On the afternoon of September 11, 2026, the opening ceremony for the 41st Certificate Class, the 21st Master’s Class, and the inaugural English Language Program (ELP) at the Hopkins–Nanjing Center (HNC), jointly established by Nanjing University and Johns Hopkins University, was held in the auditorium of the Center’s West Building. In the new academic year, the HNC welcomed 132 incoming students from China, the United States, Italy, Austria, Brazil, the Netherlands, Mexico, Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and other countries, embarking on a new chapter in the Center’s history following its 40th anniversary.

The opening ceremony

Gao Fang, Assistant to the President of Nanjing University; Li Xiaorong, Chinese Co-Director of the HNC; Adam K. Webb, U.S. Co-Director of the HNC; faculty and staff members; and members of the Class of 2026 attended the ceremony. James B. Steinberg, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), delivered a video address. Li Xiaorong and Adam K. Webb co-hosted the ceremony.

Assistant to the President of Nanjing University Gao Fang delivers her remarks

In her address, Gao Fang warmly welcomed the incoming students from around the world on behalf of Nanjing University. She reviewed the university’s long-standing commitment to openness and international engagement over more than a century, noting that in recent years, Nanjing University has continued to deepen global partnerships and advance comprehensive reforms in graduate education. These efforts aim to cultivate outstanding innovative leaders equipped to address national strategic priorities and contribute to the frontiers of global scientific research.

As the HNC celebrates its 40th anniversary, Gao reflected on the Center’s achievements over the past four decades. Nanjing University and Johns Hopkins University have transcended linguistic, cultural, and institutional differences to establish a model of educational exchange and cooperation between China and the United States. Through its distinctive approach of bringing Chinese and international students together to study and live alongside one another, the Center has created an environment where different civilizations can engage in meaningful dialogue and mutual enrichment. Nearly 4,000 professionals with broad international perspectives have graduated from the Center and gone on to pursue careers around the world.

Looking ahead to the students’ time at the HNC, Gao offered three recommendations.

Dean of SAIS James B. Steinberg delivers a video address

James B. Steinberg extended a warm welcome to the Class of 2026. He noted that, as the HNC celebrates its 40th anniversary, the arrival of a new cohort marks the beginning of the Center’s fifth decade.

This year, the HNC introduced the new English Language Program (ELP) alongside its traditional academic programs, creating opportunities for more students to participate in the Center’s distinctive cross-cultural learning experience. In a world undergoing profound change, Steinberg expressed his hope that students would work alongside the HNC’s outstanding faculty and staff to explore the opportunities and challenges of the present era.

As members of the broader SAIS community, students will have opportunities not only to study and exchange ideas with faculty and fellow students in Nanjing, but also to connect with the SAIS community at its Washington, D.C., and Bologna campuses and benefit from academic resources across all three locations.

Steinberg encouraged students to approach complex issues with a strong sense of purpose and commitment, maintain their enthusiasm for exploring future possibilities, and remain clear-eyed about potential risks. He expressed confidence that students would continue to grow throughout this unique academic journey.

He reaffirmed SAIS’s commitment to supporting students during their studies and throughout their future lives and careers, and looked forward to visiting Nanjing to meet them in person.

Chinese Co-Director of the HNC Li Xiaorong delivers her remarks

In her address, Li Xiaorong began by reflecting on the choices individuals must make in the age of artificial intelligence. As access to knowledge and content generation becomes easier than ever, she emphasized, the ability to make thoughtful choices is becoming increasingly important.

She advised students to “let AI do what it can, while safeguarding what only you can do.” Students should use artificial intelligence to improve the efficiency of their learning and research while cherishing the irreplaceable processes of independent thinking, close reading, and repeated verification. Through these efforts, they can develop their own capabilities and qualities that AI cannot replace.

Li also emphasized that the more advanced technology becomes, the more valuable the ability to understand what it means to be human will be. In the HNC’s multicultural community, she encouraged students to “listen more, understand more, and embrace differences with greater openness.” By respecting different cultural backgrounds and ways of thinking, students can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the world through encounters with others.

She also called on students to take an active role in building a better community and to carry this sense of responsibility into the wider world.

U.S. Co-Director of the HNC Adam K. Webb delivers his remarks

In his address, Adam K. Webb reflected on the HNC’s 40th anniversary celebrations, during which hundreds of alumni returned to campus to revisit their experiences at the Center. Their return, he noted, was a powerful reminder of the enduring bonds that unite the HNC community across generations.

Whether students spend one year or two years at the Center, Webb emphasized, each will become a member of this extended family, building deep and lasting friendships through shared academic and residential experiences. At the same time, the HNC continues to evolve, embracing innovation and development while preserving its traditions.

This year marked the official launch of the inaugural ELP cohort, with 27 students joining the new program and ushering in another stage of the Center’s development. To support this expanded educational model, the HNC will continue to enrich its course offerings and strengthen exchanges among its Nanjing, Washington, D.C., and Bologna communities, creating more opportunities for students from different programs to learn and explore together.

Webb encouraged students to take an active role in shaping the HNC community by proposing new ideas, trying new approaches, and working alongside peers from diverse backgrounds to create a distinctive HNC experience for their cohort.

Following the ceremony, university representatives, faculty members, staff, and students gathered for a group photograph in front of the West Building before sharing a dinner together.