Celebrating the 2026 graduates
‘The world needs people like you. Young, intelligent, and ambitious individuals who understand how people with different backgrounds think. The world needs people like you who have been trained in a truly international environment like SDC,’ said Morten Laugesen, the Danish Director of SDC, as he congratulated this year’s graduates in China.
Graduates, family members, and friends filled the building as they gathered to celebrate at the graduation ceremony at SDC in Beijing.
Among those attending the event were the Ambassador of Denmark to China, Anders Siegumfeldt; Vice President of CAS and President of UCAS, Zhou Qi; and members of the Danish Board of SDC.
Chair of the Board, Rector Rasmus Antoft from Roskilde University congratulated all the graduates on behalf of the Danish universities.
A journey that shaped a life
Humam Ahmed Hamdoun graduated with a double degree in Neuroscience and Neuroimaging from Aarhus University and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. In his graduation speech, he reflected on his own journey:
‘Speaking personally, when I first came to China, I could never have imagined that years later I would still be here, pursuing a PhD in neuroscience. What began as a decision to study abroad became a journey that shaped both my academic career and my life,’ said Humam Ahmed Hamdoun.
He believes his experience reflects the story of many international students.
‘One of the things that makes SDC special is the opportunity to learn in a truly international environment. We learned not only from textbooks, lectures, and research projects, but also from one another,’ he said.
Embracing an uncertain future
Ma Ruiqi graduated from the Innovation Management programme with a double degree from Aalborg University and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. She also addressed her fellow graduates from the podium.
‘Some of you hold job offers, some will start doctoral studies, and some will take a gap year. Wherever your path leads, you all face an unknown future. I’m reminded of an Innovation Management concept: the Cone of Plausibility.'
'It describes a range of possible future outcomes, none of them guaranteed. Two people in different environments can follow the exact same path and end up with completely different results. That’s the beauty of uncertainty. You can step off halfway, switch lanes, or turn the tables against the wind,’ she said.
What makes SDC graduates stand out
Professor Anders Ryom Villadsen from Aarhus University has just spent a semester as part of the academic community in Beijing.
However, his connection to SDC goes back more than a decade. As a teacher, supervisor, and researcher, he has followed generations of students, and this year he addressed the graduates, reflecting on what has stood out to him over the years.
‘The most rewarding moments in teaching rarely come when students simply demonstrate what they know. They come when students ask a question that changes the discussion, listen carefully to an unfamiliar perspective, or rethink an argument in light of new evidence. To me, these moments represent some of the very values that make SDC special.'
'They are also the reason why universities matter far beyond their campuses. Because these academic values are not limited to academic life. They become even more important when we leave the university and apply them in the wider world. The challenges our societies face rarely belong to one discipline. They require people who can combine expertise with openness. Knowledge with judgement. Confidence with humility. And the ability to work with people whose perspectives are different from their own. That is why I believe an SDC education is special. Not simply because of what you know. But because of how you have learned it,' he said.
