December will close out 2020, a year of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, but we're celebrating some of our highlights from the past twelve months.

UoM China Centre is opening a new chapter this autumn at L’Avenue, which is solidifying its status as a unique international centre of Manchester education in China. We have won the award of "Evergreen brand · The Most Valued Brand of Business Education 2020", at the 8^th Tencent Business School Development Forum in Beijing. And all of our master programmes have been receiving very positive feedback across the world with many new students embarking on their transforming journey in the global platform.

While saying goodbye to 2020, we are truly looking forward to 2021 and feel certain that the new year will be more exciting with challenges and great opportunities waiting for us.

Together with all China Centre staff, I would like to take this opportunity to thank to all our students, alumni and partners for another great year.

Wish you and your family a fantastic Christmas holiday and Happy New Year!

Sherry Fu

China Centre Director

After 12 successful years building one of the largest UK education brands and communities in China, The University of Manchester (UoM) China Centre is welcoming a new site this autumn at L’Avenue, another landmark building in Shanghai, solidifying its status as a unique international centre of Manchester education in the region. Merging innovative design with sustainable goals and digitalised functionality, the brand-new China Centre heralds a new chapter in the story of Manchester University’s presence within the region.

On the evening of September 29, 2020, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, held a unique online event for alumni in China, shared how the University responded to the crisis and the latest developments in Manchester, as well as the University’s continued work with China in business, public authorities and students.

On 12^th November, the 8^th Tencent Business School Development Forum was successfully held in Beijing. Ms Sherry Fu, Founding Director of UoM China Centre was invited to attend the award ceremony. The University of Manchester China Centre, has won the award of "Evergreen brand · The Most Valued Brand of Business Education 2020", which is undoubtedly a recognition of its contribution to the promotion of higher education and business exchanges between China and the UK in the past twelve years.

On October 21^st 2020, the final of the Second Magnificent Culture (Mculture) Mtalk– “Chinese Storytelling and Knowledge Contest for Foreign Friends” was held at the University of Manchester China Centre, hosted by Shanghai Overseas Returned Scholars Association (SORSA), and organized by Mcloud and SORSA University of Manchester Alumni Association.

On the evening of 16th December 2020, the University of Manchester China Centre hosted a special graduation reception - inviting the Class of 2020 Global MBA Graduates to gather at the brand-new Centre and connecting them with Manchester in the Virtual Graduation Celebration through the upgraded video conferencing system. Although the outbreak of COVID-19 has imposed obstacles on international travel, China Centre hopes to congratulate the graduates with the warmest good wishes in this event.

The University of Manchester China Centre has hosted a series of online Masterclasses webinar in China that were free and open to the public and our prospective students. Each Masterclass was delivered by a leading academic from the University of Manchester and offered an MBA-style classroom experience in action. The series of Masterclasses delivered by Malcolm Smith and Xavier Duran provided attendees with the opportunity to learn more about a diverse range of business subjects, from negotiation skills to service design, and building critical thinking to thrive in a changing environment.

On 14^th September, The University of Manchester (UoM) China Centre hosted a blended welcome event for the 1st Asia cohort of MSc Financial Management, which remarked the beginning of an exciting new chapter for 27 finance professionals with different industry experiences and diversified cultural backgrounds.

To explore the managing change in educational settings, The University of Manchester China Centre hosted an Education Industry Spotlight Session with a blended delivery. Mr Paul Cunningham, English Principal of Concord Academy, was invited to deliver a keynote speech to the audience, while attracting over 300 professionals online.

The British Business Awards 2020 Awards ceremony and Gala Dinner was hosted in Shanghai on 29^th October. The University of Manchester China Centre was invited to present at the Gala Dinner as the most outstanding important partner regional ambassador Sino-UK relationship. Centre Director Ms Sherry Fu was invited to present the award to the Leadership Award winner. She pointed out in the keynote speech that: “In this time of uncertainty, we especially need a leader who can create chances and safety as well as demonstrating a unique ability to inspire others.”

In the evening of 12^th Nov., China centre hosted career workshop in Beijing with a focus on Personal Brand Strategy. Ms Lola Wang from LinkedIn China was invited to share the tactics to improve LinkedIn profile with the audience in Beijing. Senior Global MBA alumnus Mr Phil Zhang presented during the event with his Global MBA learning experience and career journey with the potential students.

In the evening of 24^th November, The University of Manchester China Centre hosted an alumni forum and invited a leading scholar in management studies - Professor Ping Li to share his insights on 3-End Architecture of Eco-organization which aims to solve the problem of balancing the division of labor for specialization and the coordination for integration. He brought an original theoretical perspective built upon the case studies of the most advanced firms in China with deep insights into how to operate under the VUCA conditions. Dr Weixu Ding, Mr Allen Mao (UoM alumnus), and Ms Tracy Liu (digital transformation expert) joined the sub-topics’ discussion (empowerment, design, digitalization). The blended event combining

In the afternoon of 29^th November 2020, The University of Manchester China Centre hosted Career Impact Afternoon in the Centre. Senior alumna of Manchester Global MBA programme Ms Grace Shen was invited as the keynote speaker to share professional development strategies on how to navigate your career path in fashion and FMCG industry. With profound experience in in human resource management across world's leading luxury companies as well as international retail brands, Grace offered more inspirations to the audience to help them build core competitiveness in the workplace.

On 3^rd Dec., China Centre invited Mr Mark Upton, an experienced educator with nearly 40 years expertise in education to deliver an interactive discussion focusing on the recipe for youngsters’ education success and gives his views on the current international education climate, self-directed learning and the future of education. 

M-Wisdom 'China and the World' Top Talk Series have been endeavoring to promote cross-cultural dialogues between China and the world by hosting inspiring talks from renowned experts and scholars in China and abroad. We were honored to invite a leading scholar in history studies - Professor Xu Guoqi to deliver a talk on history of sports from Confucius time to Xi Jinping era, with focus on the role of sports in defining the idea of China and Chineseness.

On 17th Dec. 2020, Ms. Sherry Fu, Founding Director of China Centre hosted an open information session in Chongqing to explore the impact of online/blended Master course study on professional and personal development. This interactive event is an ideal opportunity to meet our staff to get a first-hand experience of the Online/Blended Master Courses offering.

Are you looking to boost your skills in financial management? On 9^th January, The University of Manchester China Centre alongside HSBC is pleased to invite you for HSBC Open Day. During the session, Ms. Vivian Bao, Division Sales Manager of HSBC will offer you an in-depth understanding the latest trend of commercial bank. She will also share her career path in HSBC and provide you advice to become a leader in banking sector. Whatever sector you work in, do not hesitate to join us to gain more knowledge in finance and banking.

To have a better understand of the online blended programme MA Educational Leadership in Practice, The University of Manchester China Centre is pleased to invite you to join Course Director Dr. Alexander Gardner-Mctaggart on 19th January,  to hear more about the online and blended MA in Educational Leadership in Practice here at The University of Manchester and find out how this course will help you lead the way in your field. During the session, the application process will also be discussed. If you have any questions about entry requirements, the application form or the next steps, do not hesitate to join this event.