The first postgraduate MAT graduation ceremony was held at Nankai University’s Yongtaihongkan Pavliion on June 26.

The first postgraduate MAT graduation ceremony was held at Nankai University’s Yongtaihongkan Pavliion on June 26. [Photo provided to Chinadaily]

Shao Qiwei, director of National Tourism Administration and part-time professor at Nankai University, and Gong Ke, president of Nankai University, moved tassels and gave 22 MTA graduates graduate certificates and master degree certificates.

Gong Ke congratulated the first batch of MTA graduates. "Compared to previous bachelor degrees, you have obtained a higher degree,” he said. “The degree does not stand for higher honor and treatment, but more social responsibilities. The graduation is not only a completion, but also one new starting point. You must continue to study, improve self-cultivation, pursue ideological level of‘Commitment to the people and attribute benefits to world', and make contributions to the development of tourist industries."

MAT is an education program established and promoted in 2011, with the goal of cultivating high-level applied talents for tourist industry and relevant industries. As a unit of secretariat for National Educational Instruction Committee, Nankai University coordinates national MAT education development.

"The students are first batch of MAT cultivated by China. I believe that this history symbol will accompany your career development and become important milestone in your life," said Shao Qiwei.

"As graduates of Nankai University, you shoulder the lofty mission to inherit Nankai spirit and exhibit new image of tourism subject of Nankai University. You should remember that you will assume the history responsibility to create the tourism industry to strategic pillar industry".

The ceremony also included a special moment where the new industry guider presented an agreement of employment. Shao Qiwei and Gong Ke presented the agreement of employment for Yang Shihao, director of Tianjin Tourist Administration, Hong Zaisheng, director of Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tianjin University, and Fan Min, president of Ctrip. In education and teaching management, Nankai University MAT has a teacher group for "professional teacher + industry teacher + young teacher". Nankai University has hired 20 teachers with high influence in the domestic tourist industry. These leaders play an important role in guiding students' study and providing practice.