Source: Eastern Institute of Technology
7 minutes ago
Graduates from the EIT Data Science and Communication College were celebrated in Shaoxing, China, last week as students, families and staff gathered to recognise their achievements during a ceremony held at Zhejiang Yuexiu University (ZYU).
The ceremony was attended by EIT Chief Executive Lucy Laitinen during her first visit to China and ZYU, which also included the signing of a new 10-year extension agreement between the two institutions.
EIT Chief Executive Lucy Laitinen addresses graduates, families and staff at the 2026 EIT Data Science and Communication College graduation ceremony at Zhejiang Yuexiu University in Shaoxing, China.
She was joined by EIT Executive Director International Philippa Jones, Executive Dean John West, Head of School of Computing Geoffrey Mather, Head of IDEAschool Sean Coyle, and International Market Development and Partnerships Manager Richard Cao.
Established in 2020, the Joint Institute delivers EIT Bachelor Degrees in Information Systems, Intelligent Systems and Digital Media, with more than 900 students having enrolled in EIT programmes through the partnership since its establishment.
Lucy said representing EIT at the graduation ceremony was both an honour and a privilege.
“The ceremony was vibrant, joyful and full of energy, blending academic tradition with a genuine celebration of student achievement. It was wonderful to see graduates sharing this important milestone with their families, peers and teachers.
“It was also a pleasure to attend alongside EIT colleagues who have invested so much in this partnership and in the success of our joint programme.”
In his address, ZYU President Heming Yong said the achievements of the Class of 2026 reflected the success of the partnership between the two institutions.
“The accomplishments of this class of 2026 are good testimony to the success of our partnership,” he said.
Graduates from the EIT Data Science and Communication College celebrate after the 2026 graduation ceremony at Zhejiang Yuexiu University in Shaoxing, China.
President Yong highlighted the achievements of the graduating class, including scholarship recipients, award-winning students and those progressing to further study at leading universities in China and internationally.
Among the graduates was graduate representative Huiguo Xu
Reflecting on his experience, Huiguo said the Joint Institute had broadened students’ perspectives.
“Our joint education model has given us a dual perspective: we’ve not only adapted to an all-English teaching environment but also learned to understand the world through diverse ways of thinking.”
Parents also reflected on the impact the programme had on their children. Speaking on behalf of families, parent representative Xinqi Yang’s mother thanked staff for supporting students throughout their studies.
“Thank you for walking alongside our children with patience and nurturing them with devotion and compassion as they pursue their dreams.”
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/06/19/eit-celebrates-graduates-and-partnership-milestone-in-china/