On 21^st July evening, The University of Manchester China Centre Global MBA Reunion 2021 & 13th anniversary celebration was successfully held in Shanghai. As the first and long overdue reunion in the time of Covid-19, the evening themed “UoM meet NoW” offered nearly 200 alumni and friends from China and overseas with an unforgettable evening of memory and entertainment featuring music, games & performances by students, alumni and alumni’s second generations.

Sherry Fu, director of China Centre, welcomed everyone for coming. “Together we are UoM,” She reflected on the years setting up in Shanghai and taking off in China and thanked all for their support throughout the years, “Transforming the Centre to be a leader of digital learning revolution, we’ll continue to bring more transnational courses to China and extend the university’s academic and research strength to a much wider audience in China.”

Sherry Fu’s speech was opened by mentioning the recent China Alumni Event with Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell and Professor Esme Ward and asking for alumni’s ideas, thoughts and engagement in celebrating the 200th anniversary of The University of Manchester in the year of 2024.

Gill Caldicott, director of the British Council in East China, delivered a speech where she invited everyone to applaud for themselves for being part of the largest alumni community of any campus-based university in the UK, with more than 500,000 graduates in more than 190 countries around the world; to share their unique and great learning experience with each other; to give a toast for their promising and bright future ahead. With Shanghai being developed to an international hub for education, culture, technology and economy, the role of China Centre will continue to bring together the best of the British education and China’s talents and contribute to bridging China and Britain across those fields.

Programme started with a juvenile choir of 2nd generation of Manchester China Centre GMBA graduates, led by China Centre alumni kids club. Back in 2018 at China Centre’s 10th anniversary gala dinner, the children were dressed up as symbolic Manchester bees and proudly sang a song ‘you are my sunshine’ with their alumna mums. This year they showcased how diverse and good they were at dancing, violin, cello, and Taekwondo. Other programmes include a chorus by UoM team members taking part in previous Asia Desert Business School Challenge, a business talkshow by GMBA student, quizzes with interesting questions about UoM and Manchester. While all performers and participants were amateur, their spirit and energy were inspiring to everyone in the grand ballroom.

Towards the end of the dinner, Sherry Fu delivered closing remarks and welcomed all alumni to visit the new Centre nearby often and hold hands together wishing for the next decade of success.