The University of Manchester officially launched its “Challenge Accepted” global fundraising and volunteering campaign in China with alumni dinner held in Beijing and Shanghai on 16 and 18 March 2026. Professor Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor, led a University delegation to attend the two events, engaging with more than 500 alumni, partners and supporters across both cities.

The visit formed part of the University’s wider engagement in China, connecting with alumni, donors and institutional partners, and comes at a significant moment following the launch of both the “Challenge Accepted” campaign and the University’s Manchester 2035 strategy.

“Challenge Accepted” is the University’s first major global fundraising and volunteering campaign, aiming to mobilise its worldwide community of alumni, supporters and partners to drive transformative change across research, student support, innovation and culture. The campaign will support four key areas: research with purpose, innovation and enterprise, culture and community, and student inclusion and success.

Professor Duncan Ivison thanked alumni in China for their continued support and engagement with the University. He highlighted the important role of universities in addressing global challenges and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to creating knowledge for the public good. He noted that the campaign represents a collective effort to bring together academics, students, alumni and partners to deliver impact locally and globally, and encouraged alumni to contribute through volunteering, mentoring and wider engagement.

Prof. Duncan Ivison, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester

Ms Sherry Fu, Director of UoM China Centre, also addressed guests at the events, noting that 2026 marks the 18th anniversary of the Centre. Since its establishment in 2008,  China Centre has developed into the University’s largest overseas hub, supporting a growing community of Chinese alumni and delivering transnational education programmes. She emphasised that the China Centre will continue to play an important role in supporting alumni engagement and strengthening connections between the University and its community in China.

Ms Sherry Fu, Director of UoM China Centre

The events in both Beijing and Shanghai featured fireside chat sessions with alumni speakers, who shared perspectives on their professional journeys and engagement with wider society, reflecting the values of the University’s global community. In Beijing, Lucy Di, Vice-Principal of Canadian Programme at Beanstalk International Bilingual School, moderated the session with Miao Wang, winner of the Social Action Award at the Study UK Alumni Awards 2026, and Founder of Better Blue.

In Shanghai, the session was hosted by Fei Ren, Vice Secretary of the University of Manchester China Alumni Association, and featured guest speaker Bo Cao, a first-class honours graduate in Management from the University of Manchester, recipient of the Stellify Award. He was recognised with honours, including Sustainability Champion and Volunteer Project of the Year 2024.

Beijing-Fireside Chat

Shanghai-Fireside Chat

During the event, Ms. Sherry Fu, on behalf of UoM China Centre, presented two commemorative gifts to Prof. Duncan Ivison, reflecting a fusion of Chinese cultural heritage and the ethos of The University of Manchester. The first gift was a live demonstration of intangible cultural heritage in the form of a paper-cut artwork, themed around the Chinese character Chun (Spring), incorporating the University’s bee emblem alongside a galloping horse motif. The second was a calligraphy piece featuring the phrase 'Challenge Accepted' rendered in Chinese seal script, accompanied by a bespoke seal created exclusively for PVC. Together, the gifts symbolise a shared aspiration to embrace the opportunities of the new year and to face future challenges collaboratively.

The quiz at dinner was a standout highlight, marked by vibrant energy and enthusiastic participation. In Beijing, the quiz was hosted by  Yuxiang Jin, a core member of the UoM Alumni Association Beijing Chapter. In Shanghai, it was led by Lynn Cong, a 2015 GMBA alumna and founder of UoM China Centre Alumni Public Speaking Club. The warm and engaging atmosphere throughout the evening vividly reflected the dynamism and strong sense of camaraderie within Manchester’s global alumni community.

The successful launch of the campaign in Beijing and Shanghai marks an important step in strengthening the University’s relationship with its alumni community in China. The University looks forward to continuing to work with its global network of alumni, partners and supporters to advance its strategic ambitions and deliver impact for the public good.