Dear Friends and Alumni,

This year marks a special milestone for the University of Manchester China Centre — our 18th anniversary.

Over the past month, I have been reminded once again of what makes this community so special. I had the privilege of representing the China Centre at the American Chamber of Commerce Women’s Leadership Conference, engaging with inspiring global business leaders on the future of leadership and innovation. I also joined alumni at our MCloud Reading Series, where we explored how to sharpen critical thinking and maintain human creativity in the age of AI. The highlight of the month is attendance of the UK alumni employability forum jointly hosted by British Council and British Consulate-General Shanghai, feature a special address by UK Minister Olivia Bailey.

Across Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Hefei and beyond, I witnessed familiar faces reconnecting, new friendships forming, and meaningful conversations taking place. Alumni came together to exchange insights on career transformation, financial innovation, lifelong learning, and the capabilities that will matter most in an increasingly dynamic world.

This is the Manchester community we have built over the past 18 years — a network of more than 3,000 alumni in China who are intellectually curious, globally minded, and deeply connected through shared values and experiences.

As we step into June, we are delighted to welcome Professor Fiona Devine, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, together with Panos Sousounis, Associate Dean for International, to Shanghai. Their visit reflects the University’s continued commitment to strengthening connections with our students, alumni, partners and wider community across China.

Meanwhile, applications for the Global Part-time MBA July 2026 intake are entering the final stage. For those considering the next step in their personal and professional development, I warmly invite you to discover what 18 years of community-building, global perspectives and lifelong learning can offer.

As we celebrate this milestone year, I would like to thank every student, alumnus, partner, colleague and friend who has been part of our journey. The China Centre’s story has always been about people — and together, we will continue to build bridges between Manchester, China and the world.

I look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming events.

Warm regards,

Dr Sherry Fu

Founding Director & Managing Director

The University of Manchester China Centre