AI Era, Makers Leading the Way. On May 21, 2026, the opening ceremony for the 2026 Spring Intake of the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT) - emlyon business school EMBA (Sino-Foreign Joint Program) was grandly held at the BUPT Economics and Management Building. The cohort consists of 52 business elites, average age 40, with deep expertise across diverse fields including digital, technology, manufacturing, and cultural tourism. Carrying substantial industry experience, they return to campus to embark on a strategic journey of advancement that integrates BUPT’s "digital intelligence heritage" with emlyon’s "global business philosophy."

The ceremony was attended by Professor Mark Jonathan SMITH, deans of programs at emlyon business school; Dr. Wenlong XING, Dean of emlyon business school Asia Campus; Dr. Jason ZHANG, Director of Executive Education (EE) at emlyon business school; Ms. Alice WANG, Deputy Director of the EMBA Program at emlyon business school; Professor Peng Mugen, Vice President of BUPT; Ms. Chen Zhenzhen, Deputy Director of the International Office at BUPT; Professor Chang Zheng, Party Secretary of the School of Economics and Management at BUPT; Professor Yan Qiang, Dean of the School of Economics and Management at BUPT; Professors Xie Zhiyong and Xu Guannan, Associate Deans of the School of Economics and Management at BUPT; Ms. Yang Fan, Director of the EMBA Program at BUPT; Ms. Zhang Rongwu, Vice President of the emlyon North China Alumni Association; Mr. Liu Xiangdong, representative of current EMBA program students; and all 52 students of the 2026 Spring Intake. The ceremony was hosted by Professor Yan Qiang, Dean of the School of Economics and Management at BUPT.

At 9:15 a.m., the ceremony officially began with the solemn playing of the French and Chinese national anthems, as all guests and new students stood in respect.

Professor Peng Mugen, Vice President of BUPT, delivered the opening address, warmly welcoming the emlyon leadership and all new EMBA students. He noted that the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, with technological revolution and industrial transformation accelerating. Cutting-edge technologies such as AI and quantum computing are reshaping the business landscape, requiring modern managers to possess professional knowledge, innovative thinking, and cross-disciplinary integration capabilities. Continuous learning and self-iteration are essential to seizing the initiative in the era.

Professor Peng introduced BUPT as the "Cradle of Information Technology," with over 70 years of dedication to the IT field and a deep commitment to national development. The university excels in commercial space, space computing, AI, integrated circuits, and other frontier tech areas, having trained numerous top talents for key national industries. BUPT will continue to serve national strategic needs. The EMBA program, built on a decade of collaboration between BUPT and emlyon, integrates both institutions’ high-quality resources. Aimed at cultivating "digital intelligence pioneers in the maker era," the program prioritizes AI literacy and strategic vision, leadership, and global perspective, with outstanding outcomes and reputation.

He encouraged new students to make the most of their two years of study: updating their knowledge, building friendships, broadening global horizons, breaking disciplinary boundaries, and taking on the mission of the times to become pillars of industry and social progress.

▲ Professor Peng Mugen, Vice President of BUPT

Professor Mark Jonathon SMITH, dean of programs at emlyon business school, welcomed the 2026 Spring Intake new students and expressed sincere gratitude to BUPT, celebrating the tenth anniversary of this partnership. He noted that in 2016, at a key moment in global digital transformation, BUPT and emlyon jointly created a forward-looking EMBA program, blending BUPT’s technological strengths with emlyon’s century-old business heritage. Over the past decade, the program has helped hundreds of business leaders navigate the complex digital era, becoming a model of Sino-French cultural exchange and sustainable global business empowerment.

Professor SMITH introduced emlyon business school, founded in 1872, as one of Europe’s oldest business schools, consistently ranked among the top 1% globally with three major international accreditations. Embodying the "maker spirit," the school emphasizes learning through action and creation. In the AI-driven era, the program aims to cultivate leaders with critical thinking, responsible action, and innovative courage, aligned with emlyon’s 2030 strategic roadmap. He encouraged students to remain curious, collaborative, and courageous, using the platform’s resources not only to adapt to the future but to actively create it.

▲ Dean of programs at emlyon business schoolMark SMITH

▲ The ceremony was hosted by Professor Yan Qiang

Ms. Zhang Rongwu, Vice President of the emlyon North China Alumni Association, shared her experience. She stated that during her studies in the BUPT-emlyon EMBA program, she not only deepened her classroom learning, refined her expertise, and visited leading companies—achieving comprehensive growth in thinking and vision—but also actively participated in the Gobi Challenge, forging resilience and being elected to the Gobi Challenge Executive Committee, helping the university win multiple honors. She emphasized that this reflects both personal achievement and the program’s strength and alumni cohesion. At this ten-year milestone, she encouraged new students to embrace the emlyon spirit and Gobi spirit, focus on their studies, actively engage with the alumni network, and continue to excel on broader life paths.

▲ Ms. Zhang Rongwu, Vice President of the emlyon North China Alumni Association

Mr. Liu Xiangdong, a current student representative, described the BUPT-emlyon learning journey as one of "inner exploration, outward insight, upward elevation, and warm companionship." Through systematic courses, students refine their management mindset and strategic vision. The strong business education system of the two schools helps them understand business essence and the underlying logic of the digital age. Corporate social responsibility courses teach long-term management, balancing business, team, and social value. He also highlighted the genuine camaraderie and support among peers.

▲Mr. Liu Xiangdong, a current student representative

Ms. Guo Shaoxin, representative of the 2026 Spring Intake new students, shared her career experience and learning expectations. Working in the cultural tourism industry, she has witnessed its shift from extensive expansion to content, community, and service-based models. Facing the reconstruction of business logic in the digital intelligence era, she chose the BUPT-emlyon EMBA program as a bridge combining digital expertise with European business wisdom, hoping to address technical gaps and transform "passion" into "productivity." She called on fellow students to set aside their titles, focus on learning, truly understand technical logic, support each other as comrades and think tanks, and apply classroom knowledge to solve real-world problems.

▲ Ms. Guo Shaoxin, representative of the 2026 Spring Intake new students

The ceremony’s highlight was the badge-presenting session, where leaders from both universities pinned the school badges on new students, followed by the reading of the matriculation oath.

▲ school badge awarding

▲ Matriculation oath

With that, the opening ceremony for the 2026 Spring Intake of the BUPT - emlyon EMBA (Sino-Foreign Joint Program) concluded successfully. Amid the rapidly evolving digital intelligence, these new students will accumulate knowledge, broaden perspectives, and seek breakthrough development strategies. Looking ahead, may they integrate Chinese and international wisdom, continuously refine their skills, and become pioneers and doers in the digital intelligence era.