As the crisp autumn breeze revitalized the campus and illuminated its surroundings, the Opening Ceremony for the Class of 2024 students of ICARE was held on the afternoon of September 3, 2024, in Conference Room N102 of the Clean Energy Building. Attendees included Professor Luo Xiaobing, the Chinese Dean of ICARE; Sun Lu, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Energy and Power Engineering; Zou Mingqing, Vice Dean of ICARE, along with administrative staff from the institute. The ceremony was hosted by student counselor Zhao Yiting.

Professor Luo Xiaobing opened the ceremony with a welcoming address to the new students. He outlined ICARE’s core principles, educational model, curriculum, academic strengths, and distinctive features. He also encouraged students to quickly adapt to the institute’s international learning environment and teaching approach, and to actively participate in overseas internships and exchange programs.

In a video message, Professor Michel FARINE, the European Dean of ICARE, urged the new students to embrace challenges and strive to become responsible global citizens. He emphasized that ICARE will provide them with the tools to broaden their perspectives.

Hu Song shared three key pieces of advice with the students: first, to transition smoothly from undergraduate to postgraduate studies and improve their research skills; second, to stay committed to their goals and face the challenges of coursework and research with courage; and third, to foster teamwork and collaboration, building strong relationships with mentors and peers throughout their three-year journey at ICARE.

Representing the 2024 freshmen, Li Meizi expressed her hopes and expectations for the academic journey ahead. She wished her peers the courage to face research challenges, the resilience to shoulder responsibilities, the enthusiasm to form meaningful connections, and the determination to write their own brilliant chapters at HUST.

Chu Leyao, a representative from the Class of 2023, shared her learning experiences, life stories, and achievements at ICARE. She encouraged the new students to cherish the institute's nurturing environment, immerse themselves in HUST, and confidently embrace their academic missions.

To conclude, Vice Dean Zou Mingqing delivered the closing speech. He urged the students to fully utilize ICARE’s high-quality Sino-European educational resources and its advantageous teaching and research environment. He emphasized the importance of building a strong professional foundation, cultivating an international perspective, and striving to become highly specialized, innovative talents who contribute to industrial development, meet national needs, and possess global competencies.