06 Aug 2026
On July 29, International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) held a 2026 IMBA alumni gathering. Nearly 50 attendees, including newly minted graduates, alumni from previous cohorts, faculty members and staff, gathered to witness 18 graduates formally join IBSS’s global alumni network.
The event opened with a keynote speech by Professor Ewout van der Schaft, Associate Dean for Internationalisation at IBSS. He stated that internationalisation is a core strength of both XJTLU and IBSS, and a cornerstone of the IMBA curriculum. The school has continuously expanded its global partnership network. As the sole Chinese member of the EMBA Consortium, an alliance of 15 top business schools worldwide that keeps growing, IBSS grants all IMBA alumni free access to a one-week overseas exchange programme held every September at partner institutions. Professor van der Schaft noted that IBSS will further deepen global collaborations to launch more cross-cultural exchange opportunities, and invited alumni to return to campus regularly to engage in related events and build connections with international students and global business practitioners.
Dr Nuno da Camara, Programme Director of IMBA, reviewed the learning journey of the Class of 2026 and unveiled upgrades to the IMBA programme. He pointed out that IMBA study builds far more than management expertise — it sharpens time management, critical thinking and lifelong learning capabilities. Despite the prevalence of AI tools transforming knowledge acquisition and content creation, sound business decisions still hinge on clear problem awareness, rigorous judgement and in-depth analysis. To keep pace with technological disruption, the IMBA programme will further integrate artificial intelligence with business management, update teaching cases, optimise class arrangements, overseas study tours and practical learning modules, and equip participants with global competence to thrive amid complex business shifts.
During the event, Dr Nuno da Camara recognised outstanding alumni who have long supported the IMBA programme. He highlighted alumni as a vital bridge linking the school and industry, with many new applicants enrolling via alumni referrals, injecting sustained momentum into programme development. Dr Nuno also expressed gratitude to teaching faculty and the programme operations team, whose dedicated work in instruction, practical coaching, admissions, overseas study coordination and alumni events jointly deliver an open, diverse and practice-oriented learning experience for students.
Lihua Cui, Corporate Partnership Manager at IBSS, introduced the school’s comprehensive alumni network and supporting services. Drawing on worldwide alumni resources, IBSS regularly organises industry forums, corporate visits, thematic sharing sessions and business matching events to deliver lifelong learning, career advancement and networking support for alumni. She emphasised that graduation marks a new chapter of alumni relations rather than a break from the university. IBSS will connect educational, industrial and alumni resources through dedicated online communities to share event and learning updates, encouraging alumni to return to campus, exchange industry insights and explore collaborative opportunities. She also announced the university-wide Alumni Congress scheduled for September 5, inviting all alumni to reserve the date and come back to campus.
The subsequent dinner session featured warm exchanges between new and veteran alumni. Attendees reminisced about campus life, shared career milestones, and discussed industry trends and potential cooperation. Sincere conversations turned the gathering into a vital bond connecting academia and the corporate world, as well as individual growth and the broader alumni community.
Chenjun Jiang, a graduate from the Class of 2026, shared her learning experience: “The two-year IMBA journey flew by, yet it has been an incredibly meaningful chapter for me. In my thirties and forties, I face heavy pressure balancing a demanding career and family care for both the elderly and children, but I persisted with weekend classes and met many like-minded peers. Most instructors are international academics with distinct global perspectives different from domestic lecturers; course materials and case analyses closely track global developments. I still clearly recall our professor leading an in-depth classroom analysis of the Trump tariff dispute, with insights fully applicable to my daily work. My systematic thinking and academic writing skills have also improved tremendously. I cherish the harmonious bond with my cohort, and our joint trip to the UK for graduation activities will remain a precious memory for everyone.”
Kai Hu, graduate of the Class of 2026, commented:“My two-year academic journey has come to a fulfilling close. Core courses have established a comprehensive framework of management knowledge, while electives including data analytics and negotiation practice have strengthened my practical commercial capabilities. The study tour to the UK in June 2026 remains etched in my memory. We visited benchmark organisations across Liverpool, London and Cambridge, engaged in in-depth discussions with industry professionals, and gained a genuine understanding of the essence of contextual leadership. Through the IMBA alumni network, I have met mentors and peers alike, continuously broadening my global perspective. I am grateful to the IBSS for its nurturing. This cross-cultural learning experience has supported my personal growth and brought fresh momentum to my professional development.”
Xia Huang, an outstanding alumni from earlier cohorts, commented: “The two-year XJTLU IMBA programme boasts a well-structured curriculum and premium resources, bringing me tremendous gains. I have kept pursuing further education post-graduation: I will join the EMBA Consortium’s Peru exchange programme this September and plan to pursue a DBA in Europe in the future. XJTLU grants alumni permanent access to campus libraries, faculty consultation and career-focused alumni events, delivering robust lifelong learning support. Though weekend classes are intensive and academic standards rigorous, all tutors provide attentive guidance. I am immensely proud to be an XJTLU alumnus, and always recommend this programme to anyone considering an MBA.”
This gathering not only marked a new starting point for the Class of 2026 graduates but also embodied IBSS’s long-term commitment to refining its alumni service system and fostering a lifelong learning ecosystem. Moving forward, the IMBA programme will leverage its international strengths to respond to business transformations driven by AI, upgrade curricula, expand global learning resources and enhance alumni services. It will deliver end-to-end growth support for alumni across all career stages, marching hand in hand with the alumni community to shape greater impact together.
06 Aug 2026