May 2026

Dear friends and alumni,

What a remarkable month April has been.

As I look back on the past few weeks at the University of Manchester China Centre, I am struck by a single, powerful thread woven through every event, every conversation, and every new connection: the courage to grow in the face of change.

Whether it was Professor David Bamford flying in to lead Global MBA students from Hong Kong, Singapore, and Dubai through the complexities of strategic supply chain management, or the extraordinary Han Zijun reminding us that resilience knows no age limit as she shared her Everest summits alongside our own alumna Serena Yu—the message was clear. Growth happens when we step beyond comfort zones, across borders, and into honest dialogue.

We saw this courage in the pages of Nineteen, where Adam Robarts and Wu Jingfan explored the very meaning of life and mental growth in education. We saw it in Beijing, where our alumna Wu Jing and ELiP student Struan Mathieson shared practical strategies for navigating workforce shifts and education reform. And we celebrated it at the 2nd anniversary of our alumni Speaking Club—a community born from a simple idea, now 200 members strong, proving that when we find our voice, we never lose it.

I was also deeply honoured to represent the Centre at the AmCham Shanghai Women's Leadership Conference, sharing how our Global MBA enables women to rise, and to visit Daystar Academy and the Qi Social Innovation Centre in Beijing—where two of our proud Manchester alumni are leading with purpose and heart.

To every student, alum, speaker, and guest who joined us this April: thank you. You are the reason this community thrives. You remind us that education is not just about knowledge transfer. It is about shared humanity, resilience, and the quiet courage to calibrate direction when the path shifts.

Here is to climbing higher—together.

Warm regards,

Sherry Fu

The University of Manchester China Centre is thrilled to be part of the 2026 Women’s Leadership Conference hosted by The American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AmCham Shanghai), connecting with outstanding leaders and professionals. Highlights included our Founding Director, Dr Sherry Fu, speaking on the panel “The Systems We Build: How Organizations Enable Women to Rise.” 

We loved sharing how our Global MBA supports leadership growth with the audience.

What happens when an architect, a centre director, and a life coach walk into a room? They don’t just talk about a book. They begin a conversation about life itself.

On Saturday, 11 April, the Manchester China Centre hosted a truly special sharing session that went far beyond the pages of Nineteen. We were honoured to welcome back renowned architect and author Mr Adam Robarts for an in-depth conversation with Ms Sherry Fu, Director of the Manchester China Centre, and Ms Wu Jingfan, an ICF-certified PCC life coach.

This was not a standard author event. Instead of simply dissecting the narrative, our speakers explored the deeper questions that concern every international education family. From three unique lenses—a father, an architect who has designed major educational spaces (including contributions to Manchester Business School), and a cross-cultural professional—they examined the true meaning of life and the role of mental growth in education.

The discussion journeyed through powerful concepts: from acceptance and companionship to detachment, mindfulness, and ultimately, joy.

We were delighted to welcome a wonderfully diverse and engaged audience. An education expert travelled all the way from Qingdao to join us, alongside Manchester alumni, their families, and even a special ten-year-old guest.

Seeing different generations gather in one room—listening, resonating, and learning together—was a powerful reminder that the essence of education is never just about knowledge transfer. It is about shared humanity and resilience.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this deeply thoughtful and warm afternoon. We look forward to seeing you at our next MCloud Reading event.