On the morning of September 12, the 2026 Anniversary Alumni Homecoming Ceremony of Beijing Normal University was grandly held at the Qiu Jiduan Gymnasium. Yu Jihong, President of Beijing Normal University, and Zhang Yanyun, Associate Party Secretary of the University, attended the ceremony. Qi Yudong, Dean of the School of Economics and Business Administration (BNUBS), together with more than 350 alumni representatives from different anniversary graduating cohorts of the School, took part in the commemoration event. The ceremony was co-hosted by Wang Zi, an alumna of BNUBS Class of 2015.

Commemoration Ceremony

At the ceremony, President Yu Jihong expressed gratitude on behalf of the University to alumni for their long-standing care and support for the University’s development. She reviewed the University’s recent achievements in serving national development strategies, nurturing outstanding talents, optimizing disciplinary layout, expanding campus space and advancing the “Double First-Class” initiative. She emphasized that alumni form the University’s closest emotional, developmental and community of shared future. The University will deliver thoughtful alumni services, and looks forward to alumni continuing to care for and participate in the development of their alma mater, working hand in hand to write a new chapter toward building a comprehensive, research-oriented, world-class university with Chinese characteristics that leads in teacher education.

President Yu Jihong delivered a speech 

During the ceremony, BNUBS alumni Wang Lu (Class of 1996) and Chen Wei (Class of 2016) presented a poetry recital Wooden Bell Resounds, Reunion in Youthful Splendour. Their sincere words evoked collective memories among faculty, students and alumni. The anniversary flag-awarding ceremony was solemn and warm, with alumni representatives from various schools receiving commemorative flags. The closing medley of songs, Morning on Campus, Young Friends, Gather Together, The Youth and The Same Song, was led by BNUBS faculty member Lu Yuexiang. Familiar melodies linked youth with the times and brought the ceremony to a high point. The rich and varied programme was widely praised and further strengthened the profound bond between the University and its alumni.

Commemoration Ceremony

For this homecoming event, over 350 BNUBS alumni from the graduating cohorts of 1986, 1996, 2006 and 2016, together with their family members, returned to their alma mater from across China and around the globe. Current student volunteers greeted returning alumni at the registration desk. The venue was bustling yet orderly. While collecting exclusive souvenirs, alumni rekindled friendships forged in school. The joy and emotion of this long-awaited reunion touched all present, embodying the cohesion and centripetal force of the School’s alumni community.

BNUBS Registration Desk

On the same day, several returning classes held warm and memorable panel discussions. Qi Yudong, Dean of BNUBS, and Han Lili, Associate Party Secretary, joined the discussions and interacted cordially with alumni. They briefed attendees on the School’s recent progress and extended sincere greetings and best wishes. At the panel for the undergraduate Class of 1986, Yuan Liansheng, the former class monitor, shared updates on more than a dozen retired faculty including Professor Cheng Shuli. Photographs and footage preserved deep gratitude for teachers. Participants recalled their campus days and cherished the lasting teacher-student bond. At the gathering for the undergraduate intake of 1996, alumni invited their former professors He Zhang and Li Hui to join the reunion. Teachers and alumni sat together, reminiscing about lectures in the main teaching building and walks across campus, and sharing life journeys after graduation. The atmosphere was warm and heartfelt.

Panel for Undergraduate Class of 1986

Panel for Undergraduate Intake of 1996

Panel for Undergraduate Class of 2006

In the afternoon of September 12, the alumni forum themed Scenario Transformation and Cross-Boundary Leadership in the Intelligent Era, co-hosted by the BNU Alumni Association and BNUBS, was successfully held in the Yingdong Academic Hall. Zhang Yanyun, Associate Party Secretary of the University, attended and delivered the opening address. Distinguished guests from industry and academia, together with representatives from the School of Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Education, BNUBS, the Alumni Association, University Foundation and other university units, as well as alumni, faculty and students, participated in the forum. The forum was hosted by Yang Fan, BNUBS alumnus.

Alumni Forum

Zhang Yanyun noted in his speech that the rapid iteration and large-scale application of artificial intelligence are reshaping industrial patterns, application scenarios and talent criteria. Cross-disciplinary integration and breakthrough innovation have become core competitiveness and essential leadership qualities in the new era. The Action Plan for “AI + Education”, jointly issued by the Ministry of Education and four other central departments, provides clear guidance for universities to advance intelligent education and cultivate interdisciplinary talents. BNU has proactively embraced digital and intelligent transformation, made forward-looking arrangements for deep integration of AI and education, and kept exploring new paradigms and scenarios for intelligent education. He encouraged alumni to build solid professional foundations while broadening their vision. They should forge ahead amid technological innovation and humanistic commitment, and seize opportunities through cross-boundary collaboration and innovative breakthroughs.

Associate Party Secretary Zhang Yanyun delivered a speech

During the keynote session, alumnus Wei Hongbo presented a speech titled Rooted in Rationality, Breaking Boundaries Across Sectors — Career Development amid the AI Wave. He recalled his campus memories dating back to his enrolment in 1991, and shared insights for professional life in the intelligent age drawn from his cross-sector career journey spanning traditional finance, internet technology and AI video. He pointed out that although AI triggers career anxiety, it cannot replace human beings in assuming responsibility, building genuine interpersonal connections and making complex non-standard decisions. The irreplaceable strengths of outstanding professionals lie in accountability, empathy, teamwork and the ability to resolve organisational pain points. He encouraged alumni to step out of their comfort zones, leverage AI to lower barriers for cross-sector transition and transfer core competencies. Drawing on his experience building a matrix of hundreds of digital humans within his team, he urged participants to identify their “second growth curve” amid industrial evolution, achieve cross-boundary breakthroughs and reshape personal value through robust fundamental logic and continuous learning.

Keynote Speech by Alumnus Wei Hongbo

This series of alumni homecoming activities and the forum fully demonstrated the youthful camaraderie and sense of mission of BNUBS alumni. The events rekindled precious collective memories for teachers and alumni, built a platform for old classmates to reconnect and alumni of different cohorts to learn from one another, and offered valuable inspiration for innovative practice and career development amid the AI revolution. Moving forward, BNUBS will continue to refine its alumni service platform, deepen collaborative development between alumni and the alma mater, and march forward alongside alumni amid the changes of the times. The School will jointly build the alumni network into a robust force that empowers personal growth, supports alma mater development and serves social progress.

Group Photo of Anniversary Homecoming Alumni of BNUBS

Group Photo of Undergraduate Class of 1986, BNUBS

Group Photo of Undergraduate Class of 1996, BNUBS

Group Photo of Finance Track, Undergraduate Class of 2006, BNUBS

Group Photo of Economics Track, Undergraduate Class of 2006, BNUBS

Group Photo of Business Administration Track, Undergraduate Class of 2006, BNUBS

Group Photo of MBA-P Cohort (Master of Business Administration), Class of 2016, BNUBS

 

(Partial materials provided by the General Alumni Association of Beijing Normal University)

 

Contributed by Alumni Affairs Office

Edited by  Li Ani

Reviewed by Han Lili