The Sino-British College (SBC), University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST) hosted two Inaugural Graduation Ceremonies on 23rd July, which marked the first ever SBC,USST students completing full UK bachelor's degrees entirely in English in Shanghai.
The two pioneering UK institutions who launched full degrees at SBC in Shanghai celebrating graduates' success with SBC are the University of Huddersfield offering the Events Management degree and Liverpool John Moores University offering degrees in Mechanical Engineering, and Manufacturing Systems Engineering and Industrial Electronics and Control.
Eligible students also had their USST degrees conferred during these ceremonies.
49 students graduating from SBC in Events Management and 50 in Engineeringjoined the celebrations with their family and friends.
The Liverpool John Moores University graduation ceremony was held on the morning of the 23rd, with Professor Yin Jie, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Education Bureau in attendance. The ceremony was chaired by Professor Steve Kenny, Pro Vice Chancellor and accompanied by Professor Diane Meehan, Dean of Faculty of Technology and Environment and Professor Ian Jenkinson, Director of School of Engineering.
In the afternoon the University of Huddersfield awards ceremony was held with Mr. Brian Davidson, Consul-General, British Consulate-General Shanghai in attendance. The ceremony was chaired by Professor Bob Cryan, Vice-Chancellor (President) of Huddersfield University. The ceremony was also attended by Professor David Taylor, Director of International Strategy, Professor Colin Bamford, Head of the Department of Logistics and Hospitality Management, and Ms Rita Carmouche, Head of Hospitality, Tourism, Leisure and Events Management.
Mr. Davidson said in his speech: "Today's ceremony is a fine reflection of the success that can be achieved when the UK and China combine their strengths in the field of academia. And a practical demonstration of the kind of partnerships our governments are looking to build."
President Xu Xiaoming of USST attended and conferred the USST degrees to eligible students. Other senior members of USST were also in attendence.
Professor Ian Gow OBE, Principal of SBC stated: "We are absolutely delighted with the academic success and social development of these students. We are also grateful to all the parents who were willing to invest this most precious asset, their child, in a newly established degree awarding institution. We are confident they will make their parents and their country proud and also contribute significantly to Sino-UK and Sino-Foreign relations."
Academic and administrative staff at SBC also joined the academic procession and shared the joy of graduation with their own students.
OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
Out of the 50 graduates in Engineering who have successfully passed, 22 were awarded First Class honours degrees, a quite remarkable achievement. Over 70% were awarded First Class or 2:1 degrees.
For students in Events Management, out of the 49 students graduating, 2 obtained First Class honours degrees and 18 2:1 degrees. This means that 1/3 of the students who completing their degree study fully at SBC received First and Upper Second degrees.
In the UK higher education system, a First Class honours degree is extremely difficult to achieve especially if the subject is being studied in a second language. "Therefore, we are extremely proud of what our students have achieved academically, which is a tribute to both the high quality of teaching as well as of the students, many of whom successfully completed a USST degree at the same time!" said Professor Gow, SBC's Principal and CEO.
HIGH EMPLOYABILITY
According to statistics from the SBC Careers Service and Development Centre, 89% of the final year students have received offers either for jobs or for postgraduate study in world-class universities.
Nearly 85% of the graduates who have received job offers will go to multinational, Fortune 500 companies or state-owned companies in China who are planning or implementing internationalisation. Some of the top students have chosen to turn down offers from world famous companies and seek opportunities in other foreign and Chinese companies.
Take Feng Chuan, a graduate in Events Management for example. Instead of accepting an offer for a well-paid job from a Fortune 500 company, he chose to be a Management Trainee at Swire Properties in Hong Kong.
This Student, Feng Chuan who graduated with a First Class honours, and was also awarded the Huddersfield special outstanding student award (competing with all Huddersfield students from all countries studying Huddersfield degrees), when asked why he made this decision, he replied: "Students at SBC are prepared to embrace and explore their potential. Since the beginning they have been encouraged to be independent in both learning and life. Therefore, they are more willing to undertake challenges in their lives since they have acquired the right skill set and multicultural awareness to succeed."
So far 42 students have been offered places for Master's study in China and abroad. Over 80% of them have been accepted by highly ranked universities in the UK, including University of Leeds, University of Edinburgh and University of York etc. Some will also go to excellent universities in countries the USA, Canada and Australia.
SMART AND SOCIALLY AWARE
Students at SBC have been taking an active role in charitable causes by organising and fundraising and working closely with various companies and non-profit organisations.
They have volunteered in a wide range of events and activities both on and off campus including the 2010 Shanghai Expo. Moreover, for the students graduating in Events Management, all of them have put on live events for charities and other organisations. Some of the charities include Morning Tears, Baobei, Stepping Stones, and others, and the beneficiaries include a wide range of causes like homeless and migrant children, children with disabilities, and community centres. Helping those less privileged than themselves SBC believes is an important additional key to achieving the Chinese government's aim to create a "harmonious Society" for 21st Century China.
"In working with companies and community organisations, students have risen to every challenge they have encountered. We are proud of their resourcefulness and creativity and we are confident they have acquired the skills necessary for success in their careers." said Professor Lindsay Shen, Director of the Huddersfield Degree Program at SBC.
The enormous efforts made by SBC students in helping people who are less fortunate than themselves have also highly been appreciated by the community. For example, after having attended one of the events organised by students from SBC, Mr. Rory Farquhar-Thomson, Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce wrote to Principal Gow to express his feelings of gratitude to SBC students for their "excellent planning and execution of this event".
