anuary 20, 2008. Shenzhen campus -- An impressive list of accomplishments were unveiled before an audience of more than 300 CEIBS EMBA students, CEIBS (South China) alumni, staff and faculty who gathered today for the pomp and pageantry of the CEIBS (South China) Annual Gathering, which also included the campus' Events of the Year Award Ceremony 2007.
CEIBS Vice president and Co-Dean Zhang Weijiong is delivering New Year wishes
Those who turned out at the Sheraton Shenzhen Futian Hotel to welcome the Lunar New Year were told of the generosity of the Shenzhen alumni who have given a commitment to donate at least RMB15 million to Shenzhen alumni events as well as the school' s educational and research activities. In addition, with help from family members, alumni also donated more than RMB200,000 in cash and kind to two primary schools in Yangshan. These grads' strong sense of social responsibility appears to be matched by their entrepreneurial spirit. During 2007, one group of EMBA students snagged US$5 million in venture capital after coming up with a business plan for the fashion industry. Another group was showered with praise when it developed an ultrasonic personal article cleaner from plastic. The audience enthusiastically learnt the details of all their accomplishments.
Generous contribution, smart investment
The Chairman of Shenzhen Mindray Bio-medical Electronics Company Limited Xu Hang (EMBA02) -- who also serves as President of CEIBS Alumni Association Shenzhen Branch -- generously donated RMB10 million to be used for the branch' s alumni activities. In a smart move, Xu authorized Chairman and General Manager of Shenzhen GTJA Venture Capital Company Limited -- and member of CEIBS Alumni Association Shenzhen Branch -- Cai Dajian (EMBA02), to manage the investment. Cai has promised that the initial capital outlay will generate RMB1 million every year.
Shenzhen alumni donates 1 million RMB to CEIBS
Giving back to the alma mater
Shenzhen Sharing Investment Co., a private equity partnership organized and run by several CEIBS graduates including Bai Wentao (EMBA02) and Zhang Han (EMBA02), has pledged to donate 15 percent of its operating profits to CEIBS Education Development Foundation over the next five years. Through the Foundation, the funds -- which will be at least RMB5 million in total -- will be used to support the school' s educational and research activities.
Group work reaps benefits
What began as an EMBA05SZ group project eventually grew into a viable business plan that won US$5 million in venture capital. Co-Founder of Tencent Zeng Liqing, who also serves as Chairman of Shenzhen Dexun Investment Company Limited; Han Sutong, Lin Shaobin, Tu Jianping, and Zou Minggui were among the group members whose hard work earned them a pass for their oral defense. They then went on to implement the project in reality. They established Shenzhen Latland Fashion Co., Ltd. and became the first-ever CEIBS students to complete their graduation thesis in the form of a business plan. After securing seed money, they built a high-end fashion service platform for Chinese businessmen in Shenzhen.
EMBA06 also had its share of victory when Yang Tianping, Yuan Hai and their project group made a breakthrough in the field of plastics. By transforming a plastic production line, they were able to launch an ultrasonic personal article cleaner. Group members began at the head of the line and put what they learnt from the CEIBS EMBA programme into practice. Drawing on their knowledge of strategy, marketing, quantitative methods for management and financial management approaches, coupled with an extensive survey, they amassed a great deal of practical data which was the basis for their product development. Their accomplishment embodies the objective of CEIBS EMBA group project: paying equal attention to theory and practice.
Helping hand for primary schools
The student-aid program was initiated by CEIBS Alumni Association Shenzhen Branch and their family members after a site visit by Li Shuhua (AMP05) and Cong Lin (EMBA06SZ) showed that there were needy students in poverty-stricken Yangshan. Help for Gaopi Primary School and Xiaoshui Primary School took the form of more than RMB100,000 in materials. There was also an additional RMB37,822.8 in cash that was accessed via fundraising and spent directly on the schools, its excellent teachers and students. In June 2007, 56 alumni and their family members traveled to Yangshan to spend Children' s Day with the students there. Even more needy students will be helped by the CEIBS Alumni Association Shenzhen Branch' s decision to use RMB 96,457.2 to establish the "Hope Journey" foundation.
Before the Events of the Year Award Ceremony, the January 20 festivities began with two renditions by the Caisangzi Chorus: "Echo" and "Dance of the Youth". Among the hosts was well-known former host of Phoenix TV Liang Dong (CEIBS EMBA07BJ). CEIBS Vice President and Co-Dean Prof. Zhang Weijiong delivered the New Year speech on behalf of the school and reported the outstanding achievements CEIBS made in 2007. Since the March 2005 launch of CEIBS EMBA Chinese programme in Shenzhen, the economic center of South China, it has recruited more than 300 entrepreneurs and business executives from the region. In early 2004, CEIBS Alumni Association set up its Shenzhen branch, then a Guangzhou branch, and the number of CEIBS alumni in the region approached 500.
Students performance
