October 19, 2025. Shanghai – The CEIBS EMBA Programme held a grand celebration marking its 30th anniversary at its Shanghai campus today, bringing together over 700 alumni to reflect on three decades of remarkable growth and impact.

Initiated in 1995, the CEIBS EMBA was the first EMBA programme to operate on the Chinese mainland. By integrating cutting-edge international management education with China’s local business practices, the programme continues to inspire business thinking, enlighten management wisdom, and drive the development of China’s business practices today.

Paying tribute

In her welcome address, CEIBS President Wang Hong pointed out that as a business school jointly established by the Chinese government and the European Union, CEIBS’ unique position and value have never been more evident in an era marked by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA).

Looking ahead, President Wang asserted that CEIBS’ mission is not only to help business leaders withstand turbulent times, but to empower them to overcome adversity, move forward with courage, and lead into the future; the CEIBS EMBA programme will therefore play an even more vital role, making a lasting contribution to the development of the next generation of management leaders.

She concluded with a heartfelt message: “For thirty years, we have sown in spring and reaped in autumn—the best is yet to come”, expressing her hope to work with all levels of society to embark on an even more remarkable chapter for the CEIBS EMBA.

This was followed by a speech delivered by CEIBS President (European) Dominique Turpin, who highlighted that what truly makes the CEIBS EMBA unique is its enduring commitment to the mission of cultivating leaders versed in "China Depth, Global Breadth."

“The CEIBS EMBA sought to offer China the full breadth of global management expertise and business practice, enabling its companies to grow and take their rightful place among the leading enterprises of the world,” Prof. Turpin said. “Today, we rightly celebrate our remarkable journey and accomplishments. But I am certain that, with three decades behind us, the best is still yet to come.”

The ceremony also honoured three trailblazers who led the EMBA programme from scratch, including Former CEIBS Vice President and Co-Dean Zhang Weijiong, Professors Emeritus Liang Neng, Chen Jieping, Su Xijia, and CEIBS Vice President and Co-Dean Zhu Tian.

As one of the founders of CEIBS, CEIBS Honorary President (European) Pedro Nueno offered a heartfelt reflection on the school’s journey from humble beginnings to global recognition. From a mere blueprint in its early days to one of the world’s leading business schools today, he said, CEIBS has always embodied an enduring spirit of openness, academic rigor, and social responsibility. Looking ahead, he encouraged the EMBA programme to continue upholding the school’s motto of "Conscientiousness, Innovation, and Excellence” and to continue to cultivate the business leaders who will shape the future.

Speaking on behalf of CEIBS faculty, Professor of Finance and Accounting Rui Meng emphasised that the true essence of studying in the CEIBS EMBA is never a one-way transfer of knowledge; rather, it is about igniting inspiration through mutual exchange and collaboration. From the classroom to global experiential learning journeys, he has witnessed countless EMBA participants transform from business managers into industry leaders. Standing at this new starting point, he is confident that the CEIBS EMBA will continue to serve as a “gym for the mind” for China’s business community, empowering entrepreneurs to navigate and thrive amid waves of change.

The next to take the stage was CEIBS alumni representative Liao Qian, who reflected that the experience offered by the CEIBS EMBA is far more than management knowledge; it reshaped his thinking, passed down enduring principles, and connected him with mentors and peers whose vision inspired him. Looking ahead, he expressed his hope that, together with fellow alumni, they would become “practitioners of the CEIBS spirit, participants in CEIBS’s ongoing development, and torchbearers of its legacy, working hand in hand to shape the next 30 years.”

Looking ahead

As part of the ceremony, the school officially unveiled the Strategic Upgrade of the CEIBS EMBA Curriculum. In interpreting the new initiative, Professor of Finance, Associate Dean, and Director of EMBA Programme Huang Sheng highlighted that as and one of CEIBS’ cornerstone programmes, the EMBA has become China’s largest and highest-quality executive management degree offering in China. In response to profound shifts in both the macro environment and industry-level demands, management education is facing new challenges.

Looking ahead, the CEIBS EMBA will be positioned as a programme that combines global perspective with Chinese wisdom, aimed at cultivating leaders who drive innovation and shape a new business culture. The upgraded curriculum is built around a central core with two complementary pillars, Prof. Huang noted. The central core builds on classical management thinking and concepts, reinforced by three key elements: cutting-edge relevance, international perspective, and practical application. The two complementary pillars, on the other hand, refer to a second classroom system and a lifelong learning programme.

The CEIBS EMBA Advisory Board, chaired by CEIBS Vice President Zhu Tian, was then officially inaugurated. The inaugural board brings together 25 executives, industry leaders, and CEIBS alumni from globally renowned companies.

Prof. Zhu asserted that, at this new historical juncture, the CEIBS EMBA will continue to enhance the school’s unique value in management education with a more open mindset and forward-looking thinking. Serving as an external think tank, the Advisory Board will help shape the future of EMBA education from both a global perspective and China’s evolving business landscape.

CEIBS Outlook Series: AI Charting the Future

The event also featured a keynote speech delivered by the Founding Executive Editor of Wired magazine Kevin Kelly who explored humanity’s future in the age of AI. He analysed uncertainties in AI’s evolution, highlighted China’s strengths and prospects, and emphasised a future in which AI empowers rather than replaces humans.

In a follow-up dialogue, CIEBS alumnus Pan Chen spoke with Mr. Kelly about management in the AI era, education transformation, and personal development in a rapidly changing world.