The meaning of the phrase "to be of one mind and one virtue and one oar, to help people and to help the world" is to be of one mind and one faith, to make concerted efforts, to help people and to benefit the country and the society. It is the motto of Tongji University.
Tongxin tongde
Pinyin [ tóng xīn tóng dé ]
Interpretation: tongde: to work for the same purpose. It refers to unity of thought and unity of belief. Unity of thought and unity of conviction. 尚书-泰誓中："I have ten disorganized ministers who are of one mind and one virtue." As opposed to "centrifugal separation".
Oars
Pinyin zhōu jí
Interpretation is also used as "舟檝oHan"." Oars" refers to boats, ships and oars. The person who pretends to have oars is not capable of water. --Xunzi Xuexue (荀子-劝学)
济天下
拼音jī tiān xià
InterpretationRelief for all aspects of the world. 天下：指天下民众和万物。 So that the people and all things under heaven are favored and helped.
Expanded Information:
Tongji was first established
In 1893, German physician Dr. Erics Paulum came to Shanghai to open a clinic near the German Consulate General. Later, he and several German doctors in Shanghai established the "German Medical Association".
When the Eight-Power Allied Forces invaded China, Germany brought in a large number of medical equipment and hired Dr. Paulum, who was well-known in Shanghai at that time, to help set up a hospital for wounded soldiers in Shanghai. When the Germans returned home, they gave all the medical equipments of the Hospital for the Wounded and Soldiers to Dr. Baolong as a token of their appreciation.
In 1900, with the support of Wilhelm Knappe, the German Consul General in Shanghai, Dr. Blum opened a 20-bed hospital next to the new road in Zhangjabang. Funded by both China and Germany, the hospital was named "Tongji Hospital", with Baolong as its director.
Early in 1904, Knappe held talks in Berlin with representatives of the German Foreign Ministry, the Prussian Ministry of Culture, and the director of the Oriental Languages Department of the University of Berlin. When talking about the implementation of German education policy in China, Knappe proposed a plan to open a German medical school in Shanghai.
Baidu Encyclopedia: Tongji University