Hosting Alumni at the First-ever Homecoming Seminar
The inaugural Alumni Homecoming Seminar took place on 29 October 2016, organised by the Alumni and Corporate Affairs Office, attended by 40 senior alumni from Hong Kong and the mainland.
The inaugural Alumni Homecoming Seminar took place on Saturday, October 29, organised by the Alumni and Corporate Affairs Office. Attended by 40 senior alumni from Hong Kong and the mainland, this high-profile event was held in the comfortable environs of the Executive Education Suite of the Cheng Yu Tung Building.
Hosted by Prof. Kalok Chan, Dean of the CUHK Business School, the seminar provided a thought leadership platform through which alumni could connect with each other and with their alma mater. Speaking at the seminar were three top-notch scholars of CUHK and the Business School. Prof. Joseph Fan, Professor of the Department of Finance and School of Accountancy, and Co-Director of the Centre for Economics and Finance, began with ‘The Quest for Sustainability: The Challenges and Strategies of the Succession of Chinese Family Business’. He was followed by Dr. Stephen Frost, Honorary Institute Fellow of the Asia Pacific Institute of Business, who delivered a speech entitled ‘What are the Top Priorities for a Company that Wants to be Perceived as Sustainable or Responsible?’ Concluding the trio of talks was Prof. Liu Mingkang, Honorary Professor of CUHK and Former Chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission, who shared his insights in a talk titled ‘Integrate Resources; Embrace Innovation’. Their inspirational talks riveted the audience, as did their profound knowledge and charisma. Dean Prof. Chan concluded the seminar with a brief overview of the Business School’s development, drawing particular attention to the Faculty Strategic Plan formulated for the next five years.
The alumni present were pleased with the setting and expressed appreciation for the chance to connect with their peers, particularly since it was the first time visiting the campus for many of the mainland alumni. “This high-profile seminar provided me with a valuable opportunity to engage intellectually with my peers from different backgrounds. It’s been a memorable experience for me,” commented a Hong Kong alumna. Another alumnus, who flew in from Shanghai, showed equal enthusiasm. “I was excited to return to my alma mater after so many years and to hear from three such distinguished scholars at the seminar. It was a great feeling!”
Following the seminar, participants were invited to dine at the Shatin 18 Chinese Restaurant, situated next door at the Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin. It was in this elegant ambience that the alumni continued to engage with their peers while enjoying the delicious cuisine.
“I am delighted to have met so many of our alumni at this thought leadership event, the majority of whom travelled from Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing. I was particularly pleased at the opportunity to update our alumni on our latest developments. I appreciate their feedback and comments, which are invaluable to us, and look forward to welcoming more of our alumni back to their alma mater at the next homecoming event,” commented Dean Prof. Chan.
This article was first published in the alumni website by the CUHK Business School’s Alumni and Corporate Affairs Office on 15 November 2016.