On May 21, 2026, the "Ten Years On, We Return" - the 10th Anniversary of the BUPT-emlyon EMBA Program & emlyon business school 2026 Asia Carnival & Gala Dinner was grandly held in Beijing. Leaders from both BUPT and emlyon business school, industry elites, strategic partners, and generations of BUPT-emlyon EMBA alumni and faculty gathered to look back at a decade of glorious achievements and to look forward to a brilliant blueprint for the next ten years.

Distinguished guests in attendance included: Mark SMITH, Vice President of emlyon business school; XING Wenlong, Dean of emlyon business school Asia; XIE Zhiyong, Associate Dean of the School of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT); LU Jun and CHEN Jianwen, Professors at emlyon business school; Jason ZHANG, Director of the EE Center at emlyon business school Asia; PENG Peng, Associate Director of Alumni, Corporate Relations and Career Services at emlyon business school Asia; LIU Kexuan and YAN Changle, Professors at the School of Economics and Management, BUPT; Luc ZELLER, Vice President Veolia Asia and Delegate Fondation Veolia APAC; Brigitte ZELLER, Founder & CEO of Start’In for Good and Board Member of Directors of the emlyon alumni Association; Shirley WU, President of Dell Technologies Greater China and Chairperson of the Management Consulting Committee for the BUPT-emlyon EMBA Program; FENG Xuesen, Chair of the emlyon North China Student’s Alumni Association; and Lubos Kol, CEO & General Manager of Qingdao Great River Hill Winery.

As the only joint EMBA program in China featuring digital and intelligent transformation, the BUPT-emlyon EMBA was co-created through a powerful alliance between Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications and emlyon business school. Over the past decade, the program has consistently stood at the forefront of digital transformation and business education. By seamlessly integrating emlyon’s entrepreneurial "maker" DNA with BUPT’s profound expertise in information technology, it has cultivated a vast number of business leaders with global vision, digital insights, and a strong sense of social responsibility. This grand celebration was not only an intimate gathering for BUPT-emlyon members to review their journeys and reignite classmate bonds, but also a brand-new starting point to pool cutting-edge ideas, connect global ecosystems, and co-create the next glorious decade.

The event received generous support from Manulife-Sinochem and Qingdao Great River Hill Winery Co., Ltd.

A Decade of Concurrence, Navigating Future Dreams

As dusk fell and the ballroom light up, the gala dinner kicked off with a stunning runway show. From the pioneering 2016 cohort that witnessed the program’s launch, to the promising incoming 2026 cohort, and dedicated faculty members; groups representing different milestones marched across the stage in sequence. They fully demonstrated the confident, bold, and pioneering spirit of the BUPT-emlyon community.

Subsequently, a passionate and exotic Flamenco dance graced the stage, instantly igniting the energy of the entire hall. This was followed by the screening of Ten Years On, We Return, a short clip capturing memorable moments of struggle and emotion from the past ten years. It transported all guests through a time capsule back to the starting point of maker dreams and digital breakthroughs.

Prof. Isabelle HUAULT, Executive President and Dean of emlyon business school, delivered her heartfelt congratulations virtually from France. She warmly recalled the bold and visionary decision made by both institutions back in 2016, noting that over the past decade, the program has perfectly combined BUPT’s technological excellence with emlyon’s strong entrepreneurial spirit, building a bridge across cultures, disciplines, and continents. Looking ahead, she emphasized that emlyon will continue to deepen its pledge to digital transformation and social responsibility, committing to shape future leaders capable of tackling global challenges and contributing to a better society.

The gala hall filled with distinguished guests and stellar professionals warmly welcomed Mark Smith, Vice President of emlyon business school, Professor XIE Zhiyong, Associate Dean of the School of Economics and Management at BUPT, and XING Wenlong, Dean of emlyon business school Asia, as they took the stage successively to deliver inspiring speeches.

Mark Smith shared a visionary overview of emlyon's "Resonance 2028" strategic plan and praised the thriving development of the Chinese alumni ecosystem. He highlighted that the program sits at the epicenter of global technological shifts and that the next decade belongs to the outstanding alumni who master an AI-driven future. Professor XIE Zhiyong deeply analyzed the grand blueprint of the digital economy and intelligent innovation, affirming the unique value of the program as a model of Sino-French educational cooperation. Dean XING Wenlong delivered an inspiring address, foreseeing a future scarce of talents capable of mastering technology and connecting the world. He encouraged everyone to leverage the technological genes and global vision of both schools, to become long-termists who can ride through market cycles. Following the speeches, leaders from both sides raised their glasses to toast the BUPT-emlyon community and their shared expectations for the next glorious decade.

Amid bursts of enthusiastic applause and cheer, the BUPT-emlyon EMBA faculty and project team made a grand appearance. Jason ZHANG, LIU Kexuan, YAN Changle, LU Jun, CHEN Jianwen, and many other esteemed mentors who have silently held the reins behind the scenes - guiding students through digital transformations and reshaping business paradigms - stepped onto the center stage. Alumni representatives presented them with bouquets to express their highest respect and gratitude.

