Homecoming Day for Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program

Publisher:张诗蕾Update:2019-10-08Views:365


On September 27, 2019, an alumni reunion was staged for the program of Bai Xian Asia Institute Asian Future Leaders of School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University. Alumni of five successive grades of the program were reunited by Qizhen Lake on Zijingang Campus. They reminisced about the past together and looked forward to the future. The joy of partying with old friends lingered long on the campus.


 Signature Ceremony


The beautiful day started with a time travel. On 9:00 a.m. our alumni gathered at Meng Minwei Building for a signature ceremony. After a short chat about the old days and the photo session, they wrote down what they wanted to say to themselves and to the SPA five years later. The lines were full of expectation. The letters were put in envelopes and thrown in a mailbox of time. Beauty seemed to freeze at that moment and perhaps it would be five more years for them to meet again.


 Mailbox of Time


Next, the alumni boarded Xiaobai of Zijingang to re-tour the campus in the balmy breeze. As they talked and laughed, they arrived at the big Western Campus. They were filled with deep feelings after they saw the magnificent buildings and the fast development of ZJU. They stopped at the entrance to Museum of Art and Archeology that was opened recently and a trip of art started with it. Following the footsteps of the English narrator, the alumni walked in the four exhibition halls through the shiny civilizations of the world. From calligraphy and paintings to inscription, from porcelain to pottery, from ancient Greece to Han and Tang dynasties, art seemed to transcend time and space to be presented in the eyes of the alumni.


 Visiting ZJU Museum of Art and Archeology


After a noon break, the alumni gathered at Shunshui Hall of Qizhen Hotel for a colorful alumni saloon. Deputy Secretary General of Zhejiang University Education Fund Gu Yulin, Deputy Dean of SPA Zhang Weiwen and our Asian Leader classes attended this saloon. Before the sharing meeting formally started, the tutors met their former students again and their passion was effusive. With hugs and warm conversations, the atmosphere of the venue was heated.


Tutor Gao Xiang talking with alumni


 Deputy Dean Zhang Weiwen talking with alumni


ZUEF Deputy Secretary General Gu Yulin gave a speech to express his sincere gratitude and warm welcome to alumni from various countries. He made a point that the development of Zhejiang University could not do without the great contribution from the alumni present. Mr. Gu also expressed his hopes for all alumni to join the big family of Alumni Association of Zhejiang University and to continue promoting cultural exchanges, mutual learning on an equal basis, solidarity and prosperity in the days to come. And he also encouraged them to come home often.


 Deputy Secretary General of Education Fund speaking


Deputy Dean Zhang followed him with an address. She emphasized that an important tenet of the program is to promote cultural exchanges among Asian countries. Since 2014, the program has not only been engaged in improving the academic capabilities and scientific research of students, but has attached great importance to their leadership capabilities. In order to train more high-level leaders in Asia as well as continuously promote cultural communication and mutual learning, the gate of Zhejiang University is forever open to students from all countries.


 Deputy Dean Zhang Weiwen giving an address


Next, Associate Professor Gao Xiang took the podium as a tutor. She recalled she was rusty in repeatedly memorizing the names of her students when she first became a tutor. Now she met them again here, she was sentimental. She said that she not only felt the ingratiation and support from the alumni, she also felt the charm of cultural diversity. Last but not least, she understood that farewell did represent final separation. It only foretells next nicer reunion.


Ms. Gao Xiang giving an address


As the chair person and representative of students, Iha Tilak from the 2014 class started his speech with the theme of “How the program changed my world outlook”. After graduation Tilak worked with BBC as an expert on China question. Now he is an assistant professor of mass communication and journalism at the Bennett University in Greater Noida, India. He used his own experience as an entry point to describe for us in a relaxing, humorous but thought-provoking way how the program gathered a batch of capable and ambitious young talents of Asia and how it changed the life tracks of every one, to add a thick stroke on their life journey. He hoped that each alumnus could bear in mind his mission and make contribution with love and duty in serving his country and society.


Alumnus Jha Tilak sharing his story


After a short tea break, four alumni from different countries took the podium to share their unique stories with the program.

Alumnus from the 2015 class Hashimoto Tomohiro from Japan is studying for a Ph. D degree at Tohoku University. Now he is researching at Fudan University as an exchange student. During the two years of his life in China, the kindness of his fellow students and the enthusiasm of his teachers have deeply infected him who used to be introvert, and he has a deeper understanding of China and is interested in it. It was his experience in the program that affirmed his career choice of further study in China.

Alumnus Hashimoto Tomohiro sharing his study


Chinese alumna from the 2016 class Lu Shuyang is a scholar from Schwarzman Scholars Academy of Tsinghua University. Although she did not have much opportunity to study abroad, she always has the dream to serve the government and international organizations and has made incessant efforts. From the multiple perspectives of language, culture and world outlook, she compared the differences between the program of Asian Future leaders and the project of Schwarzman Scholars. Their similarity is that both benefited the cultivation of international vision and improved the capability of cross-cultural communication. She sincerely hoped their friendship stay evergreen and their dreams of becoming leaders of Asia last.

 Alumna Lu Shuyang sharing her story


With the help of her elaborate PPT, alumna Hyeon Yura from the 2017 class from Korea shared what she saw and felt during her field surveys in many places of China. From the phenomenon of peasant workers to the passion of Chinese young people serving in the countryside, she pointed out that rural China has not only undergone profound changes, but there will be more possible development in the future. It was just the program of Asian Future leaders that started her road of research, in which she would continue to engage herself.


 Alumna Hyeon Yura sharing her story



Lastly, alumna Gaby Chan Li Ting of 2017 class from Singapore expressed her gratitude for the program. In a relaxing tune, she reminisced all kinds of interesting things during her study and encouraged the alumni to share their stories. Everyone talked actively and the atmosphere of the scene became vivid and warm. Gaby summarized that the program gathered them together, built a bridge across different cultures and paved the way for their ambition and dream.


 Alumna Gaby Chan Ti Ting sharing her story


 Free sharing among Alumni


As the representative of the latest class of students, the monitor of the 2018 Asian leaders’ class actively asked for advice from his seniors. He hoped to have a deeper understanding of the program so as to pave the way for his future career. All the alumni were not miserly in telling their stories and experience. The atmosphere was relaxing and harmonious like a warm family.


Representative of 2018 Class speaking


 Free sharing among Alumni



At 6:00 pm, a reciprocal banquet of the alumni started at Qizhen Hotel. Dean of Public Affairs Yu Jianxing, Dean of School of International Education Shen Jie, Deputy Dean Tang Xiaowu, Gu Yulin, Zhang Weiwen and tutors of the program attended. They held warm chats. The scene of the banquet was warm and the day’s fatigue turned into happy laughter.

The program had been carried out for five years. During this beautiful time, we welcomed and saw off one batch after another of excellent youth from countries of Asia. Different cultures fused here. Future leaders set sail here and this reunion day was best witness. In future days, School of Public Affairs will continue promoting the program, stay true to the mission and charge forward.