Mourners bid farewell at President Yang Fujia’s funeral

10 August 2022


President Yang Fujia passed away in Shanghai at 8:32am, 17 July 2022 due to illness at the age of 86. The funeral ceremony was held at 10 am on 9 August, in the Longhua Funeral Parlour, Shanghai. President Yang Fujia was known by many as the former President of Fudan University, former Chancellor of the University of Nottingham in the UK and the President of University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC). He was also a renowned nuclear physicist, an educator, member of the China Central Institute for Culture and History, and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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On Tuesday morning, the Longhua Funeral Parlour was filled with mourners who had travelled from across the country to express their deepest condolences to President Yang Fujia’s family and pay their respects. The body of President Yang Fujia was laid among a bed of flowers with a portrait of the president and a banner hanging above that read, “In memory of President Yang Fujia”. Both sides of the hall were also covered with calligraphy banners that said, “Global vision, scientific exploration, and the pursuit of excellence inspires the world”, and “The historical mission, talent cultivation, and the development of the liberal arts sets an example for generations”, which were chosen to accurately portray the life of President Yang Fujia.

The funeral ceremony was presided over by Xu Zheng, Executive Vice President of Fudan University, who expressed condolences to President Yang Fujia’s family on behalf of all those in mourning. Family members, government representatives, friends, colleagues and students in attendance all bowed and saluted, bidding their final farewells to President Yang Fujia.

After the passing away of President Yang Fujia, the Organisation Department of the CPC Central Committee, the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Education, the Counsellor's Office of the State Council, the China Central Institute for Culture and History, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the China Association for Science and Technology, and the China Academy of Engineering Physics sent flower and letters of condolences. Many colleges and universities, societies, research institutes, publishing houses, alumni associations and institutions also expressed condolences to the family of President Yang Fujia.

President Yang Fujia promoted the establishment of China's first Sino-foreign university - University of Nottingham Ningbo China, and served as its first president. As an educator with a rich knowledge of both Western and Chinese higher education, President Yang Fujia was instrumental in creating a new model of Sino-foreign cooperative education.

Representatives from Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government, Ningbo Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government and the University of Nottingham Ningbo China were all in attendance and laid flowers in memory of President Yang Fujia.

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Peng Jiaxue, Standing Committee member of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Ningbo Municipal Party Committee, Cheng Yuechong, Vice Governor of Zhejiang Province, Tang Feifan, Mayor and Deputy Secretary of the Ningbo Municipal Party Committee, Zhu Huan, Vice Mayor of Ningbo, and other provincial and municipal leaders sent flowers to President Yang. Vice Governor Cheng Yuechong and the Department of Education of Zhejiang Province extended their condolences to the family of President Yang Fujia. Zhu Huan, Vice Mayor of Ningbo, and relevant leaders of the Organisation Department of the Municipal Party Committee, the Municipal Education Bureau, the Municipal Association for Science and Technology, the Zhenhai District Government and other departments also went to Shanghai to attend the President Yang Fujia’s funeral and expressed their condolences to family members on behalf of the people of their hometown.

All Chinese board members of the UNNC Joint-Venture Board and representatives of the UNNC Management Board as well as relevant leaders from Zhejiang Wanli University went to Shanghai to attend President Yang Fujia’s funeral. Xu Yafen, Chair of UNNC Board, visited President Yang Fujia’s home to comfort the family.

Members of UNNC’s First Advisory Board and donor representatives, Dr. Li Dak Sum and Mrs Li Yip Yio Chin, Mr and Mrs Thomas Chen of Siyuan Foundation, Dr. Chung Hon Dak and Mrs Ko Lee with Shanghai Maxdo Co., Ltd, Dr. Guan Qiaozhong and Mrs Wang Jianyu with Guangdong Hybribio Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Ms. Wang Linda of Yihai Group, Ningbo Yunsheng Holdings Group Co., Ltd expressed their condolences in attendance or by sending flowers.

In addition, many UNNC alumni representatives attended President Yang's farewell ceremony and expressed their condolences.

University staff, students and alumni farewell comments

“It is with a heavy heart that we cherish the memory of President Yang Fujia, who is highly respected and loved by staff and students.” Chair of UNNC Board, Madame Xu Yafen said. “The University has lost a beloved president. Although President Yang Fujia is gone, his educational philosophy, innovative spirit, his caring for students and his far-reaching influence on our nation’s higher education will still exist. UNNC staff and students will always miss President Yang.”

Professor Shearer West, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, also shared condolences. “President Professor Yang Fujia will remain fondly and proudly in our memories as a leader of immense vision and drive. So much of the University we know today would not be here without his influence as our sixth Chancellor. His achievements and his name will resonate long into our futures both here and in Ningbo.”

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UNNC Provost Nick Miles paid his respects to President Yang Fujia, stating, “President Yang Fujia will be lovingly remembered by all of us, his friends and family, near and distant, and all those upon whom he made an everlasting impression of kindness, wisdom and generosity.” He went on to say, “As the founding president of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, he fulfilled his vision of ensuring high-quality teaching and cultivating outstanding student talent over the years. President Yang Fujia said a number of times that many graduate students mentioned in their letters to him that ‘the university has changed our lives’. We are all very grateful for President Yang Fujia’s profound insights and unprecedented contribution to the development of higher education and talent cultivation in China.”

In the eyes of Professor Sam Shen, Vice-Provost for External Relations at UNNC, President Yang Fujia was an exuberant and amiable man who was easy to approach. He recalled that President Yang Fujia often worked all over the world, and that it was not unusual to see him holding meetings to arrange his workload as soon as he got off the plane. Whether it is with administrators, teachers or students, President Yang Fujia was always considered as a kind man. He also donated his personal savings to set up the "Dream Scholarship" to motivate students who show outstanding potential in extracurricular activities.

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Gao Jie (second from the right) taking a photo together with President Yang Fujia

Gao Jie, a 2015 alumna who attended the funeral, was one of the first recipients of the "Dream Scholarship" created by President Yang Fujia. When she was a student, she invited President Yang Fujia to write a foreword for her story collection about volunteers of UNNC. "I am so lucky to have received a lot of encouragement and support from President Yang Fujia on my way to grow and pursue my dreams," she said.

Gao Jie wrote affectionately in her WeChat moments, “In 2013, you wrote a foreword for my book; in 2014, you awarded the Dream Scholarship to support us in achieving our own achievements outside of academics. In 2015, in the reference letter for a master’s degree, you said that you would support my dream as well. Not too long ago, I was thinking, when will I have the opportunity to talk about liberal arts education with you again. Although I have yet to achieve my full potential, I have always been determined to stick to the liberal arts path you created. Rest in peace. I hope that UNNC students and alumni continue to pass on the spirit of liberal arts in your name!”

President Yang Fujia: gone from our sights, but not our hearts

During the Class of 2022 Graduation Ceremony in July, President Yang Fujia sent a message to the students for the last time: "Students, the world we live in is still facing many problems and challenges. No matter where you go, what industry you enter in the future, I hope that you can make your own contribution to this world. I sincerely hope that every student of UNNC can light up the world with their spark of fire and realize their dreams, and together we can build the ‘Chinese Dream’ of the Chinese nation."

In commemoration of President Yang Fujia, UNNC will hold a memorial service for President Yang Fujia on campus after the start of the autumn semester. In addition, the university is preparing to name a teaching building after President Yang Fujia to recognise the outstanding contributions made by President Yang Fujia to the founding and development of UNNC.