Shining Stars, Diverse Brilliance

Throughout the ten-year journey, alumni have found reliable companions and partners within the North China Alumni Association, while tactfully navigating the business world. A rousing video exemplified the remarkable efforts of the alumni organization over the years in building ecosystem platforms and fostering cohesion.

Next, representatives of previous North China Alumni Associations chapters, including ZHANG Sixing, WEI Jiadong, and WANG Bingsen, took the stage. These alumni veterans shared moving reflections, expressed deep gratitude to their alma mater, reminisced classmate bonds, and celebrated the seamless passing of the torch.

FENG Xuesen, President of the 4th Alumni Association, alongside Secretary-General QIN Zhongji, delivered a passionate speech, showcasing the dynamic energy and commitment of the new leadership team to steer the alumni network towards a broader future in the intelligence era. A true testament to the continuous passing of the torch and the enduring spirit of the community.

As global connectivity evolves with time, the future blueprint of "Connect the World - Beijing Chapter" and the newly launched Alumni Mini-Program was introduced by the host. This digital initiative aims to empower the connection and professional growth of global alumni, bringing a forward-looking momentum to the ecosystem.

The gala then transitioned into a high-tech audio-visual feast: a song and dance performance titled Starry Decade by the EMBA 2025 Autumn Cohort. Notably, the music for this performance was generated by the students using cutting-edge AI technology. The seamless blend of digital technology and stagecraft perfectly mirrored the energetic, vibrant, and pioneering spirit of the BUPT-emlyon people who always stay ahead of the curve.

Chasing Light on the Gobi, Creating Dreams Together

"Traversing the vast Gobi Desert together, we become brothers and sisters for life." Beyond the academic classrooms and digital business arena, BUPT-emlyon members have written magnificent chapters of glory through sweat and endurance on an entirely different battlefield that tests human limits - the Xuanzang Road Business School Gobi Challenge. The breathtaking Gobi video broadcasted on the big screen captured the unshakable determination amidst howling sandstorms, testifying to an extraordinary journey of teamwork and perseverance that deeply moved everyone present.

Amid roaring applause, veterans from past Gobi challenges took the stage alongside members of the upcoming "Gobi 21 Team", who proudly received the team flag symbolizing faith and inheritance. At that moment, the Gobi stars illuminated the path forward for every dreamer in the room.

Early Makers, Leading the World

When the spirit of innovation meets the pulse of the era, exemplary figures leading digital-intelligent transformations, and luminaries practicing social responsibility across various industries, deserve to be remembered. As the most anticipated highlight of the 10th anniversary celebrations, the "8 Heavyweight Decade Awards," embodying ten years of breakthroughs and commitment, were ceremoniously unveiled to honor the pioneering forces that broke barriers in the digital and intelligence arenas.

The eight major awards presented during the ceremony - Star Leadership & Makers Achievement Award, Excellence in AI Entrepreneurship Award, Digital & Intelligent Industry Innovation Award, Industry Expertise & Dedication Award, Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship Award, Global Vision & Cross-Border Pioneer Award, Decade of Journeying Together: 10-Year Distinguished Merit Award, and Decade of Journeying Together: 10-Year Outstanding Contribution Award left an indelible mark in everyone’s hearts.

Management teams from both institutes alongside award presenters jointly took stage to present the trophies to the winners. Every single honor on that stage served as the finest testament to how BUPT-emlyon members have ridden the waves over the past decade, offering a resounding echo to the true meaning of the maker spirit.

True to the Intention, Journeying to the Future

Time indeed does fly when sharing wonderful moments. The screening of a warm, nostalgic video nudged the gala dinner to its concluding moments, as the hosts read out a poetic verse - “Standing at the finish line of the first decade means standing at the starting line of the next. No matter how technology evolves, and no matter how digital waves and artificial intelligence reshape the global landscape, the original aspiration of BUPT-emlyon members to support each other and march side by side remains unchanged. Whether deeply cultivating local transformations or exploring global cross-border fields, BUPT-emlyon will forever be the warmest harbor for its students.”

Amid thunderous applause from the audience, students from the EMBA 2024 Spring Cohort stepped onto the stage to lead the entire hall to sing We Are Family. The melodious rhythm reverberated through the halls of the Shangri-La as the performers and spectators merged into one tranche. Waving their hands and singing together, they poured two years of classmate memories and ten years of fellowship into the moving melody. At this very moment, the hearts of all BUPT-emlyon members unified in tandem.

Following the chorus, the four hosts delivered the closing remarks. Amid cachy music, the BUPT-emlyon EMBA Program 10th Anniversary & 2026 Asia Carnival & Gala Dinner came to a successful conclusion. All leaders, guests, and alumni moved to the front of the stage for a grand group photo, permanently capturing the warmest and most historic moment of this reunion.

From the maiden voyage ten years ago to the grand reunion tonight, we have witnessed each other's highlights and clarified our future direction. May the entire BUPT-emlyon community continue to harbor faith and passion, break waves in the tides of the era, and script an even more brilliant decade ahead!