At a New Student Convocation ceremony on September 4, 2022, Peking University's Guanghua School of Management welcomed its newest class of students, including 40 students from 15 countries and regions who compose the third cohort of Guanghua's "Future Leaders" international undergraduate degree program.
Student Profile of the Third "Future Leaders" Program
In his Convocation address, Dean LIU Qiao encouraged new students to embrace the power of critical thinking. "In the coming years, I urge you to identify difficult problems for which society urgently needs solutions and on seeking answers to these challenges; this will push you beyond conventional ways of thinking," he said. Recognizing the need for novel ideas to navigate the increasingly complex global environment, Guanghua created the "Future Leaders" program to foster the next generation of leaders equipped both with the business acumen and practical skills in multi-cultural communication to effect positive change.
LIU Qiao, Dean of Guanghua School of Management
Each year, Guanghua selects top undergraduate students for the "Future Leaders" program from 15 internationally-recognized partner institutions across the globe who spend their first two years of study in their home institutions before spending another two years of study at Peking University. While at Peking University, international students will live and study together with their domestically-based peers from China, providing a unique opportunity to learn from one another. By exposing participants to diverse perspectives, the program aims to move them out of their comfort zones and devise new approaches challenges confronting the global community.
The Third Cohort of the "Future Leaders" Program
After the "Future Leaders" program shifted online in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year marks the first time the program will be able to host international students from the second and third cohorts to the Peking University campus. As students prepare for their arrival in China, Dean LIU hosted an online orientation session during which he emphasized the importance of staying open to new ideas. "To understand is to stand under, basically means you need to carefully listen—or even especially listen—to people who have very different viewpoints," he said.
Messages from the Deans of the PKU Partner Schools on the Guanghua Future Leaders Program
Other deans from "Future Leaders" international partner schools sent personalized messages to their students to encourage them in their new journey, with one dean telling students that their participation in the program represents "a wonderful opportunity for you to explore the world and grow to be your best.”
SHEN Qiaowei, Director of the Undergraduate and Postgraduate program, Professor of Marketing
Professor SHEN Qiaowei, Director of the Undergraduate and Postgraduate program, impressed by the level of comprehensive excellence represented in the program's newest cohort. Participants in the "Future Leaders" program have not only demonstrated outstanding academic performance, this year's cohort includes global citizens actively contributing to social good, an entrepreneur who founded an early stage company in pursuit of his dream, an athlete who was selected for Spain's national football team at 14 years old, and a student with exceptional talent in calligraphy and saxophone. In a video showcasing their backgrounds and talents, the students expressed their excitement at joining the program. Professor SHEN provided the group with an overview of Peking University's rich academic tradition and encouraged them to integrate into their new community and embrace the opportunities available to them.
LIE Ying, Faculty Advisor of the Third Cohort "Future Leaders", Assistant Professor of Marketing
While in the "Future Leaders" program, students have access to comprehensive set of resources designed to ensure their success, including a faculty member assigned to help them navigate the intricacies of studying in a new culture and academic environment. Professor LEI Ying, advisor for the third cohort, offered support to students in developing a deeper understanding of different business disciplines, in learning more about China, and in acclimating to multi-cultural settings as she has done throughout her career.
"Future Leaders" Program Welcome Session
The "Future Leaders" program can be completed entirely in English, but students also study Chinese and learn about of China's business environment and its economic policies. They can also attend courses on other aspects of Chinese society across the fields of history, law, philosophy, politics and policy, and more.
The more than 100 current and former students of the “Future Leaders” community also belong to a global network that includes Guanghua’s own 30,000+ alumni as well as the broader student and alumni networks of Peking University the respective “Future Leaders” partner school from which each student was recruited. A full list of program partners along with contact information for program coordinators is available here.
What Our Students Say
"Peking University “Future Leaders” Program is an incredible opportunity to learn from accomplished professors, ambitious students and the ever-growing economy in China." ——Michelle Feldman from Canada
"I chose "Future Leaders" Program because it provides me with a multi-cultural experience and broadens my horizon. Only when we understand how the world thinks of ourselves can we actually make win-win solutions to handle with the challenges we are facing now. Look forward to seeing my classmates and grow up together!" —— Huaqi Zhang from China
"Living in China and joining the "Future Leaders" Program means to step out my comfort zone and enter a growth zone, where I would realize my aspirations, broaden my ideals, and live my dreams." —— Clémentine Fernandes from France & Portugal
"I believe that going to China to take part of the PKU “Future Leaders” Program is gonna be a life-changing experience. Not only hope to meet new people in a new culture, a large economy, but also want to travel around and make loads of friends. Very excited about it!" —— Maria Maroni from Brazil
About the "Future Leaders" Program
By partnering with 15 of the world's best business schools, the Guanghua School of Management has created a program that gives students the opportunity to gain an understanding of their local markets while also immersing them in one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic economies in the world: China. Irina Bokova, former Director-General of UNESCO, once shared her belief with the Program students: “Leadership today requires first and foremost the right moral and ethical approach, matched with a sense of responsibility towards the community and towards the others.” Peking University's "Future Leaders" Program was created directly in response to the need to cultivate movers and shakers able to bridge cultures and societies in their chosen fields.
Students will live and study together with classmates of diverse backgrounds from different countries and regions, creating a unique platform to form and exchange new ideas. The program also allows students to become intimately familiar with Chinese business and society through specialized China-focused coursework, Chinese language classes, and an immersive experiential learning course at Guanghua's branch campuses across China.
