On April 18, the University held a return-to-campus event for the Class of 2006 on the 20th anniversary of their graduation, themed "Twenty Years Tempered into Steel, a Lifetime of Nostalgia for Manjing." The School of Economics and Management (SEM) actively assisted in organizing the related activities.
In the preparatory phase, SEM worked closely with the University's Alumni Association to contact and register the alumni of the Class of 2006, prepare supplies for their return, and arrange volunteers to handle on-site check-in, guidance, and photography on the day. That morning, the alumni of SEM's Class of 2006 checked in upon returning to campus and then attended the 20th Graduation Anniversary Commemoration held in the Gymnasium.
President Lü Zhaoping introduced the University's achievements in development and the latest progress in the construction of the Xiong'an Campus, covering talent cultivation, discipline development, and scientific and technological innovation, and encouraged the alumni to continue caring for and supporting their alma mater and to jointly advance the University's "Double First-Class" initiative. Former President Xu Jinwu fondly recalled the youthful years the alumni of the Class of 2006 had spent on campus, expressing great pride in their outstanding achievements and hoping that they would often come back to visit.
Zhang Zilin, a distinguished alumna of the Business Administration program, took the stage as one of the representatives of the Class of 2006, sharing the professional practice and insights on growth gained over the twenty years since graduation, expressing gratitude for the nourishment of the University's spirit of "Seeking Truth and Pursuing Innovation," and demonstrating how USTB alumni integrate their personal ideals with the development of the country.
In the afternoon, SEM made careful preparations and warmly welcomed the alumni of the Class of 2006 back to their home school. It opened classrooms, laboratories, and the SEM Reading Pavilion for the alumni to visit and exchange ideas as they commemorated the 20th anniversary of their graduation together. The alumni spontaneously gathered in the classrooms where they once attended lectures and, as they had discussed cases between classes in those days, freely talked about their growth and reflections on life after graduation, fondly recalling their student years. Strolling through the Economics and Management Building, everyone sincerely marveled at the vigorous development of their home school, their pride evident in their every word. They remarked that no matter how far they had gone, SEM would always be "home"; every classroom, every teacher, and every memory here had long flowed through their veins, becoming the steadiest source of strength on their life's journey. The time together was always brief. At the end of the event, the alumni posed for a group photo. Amid the laughter and applause, the twenty years seemed never to have passed, and only the deep affection for the School grew richer with time.
This return-to-campus commemoration for the Class of 2006, thanks to the careful planning and full support of the class liaisons, won an enthusiastic response and broad participation from the alumni. Taking this reunion as a fresh starting point, the emotional bonds between the alumni and the School will grow ever stronger, and the wisdom and strength of the alumni at large will surely inject surging momentum into the School's high-quality development. Looking ahead, SEM will continue to deepen its alumni outreach and, by organizing activities of diverse forms and rich content, maintain long-lasting and close ties with its alumni, joining hearts and moving in the same direction to jointly write a new chapter of development.
