Translated by Deng Lu '14

This is a reflection written by Liu Huawei, one of the early graduates of PHBS, who now works at China Central Depository & Clearing Co., Ltd. 

Before there was a Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS), there was the Shenzhen Business School on the PKU Shenzhen Graduate School campus. In 2005, the business school began to enroll students. I entered in 2007. Professor Hai Wen usually affectionately calls us the “graduates of the three years”¹  of PHBS. All things are difficult before they are easy. The development of PHBS was especially so. For that, I think Professor Hai has the deepest experience. Although he never talked about these hardships too much to us, according to the memories of the first few graduates, they often saw the light on in Professor Hai’s office after they came back from library at about 10 p.m.

In the beginning, Shenzhen Business School was not so well known. Faculty was limited. Many courses needed to be taught by teachers from PKU in Beijing. Furthermore, doubts about us PKUers in Shenzhen made us uneasy. At that time, Professor Hai often appeared when we studied at night and talked with us. I guess he completely understood our negative moods so that he often brought us together to cheer us up. From the “adversity advantage principle” to “think freely, do carefully,” the words of Professor Hai made us focus on study during those restive years. Gradually, this communication mode became a tradition at PHBS—the class meeting in the beginning and end of the semester.

Faced with these doubts, Professor Hai often said to us, “As students of PKU, we should be our best selves no matter what others say.” Various communities and study groups began to spring up. When we were busy, we would do projects no matter whether it was night or day.

Finally, the harvest season came. The first graduates got good jobs in 2007. Almost all the candidates in the last round of the recruitment for the Shenyin Wanguo company were from PHBS. The CEO was so surprised that he made a special trip to our school to see what kind of place could produce so much excellent talent. Time is one of the best alchemist's ingredients. Now many of these alumni have become the elites in their industries, such as Wu Xianyong and Wang Dengfeng.

At its beginning, Shenzhen Business School adhered to the strategy of cultivating international talent through teaching in English. To some extent, the local title of Shenzhen Business School was not conducive to further promote internationalization. Luckily, with foresight, Professor Hai took advantage of his personal reputation and position to solicit and secure ￥150 million from HSBC as a development fund for the business school. When he told us this we were overjoyed. On October 22, 2008, when the school officially changed its name, the students were in high spirits despite the hot sun just because this day was a major holiday for PHBS students.

With the number of PHBS graduates increasing each year, and the change of the school name, PHBS has become a known quantity in the world of finance. And the school has entered into the fast track of development in the aspect of enrolling students and attracting faculty. Further, on November 21, 2013, the new PHBS building formally opened. We knew clearly that the day for PHBS’s “take off” had arrived.

Li Xiaolei, a former PHBS student, said at the graduation ceremony that once we worked we would know that teachers offered us their best. It needn’t be said that Professor Hai is the soul of PHBS. Professor Vincent Zhang likes to use vivid stories to reveal to us the truth in life. Professor Wei is a genius who can integrate commerce with academics, yet  he is very easygoing. Professor Zhu Dongming often writes handouts until 5 a.m. and still insists on giving lectures.

During my six years at PHBS, Professor Yang gave me a lot care in life and study. Many students regard her as a big sister. Professor Kong Ying is rigorous academically. We always got timely replies from him about our thesis.

In the late stage of my thesis, I met many difficulties and asked Professor Ouyang for help. He always shared his time to help me. Administrative faculty made a significant contribution to school but always hid behind the scenes, such as Sun Bingbing, Li Ying and Zhang Fanshan. Other teachers were also very great to students.

In summer 2014 I graduated from PHBS with my doctoral degree. At the graduation farewell Professor Hai offered the graduates a few words:“I work harder than you can imagine.”Through my experiences at PHBS over seven years, I think he has achieved his goals In the future, believe that we can achieve ours, too.

Reference:
1. This metaphor refers to high school graduates in the three Cultural Revolution years, 1966, 1967, and 1968. Most of them, called out as "educated youth," were sent to the countryside, mountains and rural areas to perform service.