Dean's Message丨 The World Is So Big, but We Have Met!

As another graduation season arrives, as we join hands to complete this most extraordinary journey of life, please carry with you the earnest guidance of our professors as you move forward. In this month's Dean's message, let's review the speech delivered by Prof. BEN at the 2023 ZIBS Graduates Farewell Party: (Click here for  Chinese version).

 The World Is So Big, but We Have Met!

世界这么大，就是想见你

Dear graduates, dear students, scholars and staff, dear friends and family of ZIBS community,

 The World Is So Big, but We Have Met!

I hope that you enjoyed the song, the world is so big, I am so glad that we could meet. This is so true for members of ZIBS family. The world is big, with a population of 8 billion. Our ZIBSers are from 62 countries; how amazing that we could meet here at ZIBS!

For today’s occasion, it should be: The world is so big, but I want to meet you!! Many of you have come from all across the world to join this celebration, and today is a working day, I appreciate the enormous effort you all have made to meet each other today here at ZIBS.

For myself, I flew back yesterday from Florianopolis, Brazil, making connecting flights in Sao Paulo, Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. The entire journey took nearly 40 hours, the world is indeed very big!

A Very Special Day

We are gathering here today, rain or shine, because today is a very special and important day.

First of all, we are here to celebrate your achievements as graduates from Zhejiang University, from ZIBS! Warmest congratulations to you, your family and friends, and the faculty and staff members at ZIBS who have contributed to your success!

Today is very special, also because it is a day of meeting friends offline, in many cases for the first time, as the COVID-19 pandemic has moved many of your classes online.

Today is made even more special because it happens to be the birthday of one of our very best graduates, PENG Yuxiang, who will be our first graduate to work for the central government in Beijing. Shall we sing Happy Birthday for him?

 What Is Past Is Prologue

Today is the end of the past. When you reflect on your time at ZIBS, there are bound to be many happy moments and achievements, but also some disappointing experiences, some regrets, some missed opportunities, etc. We are grateful for the ZIBS experiences that have made us all stronger.

What is past is prologue. Today is also the beginning of the future; it is the beginning of our continuous learning journey; it is the beginning of continuous seeking of opportunities; it is the beginning of continuous realizing of our ambitions; and today is also the day you have become an alumnus—not just an alumnus, but a ZIBS alumnus! ZIBS will be your warm home that you can trust and turn to forever.

Connecting The World Shaping The Future

Tomorrow, each and every one of you will be going home and abroad, embracing new challenges. I will also be on the road again, going to Europe for a business trip. As Dean, I am expected, and I am prepared to say a lot! Given that so many other deans and presidents have already made so many similar speeches, many of which are very insightful and available online, or we can simply ask ChatGPT, therefore I shall only say two things:

1

I want to say sorry to you. Some of your regrets, disappointments, and frustrations during your ZIBS time may have been due to the fact that ZIBS has been a new organization, a good excuse probably, but I just want to say sorry that sometimes we disappointed you and did not meet your expectations. I also want to say thank you for your kind understanding and generous tolerance at other times. But I can assure you that ZIBS will get better by the day.

2

I want to say to you and myself: do not get lost and distracted on your journey to achieve your goals. Yes, we live in a world full of challenges, complexity, and sometimes crises, but please stay hungry, stay focused, stay naive, and stay simple in work and life alike. Please always remember ZIBS’ motto: Connecting The World, Shaping the Future. It is the motto and the mission. ZIBS will always be there with you and for you.

 See You Soon

I hate to say goodbye; therefore, I want to share a few lines of a song with you, and I will sing them for you:

Far across the distance,

The spaces between us,

We all have come a long way;

Near, far, wherever you are,

ZIBS will always be here, there for you….

ZIBS has set the goal of building a technology-focused global premier business school from China, and we have made encouraging progress in building a unique ZIBS global network and ecosystem! It is our vision that wherever you go in the future, there will be ZIBS friends and family members to support you.

Dear graduates, the world is so big, but we met each other thanks to ZIBS! Dear alumni, both old and new, at home and abroad, the world is so big, when are we going to see each other again?

The answer is: it will be in the not so distant future. I am positive about this, and I look forward to it.

Editor｜LI Songjiao

Managing Editor｜CHENQI Lisha

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