May 4 this year marked the125th Anniversary of Peking University and the 5th Anniversary of Peking University HSBC Business School – UK Campus (PHBS-UK). Nearly 200 participants, including scholars from top universities and institutions from around the world, attended the Anniversary Forum on "New Challenges and New Requirements Facing Business Studies in Higher Education" held at PHBS-UK at Boars Hill, Oxfordshire. The conference aimed to promote Sino-British exchanges and cooperation, cultivate international business talents, and explore how to improve business education to meet the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution.

The Anniversary Forum
 

Professor Hai Wen gives the welcome speech

 

In his welcome speech, Professor Hai Wen, vice-chairman of Peking University Council and the founding dean of PHBS, highlighted the 125-year history of Peking University (PKU), its vision for internationalization, and the shining example of that vision, the founding of PHBS-UK. Professor Hai emphasized the achievements of PHBS-UK over the past 5 years and thanked staff for their support in realizing PKU and PHBS’ vision of internationalization.
 

Rebecca Leung delivers opening remarks
 

Ms. Rebecca Leung, director of Greater China Affairs and group public affairs Director of HSBC was the forum’s opening speaker. HSBC has been a good friend to PKU and PHBS, always been supportive of PKU and PHBS, and particularly the University’s vision of internationalisation. Ms. Leung reflected on this decade long support speaking of the history of cooperation between HSBC and Peking University and the importance of promoting Sino-British exchanges.

 

Daniel Kahn gives a keynote speech
 

The Anniversary Forum’s keynote speaker, Mr. Daniel Kahn, a senior consulting research expert from QS World University Rankings Education Consulting Research Institute, presented a report on the "Challenges of China's Development to International Business Education." Using big data, he demonstrated that Chinese students' demand for international business education is declining, posing a challenge to both Chinese and Western business schools, and he called for the exploration of different approaches to improve this critical situation.
 

From left to right：Soumitra Dutta, Neil Mclean, Yang Aimin, Palie Smart, and Alessandro Spano

After the keynote speech, the forum was opened up for discussants to express their thoughts and ideas, with scholars and guests discussing the challenges and opportunities facing business education from different perspectives. Professor Soumitra Dutta, dean of the Saïd Business School, the University of Oxford, emphasized the need for business education to adapt to the impact of artificial intelligence and big data science. Professor Neil Mclean, director of the Department of Language and Communication at the London School of Economics and Political Science, stressed the importance of understanding and mutual learning between different cultures in business education, while Professor Alessandro Spano, director of the China Centre at University College London, emphasized the need for cross-cultural education. Mr. Yang Aimin, general manager of China Construction Bank London Branch, emphasized the importance of cultivating compound business talents, and Professor Palie Smart, dean of the School of Management at the University of Bristol, emphasized the need for interdisciplinary education and cooperation.
 

Professor Wang Pengfei gives remarks
 

Professor Wang Pengfei, deputy dean of Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School and dean of PHBS, concluded the conference by highlighting the significance of discussing the challenges faced by business education at the dawn of the fourth industrial revolution. The discussion was  then chaired by Professor Guy Liu, director of PHBS-UK. 

 

The highlight of the closing speech, given by Professor Paolo Tasca, University College London and co-founder of the DLT Science Foundation, was the announcement of the foundation's grant to support PHBS-UK’s financial technology and blockchain research.

 All in all, the forum produced a very engaging and illuminating discussion on the challenges faced by business schools and how these schools can rise to meet global demands and changing industrial needs.

Following the forum, students from PHBS-UK Campus organized a dinner and performance, which included a drinks reception and networking session. Dor Kushinsky, an Israeli Cross-border Finance Masters student, expressed his delight at having met faculty and students from the PHBS Shenzhen campus and looked forward to interacting with students from different backgrounds in the coming months. Shawn Ng, a Cross-border Finance Masters student from Malaysia, expressed his excitement in performing his cover of 安静 (An Jing) and he felt touched when the audience joined in.
 

Professor Hai gives a lecture on the Chinese economy
 

Another highlight of the anniversary celebrations, a lecture titled "China's Economy: Current Situation and Future" given by Professor Hai Wen, attracted many PKU alumni from all over the UK to attend in person, despite of the rain. Professor Hai shared his insights into China's macroeconomic prospect and the potential challenges of its future growth. He noted that to meet the challenges of the future, it is necessary to improve the international environment, facilitate the development of private sectors, and strengthen education and personnel training. He emphasized that it is vital to determine how to achieve the win-win and more fair international trade relations.

A group photo of PKU alumni and faculty on UK campus 
 

The anniversary celebrations offered a fitting moment for students, faculty, and alumni to celebrate the achievements of PHBS-UK and Peking University. As the business landscape continues to evolve, we remain committed to providing students with the essential skills to succeed.