This week, the fifth cohort of students graduated from the BNUZ-SMU Joint Bachelor of Commerce program based in Zhuhai, China. 81 graduates received both a Bachelor of Commerce from Saint Mary’s University and a Bachelor of Economics from Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, with 59 earning a major in finance.
Prof. Zhong Xin, Dean of the International Business Faculty at BNUZ, offered words of congratulations to this year’s graduates: “In the midst of uncertainty, you have overcome difficulties, explored inner peace and found the confidence to face whatever challenges may come.” She summed up this sense of hope and optimism by wishing students a bright future and encouraging them to use their actions to “seek and preserve the original passion and mission of your youth.”
The unique partnership of the Joint BComm program allows students at BNUZ to benefit from a cross-cultural undergraduate education, with half of their courses taught by BNUZ professors and the other half taught by visiting SMU faculty. Graduates of the program have earned a reputation as high performers in business and finance. This fall, more than half of the graduating cohort will begin postgraduate programs around the world, including in China, Canada, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom and Singapore. Others will enter the workforce immediately or begin preparing for the postgraduate entrance exam in China.
Dr. Harjeet Bhabra, Dean of the Sobey School of Business, shared his congratulations with the class, noting “[This program] has provided you with the tools and skills to become successful business leaders with a truly global perspective. As you move to the next stage in your careers, we wish you the very best for your continued success, and we proudly welcome you to our extensive alumni community.”
The longstanding partnership between Saint Mary’s University and Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, dates back to 2002 and has included a range of 2+2 programs in Arts, Business and Science, as well as a number of other exchange programs and summer institutes for students, faculty and members of the community. More than 40 SMU faculty members from the Sobey School of Business and the Faculty of Arts have travelled to Zhuhai to teach in the Joint BComm Program since 2016, which has led to collaborative research opportunities with the International Business Faculty at BNUZ.
Unfortunately, due to the ongoing global pandemic, it was not possible for members of the SMU community to reconnect in person with friends and colleagues at BNUZ in celebration of the outstanding success of this year’s graduates. We honour those achievements as we welcome the newest members of our 53,000+ alumni network.