On March 5, 2019, Shanghai Overseas Returned Scholars Association (SORSA) hosted the signing ceremony and information session of “2019 SORSA Grant for projects on people-to-people diplomacy activities". “Magnificent Culture– Chinese traditional culture sharing salon” proposed by SORSA University of Manchester Alumni Association officially signed with SORSA.
Sherry Fu, the project leader, executive member of the SORSA council, vice president and secretary general of SORSA University of Manchester Alumni Association attended the meeting and signed the official contract, witnessed by SORSA leaders.
SORSA
vice president and secretary general Lingling Zhu and executive vice
president Jianfei Lu delivered speeches, shared constructive guidelines
and useful advices regarding activities around people-to-people
diplomacy. So far 58 projects have received funds since 2015 and strived
to accomplish the mission of "people-to-people diplomacy". It is hoped
that 12 winning projects this year will look forward, demonstrate the
project aspect of "people-to-people", promote team spirit, and attract
wider publicility and visibility. During the speech, SORSA University of
Manchester Alumni Association was particulary mentioned as a good
example of newly established chapter which has had a positive impact and
been recognized at SORSA.
From left to right: SORSA vice president and secretary general Lingling Zhu , executive vice president Jianfei Lu
On
behalf of SORSA University of Manchester Alumni Association, Sherry Fu,
the project leader, executive member of the SORSA council, vice
president and secretary general of SORSA University of Manchester Alumni
Association attended the meeting and signed the official contract. She
introduced the project's mission and vision: to promote Chinese
traditional culture through immersive experince of "tea, caligraphy and painting, and silk arts" among UK students studying in
Shanghai. In the future, alumni association will continue to develop
signature events such as "Magnificent Culture" series,
never forget why it started, continue to provide support to alumni and
strive to bring together university alumni in the region. SORSA
University of Manchester Alumni Association was officially launched on January 14, 2017,
and witnessed by University of Manchester representations and SORSA
leaders. Over the past two years, alumni association has strived to
carefully identify resources, actively expand alumni network, and work
closely together with the University of Manchester China Centre, SORSA,
various chapters under SORSA, Mcloud and other organizations to expand
career development, foster social responsibility, enrich learning for
alumni as well as to promote Sino-British ties and exchanges among
culture, economics, science, technology, education and other sectors.
Since the establishment, alumni association has supported over 100
alumni events and activities including regular thought leader talks,
social responsibility campaigns, sportsactivities and 12 visits to
industry-leading companies.
As one of the key oranizers, 'Mcloud' was officially launched in Shanghai on December 7, 2017, witnessed by distinguished guests from the British Consulate General in Shanghai, SORSA UK branch and UoM alumni association, the Manchester-China Forum, the University of Manchester's alumni clubs, Alliance Manchester Business School, Xu Beihong Painting Academy and the Silk Elite. Affiliated to Manchester-China Forum and University of Manchester China Centre, Mcloud links Chinese and British government organizations, Sino-UK scientists and artists to build a bilateral people-to-people diplomatic platform.
At the meeting, Sai Yang from Benelux chapter and Liang Shen from Shanghai University chapter shared their experiences on organizing relevant projects. 11 other projects including Japan Branch’s “Grow Cherry Blossom Trees, Grow China–Japan Ties” project, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Chapter’s “Traditional ChineseMedicine Experience” project and US Branch Harvard University Alumni Association’s “American Students in Shanghai” historical heritage tour project have also won the funds and signed the official contract.