One conference, many reunions: Highlights from the Annual China Alumni Conference
From discussions on impact investing and ASEAN opportunities to industry visits, school reunions and sports networking, NTU alumni came together in Shanghai to exchange ideas and reconnect.
The annual NTU China Alumni Conference and a series of activities held alongside it gave alumni in Shanghai plenty of opportunities to come together, exchange ideas, reconnect with old friends and meet fellow alumni from different schools and industries.
For Dr Jin Tao, President of the NTU Alumni Association (Shanghai), the China Alumni Forum was more than an opportunity for alumni to exchange ideas. It was also a chance to bring the alumni community closer together.
“I hope the forum will become an annual tradition, bringing more alumni together to share ideas, learn from one another and build lasting connections.” - Dr Jin Tao, President, NTU Alumni Association (Shanghai)
Here are some highlights from the event:
The conference opened with a welcome address by NTU Deputy President and Provost, Professor Christian Wolfrum, before Professor Liang Hao, President’s Chair Professor in Finance at Nanyang Business School, led a masterclass on impact investing. The session explored how investors can balance financial returns with social value.
The discussion then turned to regional business development, with a panel moderated by Qu Feng (NBS/2009) exploring how businesses use Singapore as a springboard into ASEAN, while adapting their business models to different markets.
The panel featured Professor Liang Hao and Mendy Wang Ying, Managing Partner in ESG at PwC China, who shared their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges in the region.
The conference also provided a platform to introduce the NTU Alumni Alliance (Globalisation), strengthening ties among alumni across different regions.
Dato Andy Zhao Guangming, Co-Chair (Overseas) of the NTU Alumni Alliance (Globalisation), said the forum offered a valuable opportunity to engage with fellow alumni and build support for the Alliance.
“It was great to reconnect with fellow alumni and share more about the Alliance’s work. I hope the forum will continue to thrive, giving alumni more opportunities to exchange ideas and learn from one another,” he said.
Beyond the conference
The conversations continued after the conference. Over the next few days, alumni reconnected through school gatherings, industry visits, milestone celebrations and sports activities.
Celebrating milestones
This year marks two milestones for NTUpreneur: its 25th anniversary and the 20th anniversary of the Master of Science Technopreneurship and Innovation Programme (MSc TIP).
Alumni came together at Connecting Minds, Connecting Futures, which featured a panel discussion and networking dinner to mark the milestones.
For Susan Teh, President of the NTUpreneur Alumni Association, the Academy’s 25th anniversary was an opportunity to celebrate how far its alumni have come and the role they can play in supporting the next generation.
“I’m proud to see our alumni making their mark in different fields, and carrying the NTU spirit with them wherever they go. To me, an alumni association is about more than staying in touch. It’s about supporting one another, giving back to our alma mater and helping the next generation of alumni find their footing. I’m grateful to have been part of the Academy’s 25th anniversary celebrations,” she said.
Reconnecting across schools and programmes
Alumni from different schools and programmes also took the opportunity to reconnect over lunches and tea receptions. The School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (SPMS), Nanyang Centre for Public Administration (NCPA), Nanyang MBA and Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) each held gatherings in Shanghai for alumni to catch up.
SPMS alumni at the reunion.
NCPA alumni at their reunion.
Nanyang MBA alumni at their reunion.
WKWSCI alumni at their reunion.
Industry visits
Industry visits organised by the Office of Alumni Engagement (OAE) offered another way for alumni to reconnect and gain insights into developments in the business and technology landscape. Fifteen alumni leaders visited Shanghai Yi Tou Technology, where they learnt about the application and development of AI-powered advertising.
Alumni leaders visiting Shanghai Yi Tou Technology, organised by OAE.
NTUpreneur alumni also visited Xiaohongshu (Red Note) to learn about the platform’s development and business operations.
NTUpreneur alumni visiting Xiaohongshu’s headquarters.
Connecting through sports
There was also time for some friendly competition. At the Alumni Sports Networking session, alumni took to the courts for badminton, table tennis and pickleball, catching up with old friends and meeting fellow alumni along the way.
Across schools, generations and industries, the few days in Shanghai showed how an NTU connection can take many forms and continue to grow long after graduation.
