September is always the best season of UK and Ireland as during this fantastic period, it's not rainy like other seasons and sunshine is generous. Travelers still spend their leisure time as the final vacation and the old gentlemen have already worn beautiful Scotland skirt. This year we choose this ancient land as the destination of CEIBS oversea alumni study tour, from the world innovative pioneer ? Dublin, the capital of Ireland, to the Global financial centre ? London, to deeply explore the objective of this tour ? “Globalization through Innovation”.

In partnership with IDA Ireland (Industrial Development Agency) and with the support from Think London and City of London, this year we design a very compact and high strength study tour, which contains plenty of predominant brands, from commercial sectors, government departments to educational institutions. Among the 17 organizations we visit in Dublin tour which lasts 5 days, the study tour visits IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Institution (SFI) - the platform connecting Ireland and Foreign investors, the top medical research and manufacture company ? Wyeth, renowned CPAs ? PWC and Ernst & Young, the biggest commercial bank of Ireland ? Bank of Ireland and Ulster bank, IT leaders ? Intel & Microsoft, and University College of Dublin, the Ireland premier university. From medical R& D to information technology, from financial products to corporation service, from investment to education development, the participants roundly understand the leadership power which brings the economic miracle of Ireland and the innovative strategy which wins Ireland the “Celtic Tiger” as one of the most educational-directed nations in the worldwide. The sequential London tour is much simpler as we focus to how to initiate business in London and how to list in London Stock Exchange (LSE). The main presenters and speakers are senior managers, CEOs, Directors and Partners, who no doubt brings a high-level and constructive conversation with participants.

Under the Topic of this course, this study tour systematically reveals the investment hotspots of Ireland and UK and the operation strategy in big Europe Market for Chinese entrepreneurs. As the highest-level representative of China and Asia B-schools, this time CEIBS alumni study tour collects some 20 alumni from different backgrounds, including medicine, real estates, finance, IT, chemistry, energy, media and integrated investment. Although the tour is extremely compact as in average we visit three organizations in one day, the participants still express strong enthusiasm in the process. So many documents, notes and data are left after this course that the participants have no idea but abandon some personal stuff to keep them.

Although the participants are significantly benefited from the course, the most unforgettable memory is the fellowship built during this 9 days journey, which connects these alumni tightly and intimately. On the way from Windsor castle to the airport, we make a promise that next year we will reunite again.

Sincere appreciation is been delivered to IDA Ireland, who co-ordinates and supports these journey notably. We do hope that in the near future our participants will have cooperation with Ireland and UK, which is the essential purpose of this tour. Finally we thank each participant and next year we meet again.

Here we highlight some snapshots to share with our members to remember this tour.

Snapshot 1: Pressure handshake with embassy of China in Ireland

It is so exciting that we invite the ambassador of embassy of China in Ireland, Mr. Zhang Xin sen, to attend the breakfast meeting with PWC and take a pressure group photo. The ambassador friendly welcome the visit of CEIBS alumni study tour, highlight the economy development of Ireland and hope Chinese young entrepreneurs can find the opportunities for future coordination. Counsellor Mr. Lu Kang and Mr. Xu Zheng Bing also join the meeting of our study tour respectively.

Snapshot 2: Humor of Mr. Zhao, the head of group

Called “Chinese Buffet”, Mr. Zhao Bing Xian, the Board chairman & CEO of China International Capital Group Co., Ltd and the renowned investor who owns the nearly 20-year capital operation successful experience, is the absolute candidate as the group head. On behalf of the whole group, Mr. Zhao speaks in each meeting, concludes after every day and presents gifts for every activity as the alumni representative. Along with the progress of the journey, the head becomes more and more humor in the speech and the sentence “enhance the fellowship between Chinese people and foreign friends” becomes the best conclusion for this tour.

Snapshot 3: Travel with study

Although the course arrangement is very tight, we still offer leisure time for group members to enjoy the beautiful countryside of Ireland and ancient UK culture. At the third day of Dublin trip, we visit Wicklow ? “The garden of Ireland”, take a rest in a gorgeous manor built in 17th century and feel the peace in this lovely summer.