On July 2, Tongji SEM 2021 Graduation Ceremony was successfully held at Tongji Auditorium.

Xi Rongqing, MPA student of Grade 2002, EMBA student of Grade 2010 and general manager of Changyang Campus, spoke at the graduation ceremony as an alumni representative.

In his speech, he reviewed the experience of two on-the-job graduate programs at the school and shared how these academic journeys empowered his career development through personal anecdotes..

Xi offered advice to Graduating students: While acquiring knowledge, one must prioritize the learning and application of thinking methodologies. Additionally, revisiting past lessons and embracing lifelong learning are vital to navigating future uncertainties.

The following is the full text of the speech:

Dear teachers, dear students:

Good evening everyone! I am Xi Rongqing,a 2002 MPA graduate and 2010 EMBA graduate. Thanks to the trust of Tongji SEM—it is my honor to speak here today as an alumni representative.First, please allow me to extend my heartfelt wishes: May our teachers continue to nurture outstanding talents, and may our graduating peers embark on smooth and brilliant career paths!

I used to be a history teacher, but today I’m working on innovation communities in Shanghai—planning, developing, and operating them. This major career shift has gone remarkably well, and I owe much of that success to the school and my professors, whose mentorship shaped my thinking.Let me share two career transformation stories from my journey, hoping they inspire you.

I completed two on-the-job graduate programs at Tongji SEM, both of which redirected my career.

The first was enrolling in the MPA program in 2002. I vividly recall withdrawing a housing down payment to cover tuition. Upon graduating in May 2005, I was assigned to government work by month’s end, overseeing science-education initiatives and a university centennial celebration. The workload was immense and complex, yet the management frameworks and knowledge gained at school proved invaluable. More crucially, however, was the thinking methodology.

When I chose Professor Zhu Dajian as my thesis advisor, he asked,”As a history teacher, what led you to select me as your tutor?”I replied, “I aim to learn not just knowledge, but your thinking approach.” Learning these methodologies was only the beginning; applying them flexibly mattered most. For instance, Professor Zhu taught us to ask three questions when tackling new challenges: What? Why? How?Understand these before acting. This simple yet profound management philosophy remains foundational to my work.

The second was enrolling in the EMBA program in 2010.As I began managing economic initiatives, I felt knowledge gaps necessitated further study. After graduating in 2013, I was tasked with establishing Changyang Campus—a 500,000 sqm urban renewal project in downtown Shanghai. To date, it remains the largest heritage factory renovation in the city’s inner ring, a milestone unlikely to be surpassed. The pressure was immense, but my EMBA training equipped me with Professor Yue Yun’s engineering management expertise. Instead of starting with product development, I prioritized marketing strategies. Within five years, the project gained remarkable traction.

Today, Changyang Campus stands as a nationally recognized landmark for urban renewal and innovation. It was named one of Shanghai’s “40 Pioneering Cases” commemorating 40 years of reform and opening-up. This week, CCTV-2 spent a week onsite filming a documentary about its transformation.

I often say Changyang Campus is an “innovation blossom” nurtured by Tongji SEM.

Why? The site originated as the 1920s Donghua Cotton Mill. While many heritage factories become cultural hubs—like M50, Shanghai No. 8 Bridge, or Hongfang—we sought differentiation. Recalling Professor Wu Sizong’s strategic marketing lesson—”If you can’t lead a market, redefine it”—we positioned Changyang as a “Tech Innovation Campus”, evoking academia’s collaborative spirit. This vision aligned perfectly with our goal of fostering open innovation.Practice has proved that our positioning is very successful.

At the 2021 Pujiang Innovation Forum, Professor Zhu praised Changyang Campus as “a university beyond universities, an ideal ecosystem for tech innovation, and the future model for sci-tech parks”—high validation of our approach.

I also recall Tongji SEM’s early support: a 2016 feature in Tongdao Magazine titled “Xi Rongqing: Crafting a ‘Trendsetting Brand’ in Urban Renewal” foresaw our trajectory and remains a top search result about the project.

Faculty members have consistently supported us through branding, alumni networking, and promotions. Truly, Tongji SEM doesn’t just educate students—it guides alumni beyond graduation.

Today, our Recent graduates stand at the threshold of graduation, ready to embrace society and ascend to grander stages of life.The world beyond campus is a grander academy where endless knowledge awaits. Some of you may venture into fields unrelated to your majors, requiring you to master entirely new disciplines.

Therefore, I urge you to revisit the wisdom imparted by our faculty—not merely the knowledge itself, but more importantly, the thinking methodologies you’ve acquired. Return often to our school, attend lectures, and continually absorb fresh insights. Reviewing the past to gain new perspectives, and embracing lifelong learning—this has been my personal compass in navigating uncertainties, and I believe it will serve you equally well.

Thank you all!