On the evening of December 13, SCMU held its 2024 Work-Study Awards Ceremony. The event was attended by officials from the Party Committee Student Affairs Department, student affairs coordinators from various schools, work-study program liaisons, and student representatives.

This year, seven schools received the “Outstanding Work-Study Collective” award, 45 students were honored as “Stars of Self-Reliance”, and ten teams won awards in the “Excellence in Diligence” themed video competition. Award recipients shared their work-study experiences and stories, demonstrating the rich spirit of the program.

Award recipients sharing their stories. Photo by Li Jianwei

Representatives from the School of Ethnology and Sociology and the School of Life Sciences reported their work-study achievements for 2024. The School of Ethnology and Sociology implemented various educational activities based on the university’s comprehensive student aid system. The School of Life Sciences created discipline-specific work-study positions that integrated professional learning with practical experience.

Zang Youlin, a 2022 undergraduate from the School of Economics and a “Star of Self-Reliance” recipient, shared his personal journey. Despite hearing impairment, he firmly believes that “one’s abilities and worth should not be defined by any limitations”. He has completed 900 hours of work-study, 350 hours of volunteer service, and participated twice in teaching programs in Sui County, Henan. Li Jiawen, a 2022 undergraduate from the School of Foreign Languages, described how the program enhanced her sense of responsibility and helped her balance academic pressures while maintaining study enthusiasm.

Award-winning teams from the video competition shared their creative experiences, highlighting SCMU students’ deep appreciation of the work-study spirit and its practical application in daily life.

Fan Jun, a 2024 undergraduate from the School of Economics, reflected “Today’s ceremony deepened my understanding of work-study’s profound significance. Each participant demonstrates extraordinary perseverance and diligence, pursuing both academic excellence and practical experience”.

The university’s work-study program has shown significant progress over the years, currently offering over 1,800 positions and providing annual support to more than 20,000 students with financial needs.