On September 17th, the opening ceremony of the 21st Campus Culture and Arts Festival-theme: Youth on Fire-and the “Dreams Set Sail” Welcome Gala for the Class of 2025 took place at the university stadium. President Lian Jijian led senior university leaders, deans, faculty, alumni and the entire Class of 2025 in a high-energy opening convocation that celebrated the start of the academic year.

The evening gala commenced with the original song and dance performance titled “Youth of TUT”, where the exuberant melodies and vibrant choreography vividly encapsulated the spirited ethos of TUTers.

Adhering to the university’s motto of “Valuing Virtue and Capacity, Pursuing Truth and Innovation”, the performance poignantly portrayed the students’ unwavering dedication to self-improvement and their relentless pursuit of lofty ideals.

Against a sea of waving banners, student delegates belted out their college mottos and good-luck chants—sparking a wave of school pride that swept the stadium and had faculty and freshmen cheering long after the last banner swept by.

The new musical All Roads Lead to Tianjin mixes hip-hop, xiangsheng comedy and dance to give freshmen a crash course in the city’s past-and-future vibe—two weeks after the city wrapped up the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit on 1 and 2 September.

During the medley, a keep-your-chin-up anthem titled Moonlight and the high-octane banger Fire Within resonated in succession. With powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence, the students of TUT showcased the fearless, ambitious, and progressive spirit of the new generation, embodying the vibrant essence of contemporary youth.

Suona channels the raw, high-spirited energy of the Loess Plateau—at once powerful and poised—saluting the artisans who have kept the region’s earth-deep rhythms alive for generations.

"Prime of Heritage" throws rap, martial arts and a catwalk into the same ring, letting students drag centuries-old crafts into 2025—and proving heritage thrives when youth fall in love with it.

Veterans, mid-career staff and rookies line the same stage for the recitation We March On. In three voices they trace TUT’s 46-year arc—from 1979 startup to today’s bid for China’s“Double First-Class”research league—casting teaching as the engine that powered the region and the nation.

University leaders handed birthday cake to the ten freshmen born on 17 September, singing them on stage.

The sci-tech showcase "Dream-Chasing TUTers",uses dance to replay students burning the midnight oil as they troubleshoot and perfect their prototypes, underscoring the pay-offs of the University’s“Integrated-Education”start-up track.

"Dance Medley" stitches together a curated selection of outstanding award-winning works from TUT's "Rhythm of Dance" Competition, With fluid and versatile dance moves, full passion, and engaging stage presence, TUT students vividly showcase their youthful vitality and confident demeanor.

A situational recitation and the song "The Future is Ours" brought together TUT’s frontline voices—including village-resident cadres, postgraduate teaching volunteers, the 2025 Xinjiang teaching support team, sci-tech innovation teams, heritage ambassadors, youth volunteers, and student veterans—for one joint stage appearance.

TUT's 21st Campus Culture and Arts Festival will last for three months, hosting a series of activities including the Freshmen Talent Competition, Host Competition, Speech Contest, Debate Competition and Basketball Tournament.