From September 7 to 11, 2026, the Hopkins–Nanjing Center (HNC), jointly established by Nanjing University and Johns Hopkins University, held a series of orientation activities for incoming students. A total of 132 new students from China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Austria, Singapore, and other countries participated in the program, embarking on a new academic journey.

Throughout Orientation Week, the HNC organized a variety of activities covering key aspects of students’ academic and daily lives. These included introductions to HNC staff, academic regulations, network access and printing services, campus access systems, the academic portal and course registration, library resources, community guidelines, and fall semester courses. The program also featured fire safety training and an evacuation drill, as well as an introduction to psychological counseling services for new students.

The orientation program helped incoming students familiarize themselves with the HNC’s rules and regulations and prepare for a smooth transition to their new environment, laying a solid foundation for their academic and personal lives at the Center. Following the conclusion of Orientation Week, the HNC held its 2026 Opening Ceremony on the afternoon of September 11.

Day 1

Looking Ahead to the New Academic Year and Course Registration

On the morning of September 7, HNC Chinese Co-Director Li Xiaorong and U.S. Co-Director Adam K. Webb delivered welcoming remarks to the incoming class. They encouraged students to embrace the HNC’s distinctive environment, characterized by exchanges across languages, cultures, national borders, and academic disciplines. They expressed the hope that students would engage in dialogue, collaborate across differences, and build lasting friendships in the Center’s diverse and inclusive community. Faculty and staff members were also introduced to the new students by the two co-directors.

Director Li Xiaorong reviewed the history and development of the HNC. She noted that the Center was established through the vision and determination of Kuang Yaming, then President of Nanjing University, and Steven Muller, then President of Johns Hopkins University, at a pivotal moment marked by China’s reform and opening-up and the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. Despite numerous challenges, the two university presidents championed the creation of the Center, which officially welcomed its first cohort of students in September 1986. Over the past four decades, the HNC has educated outstanding professionals across a wide range of fields and played an important role in fostering academic and intellectual exchanges between China and the United States. She encouraged students to develop cross-cultural competence and a global perspective, make the most of this valuable opportunity, and grow alongside the Center.

Chinese Co-Director Li Xiaorong delivers her welcoming remarks

Director Adam K. Webb focused on the HNC’s international approach to education, academic integrity, and academic standards. He emphasized that students benefit from the educational resources of two distinguished universities, Nanjing University and Johns Hopkins University, and encouraged them to move beyond differences, explore their potential, and become better versions of themselves. He also outlined the Center’s specific academic requirements, addressing academic quality, academic standards, academic integrity, and the use of artificial intelligence in academic work.

U.S. Co-Director Adam K. Webb delivers his welcoming remarks

Subsequently, Sun Wen, Associate Director for Academic Affairs on the Chinese side, provided a systematic introduction to the HNC’s academic regulations and Code of Academic Integrity.

Sun Wen introduces the academic regulations

Office Director Yang Xiaoqing, IT Department Manager Feng Weiyang, and Engineering and Technical Services staff member Guo Xinzhi introduced students to the Center’s network access procedures and explained how to use the printing and building access systems.

Office Director Yang Xiaoqing explains how to use the building access system

On the afternoon of September 7, staff from the Academic Affairs Office guided students through signing the Academic Integrity Pledge and provided a detailed introduction to the HNC academic portal, highlighting key course registration requirements.

The master’s students then attended an introduction to the master’s program. Staff from the Academic Affairs Office explained course selection rules and important academic deadlines, helping students plan their studies in line with their individual academic and career goals.

Days 2–3

Introduction to the Library, Community Guidelines, and Fall Courses

On the morning of September 8, Rong Fangchao, Director of the HNC Library, introduced students to the library’s history, layout, and available resources. She also explained library printing and photocopying procedures, how to use scanning equipment, and how to access course reserve materials.

Library Director Rong Fangchao introduces the HNC Library

Following the library introduction, John Urban, U.S. Associate Director, and Shen Zhiping, Associate Director for Administration, jointly introduced the HNC’s community guidelines. These rules cover various aspects of daily life at the Center, including accommodation and dining, package collection and delivery, and the use of shared spaces. They encouraged students to observe the guidelines and contribute to a harmonious, friendly, and supportive community.

Chinese Associate Director Shen Zhiping introduces the community guidelines

U.S. Associate Director John Urban introduces the community guidelines

On the afternoon of September 8 and the morning of September 9, faculty members from both Nanjing University and Johns Hopkins University introduced the courses offered in the fall semester, explaining their content, distinctive features, and assessment methods.

Faculty members from China and the United States introduce their courses

At the HNC, Nanjing University and Johns Hopkins University each appoint professors from China and the United States to teach students. This fall semester, the Center expects to offer 40 courses covering international politics, comparative and international law, international economics, energy, resources and the environment, American studies, Chinese studies, and other fields. The curriculum is designed to accommodate students’ diverse academic backgrounds and individual development needs, providing them with broad opportunities for independent exploration.

On the evening of September 8, the HNC also organized online meetings with academic administrators from the Bologna and Washington, D.C., offices of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). These sessions provided relevant students with course information, opportunities for consultation, and guidance on academic planning.

Day 4

Safety Training and Psychological Counseling Services

On the morning of September 10, the HNC invited officers from the Nanjing Fire and Rescue Brigade to deliver a fire safety session and conduct an evacuation drill. Drawing on real-life fire incidents in recent years, the officers highlighted important safety precautions for everyday life and introduced the fundamentals of fire prevention and firefighting.

Fire safety training session

Subsequently, Wu Siyue from Nanjing University’s Mental Health Education and Research Center introduced the university’s psychological counseling resources and shared practical techniques for managing emotions and maintaining psychological well-being.

Introduction to psychological counseling services

Day 5

Library Tour and Opening Ceremony

On September 11, all incoming students were divided into groups and guided by HNC staff on a tour of the Center’s library. Students learned about borrowing procedures, the locations and cataloging of Chinese- and English-language books and periodicals, and the ways to locate reference materials and course readings. They were also introduced to the procedures for reserving and using study rooms, quiet study areas, public computers, scanners, and printers.

The HNC Library houses physical books and periodicals as well as electronic resources acquired by both Nanjing University and Johns Hopkins University, providing students with comprehensive resources to support their studies and research.

Incoming students tour the HNC Library

Following the library tour, the HNC held its 2026 Opening Ceremony.

We wish all members of the HNC Class of 2026 a smooth transition into their new academic and personal lives. May they broaden their horizons through cross-cultural encounters, sharpen their thinking in an atmosphere of academic rigor, and discover new perspectives through classroom debates and intellectual exchange. May they make the most of this unique academic community, where Eastern and Western traditions meet, and confidently embark on a new chapter filled with promise and possibility.

Text by Zhao Wenxiang