternoon of January 4th. Many past employees were invited, including Prof. Wu Boxi, the first vice dean of Graduate School since its founding in 1986.

Tao Tao fist extended warm welcomes, and then gave an introduction to the recent work arrangements of Graduate School. He said that guided by the law of developing talents and standardizing the management of graduate students, Graduate School focused on enhancing the quality of graduate education, and spared no efforts to make the improvement by taking reform measures in the length of schooling, training program, research grants for the supervisors and scholarship. By strengthening the management of graduate courses, advancing the internationalization of graduate education and carrying out midterm rating of doctoral education, XMU had made enormous progress in graduate education. According to the latest statistics, 64% of the SCI papers published by XMUers were accomplished by graduate students in science and engineering, representing an increase of 13 percentage points. These reform measures were highly recognized by the Ministry of Education, many renowned universities and mainstream media in China. On January 13^th, 2016 the official Wechat account of Ministry Education published an article named “Xiamen University: Standardizing Graduate Education” to reveal reform achievements in XMU. On September 14th, an article titled as “Special Reform Measures of Graduate Education in Xiamen University” was also published to give an introduction to a series of reform measures about the development mode and mechanism of graduate education in XMU. On November 11th, representatives from Graduate School of XMU were awarded with a second prize, a breakthrough for XMU, in the Graduate Educational Achievement Award offered by Chinese Society of Academic Degrees and Graduate Education. Besides, Graduate School accomplished the fourth round assessment of disciplines, degrees and degree programs in 2016, giving a big boost to develop education quality and getting close to the goal of “Dual Fist-Class” university.

Other attenders vigorously talked about the history and future of Graduate School. They felt proud of the development and achievements gained by the Graduate School. Also, they offered their suggestions about graduate education.

Tao Tao pointed out that the improvement of graduate education required the involvement of staff and students of the entire university. He appreciated the past staff for their contributions to and support of Graduate School. At last, he wished every teacher happy new year and good health.