The Brunel Alumni Office were delighted to welcome alumni to three overseas events in June 2023, marking the team’s first in-person events in East Asia since 2019. These gatherings created opportunities for collaboration and new connections between graduates and the University.
The festivities commenced in Hong Kong (pictured above) with a large group of alumni joining Brunel Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Andrew Jones, for an evening of celebration and networking. The diverse array of attendees, with Brunel graduates from 1991 to 2022, shared stories and explored the possibility of establishing a Hong Kong Alumni Association. As part of the celebrations, Professor Andrew Jones was delighted to award MSc Integrated Product Design graduate, Carson Kan, with the International Alumnus of the Year Award.
The team then visited Shanghai (pictured above) and Beijing (pictured below) where alumni were welcomed during the Dragon Boat Festival, a cherished traditional Chinese holiday that showcases the rich cultural heritage of the country. The events provided the perfect backdrop to acknowledge three exceptional alumni for their outstanding dedication and support of Brunel University over the past two years; Danqing Wang, an MSc alumnus in Sustainable Electric Power, Miki Jiang, an MA Education alumna, and Cathy Shang, an MSc alumna in Accounting and Business Management.
On WeChat, Business and Management alumnus, Xiangdong Shen, wrote “thank you to Brunel for travelling to organise the first gathering after the pandemic, so that everyone can enjoy this special night together. One of the charms of friendship is to see you again”.
Considering China's status as home to over 4,000 Brunel graduates and its distinction as the country with the highest number of alumni residing outside the UK, the alumni office has taken delight in establishing a WeChat Subscription page. This platform has facilitated engagement with graduates in recent years, providing them with access to university news, inspiring alumni stories, and a means to stay connected within the Chinese community.
Thank you to all of our alumni who joined us in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, collectively creating an unforgettable night of networking and forging lasting bonds.