On the afternoon of November 7, the grand final of the Master Time, Master Life English Speech Contest, hosted by the International Education College (ZZULI-OU Intelligent Engineering Joint Institute), kicked off. The event was attended by the institute’s leadership team, international faculty, and representatives of both Chinese and international students and teachers. The judges were a panel of language instructors, including both foreign and Chinese teachers.

The competition consisted of two rounds: the preliminary round and the final. There was a high participation of students from the institute, including Chinese and international students and those from the School of Foreign Languages. After a rigorous preliminary selection, 17 outstanding contestants advanced to the final. In the final, the contestants delivered engaging and inspiring speeches around the theme of Master Time, Master Life. Whether through passionate storytelling, impassioned rhetoric, or powerful delivery, they conveyed the essence of time management, earning thunderous applause from the audience.
The competition was punctuated by captivating cultural performances. Liao Kui and Li Junning amazed the audience with their powerful English dubbing of Bring in the Wine, a poem by the Chinese poet Li Bai; foreign teacher Stephanie and Wei Yuhan presented a captivating melodious English song; and Ma Junwen's rendition of Confession Balloon brought the atmosphere to a crescendo.

Following a fierce competition, two first-prize winners, five second-prize winners, and ten third-prize winners were announced. Benjamin, the ESL Teaching Director of ZZULI-OU Intelligent Engineering Joint Institute, delivered insightful comments on the competition and encouraged the students to further excel in their English language development. Dean Jin Nan commended the students' outstanding performances, extended heartfelt congratulations to the winners, and encouraged them to become masters of their time and leverage their English skills leading to a promising future.

The English Speech Contest is one of the key events organized by the International Education College (ZZULI-OU Intelligent Engineering Joint Institute) to create a vibrant English-learning climate. It not only offers students an invaluable platform to showcase their talents and hone their skills, but also fosters a positive and ambitious learning atmosphere that inspires students to strive for excellence and reach their full potential.