2024 MBA Students Set Sail at Chengze Garden
Sep 06-2024
On 30 August 2024, the Opening Ceremony and Student Orientation for the MBA 2024 Class at BiMBA Business School, National School of Development, Peking University (hereinafter referred to as NSD) was held at NSD's Chengze Garden.
The ceremony was attended by representatives from NSD and the MBA programme's partner institutions, including Vlerick Business School in Belgium and UCL School of Management in the UK, as well as BiMBA alumni and interviewer representatives, and the new 2024 MBA students and their families.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr Yu Bin, Assistant Dean of BiMBA Business School, Director of the MBA Centre and Director of the Career Development Department.
Dean's speech
Professor Huang Yiping, PKU Boya Distinguished Professor, Dean of NSD and Director of the Institute of Digital Finance, welcomed the new MBA students to the NSD family. He noted that 2024 will mark the 30th anniversary of the founding of NSD, and that international exchange and cooperation have always been an important gene of the school. In April this year, US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen visited NSD. She still remembers the founding ceremony of the BiMBA programme in 1998 and is very concerned about the development of the programme. At present, globalisation seems to be reversing, but he believes it is more important for the younger generation to improve their international outlook. Students should learn to analyse China's real problems from an international perspective and strive to build a bridge with the world. He encouraged students to improve their learning ability and to inherit and carry forward the spirit of NSD - "National Sentiment, Sense of Confidence, Harmony in Diversity, Unity in Differences".
Speech by representatives of the partner institutions
Professor Marion Debruyne, Dean of Vlerick Business School, gave a video speech from Brussels. She thanked the students for choosing the PKU-Vlerick MBA programme. She believed that the excellent faculty, global perspective and alumni network of both schools would help the students to achieve great personal and professional success. She used Vlerick Business School's motto "Live your dream; Learn continuously; Leap with confidence" to encourage the new students.
Professor Dirk Buyens, International Dean of Vlerick for BiMBA, gave three wishes to the students in a video message: to become lifelong friends with the students and alumni around them; to be brave enough to let go of old ideas and embrace new ones; and to try hard to make the world a better place.
Professor Filip Roodhooft, Research Dean of Vlerick Business School, travelled from Brussels to attend the opening ceremony in Beijing. He encouraged the students to take the challenges of their studies seriously, to put the knowledge and skills they have learned into practice and ultimately to make their dreams come true.
Professor Davide Ravasi, Director of the UCL School of Management, attended the opening ceremony in person. In his speech, he discussed the impact of generative AI technology on learning and reminded students not to rely too much on AI, but to study hard and improve their independent thinking, writing and other skills. He also said that the UCL School of Management campus in London always welcomes students.
Alan Parkinson, Deputy Director of Education at the UCL School of Management, not only came, but opened his speech with his British humour. He used his own personal experience to prove to the students that education can indeed change a person's life. The students already have the key words "PKU, NSD, UCL, MBA" and the key now lies in their own efforts. He hopes that each of them can make full use of the two-year learning experience to ultimately change their own lives.
Professor Michael Manlangit, Director of International Programmes at UCL School of Management, also spoke at the event. He emphasised that embarking on the MBA learning journey is like entering a new ecosystem and that students should learn from each other and encourage each other to progress.
Speech by the Students Representatives
In the next section, three representatives of the new MBA students took to the stage to share their feelings about joining the school.
Deng Wenzheng, who spoke on behalf of the new PKU-UCL full-time MBA students, has a bachelor's degree from Peking University. He believes that BiMBA's MBA programme perfectly embodies Peking University's spirit of "free thinking and inclusiveness", as the students come from different industries with diverse growth and work experiences, and the teachers are from NSD and UCL's School of Management, who will teach the latest knowledge and concepts from both China and the West. He believes the programme will open up unlimited opportunities for students and help them succeed in this rapidly changing world.
Speaking on behalf of the new students of the PKU-Vlerick part-time MBA programme, Mu Cong said that the younger generation has the responsibility to promote the future development of the country. BiMBA's MBA programme combines Eastern and Western business philosophies, emphasises experiential learning, has an international vision and a strong industry network, all of which will help students become future leaders with confidence and vision.
Badge Awarding
In the final part of the opening ceremony, accompanied by the singing of "Yanyuan Qing", professors and alumni interviewers pinned Peking University badges on students.
After the ceremony, all the staff and students took a group photo in front of the main building to commemorate this special moment.
The representatives of the alumni interviewers who attended the ceremony were Lu Zhihua, Liu Zhiqiang, Guo Zhulei, Shi Yu, Xu Manqiu, Zhang Yan and Zheng Xingguo.
Orientation
After the opening ceremony, an orientation session was held for the new students.
Professor Huang Zhuo, Professor of Economics, Fa-Shu Scholar and Deputy Dean of NSD, gave a comprehensive introduction of NSD and BiMBA Business School to the students. Professor Ma Jingjing, tenured Associate Professor, Mulan Scholar and Vice Dean of BiMBA Business School, spoke about the MBA curriculum. Dr Cathy Du, Assistant Dean and Director of Academic Affairs of BiMBA Business School, focused on the academic standards and disciplines. Ms Jin Wei, Deputy Director of the Career Development Department, introduced the comprehensive and professional guidance and support BiMBA provides for students' career development.
The MBA journey of the new class of 2024 has officially begun, full of gain and hope.