On 26th April, the 30th China Daily “21st Century Cup” National English Speaking Competition of Harbin Engineering University was held in Room 408 of Building 41. The competition was organized by the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Department of the Student Union in School of Foreign Studies, with Zhang Junnan, Liu Zhitao, Yu Chunyu, and Li Baofeng serving as judges and Yang Bihan acting as host. A total of 46 contestants from various colleges participated in the competition. Following the preliminary online evaluation and selection process, a total of 16 excellent contestants were selected to participate in the quarterfinals of the campus selection contest.

The competition comprised three distinct sections: firstly, a three-minute speech on a predetermined topic, a two-minute impromptu speech, and a one-minute question and answer session. The theme of the competition was “Living within and beyond the 21st century”, and the contestants were required to complete their speeches within the time limit, with clear structure, vivid expression, distinctive style, and with appropriate body language and eye contact.

Following the provision of guidance by the staff, the contestants proceeded to Room 415 of Building 41 in order to extract the topic, and then entered the 30-minute time limit in which to prepare for the session. Taking the stage, contestants impressed the audience with well-reasoned arguments, vivid storytelling, and insightful reflections grounded in both classic references and current events. Following their performances, participants stayed on to observe and learn from one another, engaging in a dynamic exchange of ideas and gaining valuable experience.

Following a rigorous evaluation process by the panel of four judges, the winners were determined based on the content of the speech, the quality of language expression, and the overall impression of three distinct aspects of the scoring. The prizes awarded included 2 grand prizes, 4 first prizes, 10 second prizes, and 16 third prizes. Wang Yuanye and Li Linjunren, two students of the University, have been selected to represent the institution in the 30th China Daily “21st Century Cup” National English Speaking Competition in the final of Heilongjiang Province . Furthermore, the competition platform will generate an electronic certificate within approximately 15 working days. Contestants will be able to access the official 21st Century Cup Speaking Competition platform to view their Campus Selection certificate.