17 Jul 2025
On 11 July, the graduation ceremony for the "Doing Business in a Changing China" summer school programme took place, marking the successful conclusion of a memorable two weeks. The programme was co-hosted by the International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) and the Department of China Studies within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. Faculty and staff from both departments came together to celebrate with 70 students from around the world.
The graduation ceremony commenced with a heart-warming video that captured highlights from the 14 day journey. As the event host, Ms Yidan Liu from the IBSS Workplace, Employability and Career Development (WEC) team remarked: "Although this summer school lasted only 14 days, it has created an intensive and fulfilling learning experience for the students. Statistics show that within 11 days, we spent over 100 hours together with students, encompassing numerous professional lectures, group project, immersive Chinese classes, company visits, and cultural city tours."
Dr Nimesh Salike, Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching at IBSS, acknowledged the short duration of the programme but expressed his hope that it would plant "seed" of understanding about China in the students’ minds, which would take root and flourish in their future careers and lives. He highlighted IBSS’s status as one of just 1% of business schools worldwide to hold the prestigious triple-crown accreditation, describing it as a young yet globally respected institution, and welcome students to return for further study.
Dr Emily Williams, Head of the Department of China Studies, encouraged students to stay connected as "alumni": "This is not an end, but a new starting point for your connection with Suzhou and the university." She introduced the university’s exchange programmes and Master’s programmes, inviting interested students to explore further.
Prior to the closing ceremony, students showcased their creativity and teamwork in group presentations – completed in just five hours of collaboration. Graduation certificates and awards were then presented, lifting the celebratory atmosphere even further. Prizes were given not only to standout student volunteers but also to teams that excelled in the group presentations, with four group prizes in total – each a testament to the students’ co-operation and collaboration. The
Professor Jorg Bley, Dean of IBSS, spoke about the wider significance of the summer of the summer school from a global perspective: "This is not merely a cultural experience trip, but a window to observe China’s economic vitality and feel innovation in higher education." He pointed to China’s rapid development over the past 40 years, Suzhou’s rich cultural heritage as a historic "water town south of the Yangtze", and the university’s strengths in digital education and international academic collaboration. He encouraged students to share their experiences and insights with those back in their home countries.
This summer school programme has built a unique platform for global youth to understand China’s business ecosystem and cultural charm. Looking ahead, the university plans to further enhance the summer school curriculum system, expand co-operation with global universities and enterprises, and enable more international students to get a more intimate look at China’s development journey, jointly writing a new chapter in cross-cultural exchange.
17 Jul 2025