UCA hosts inaugural Chinese Alumni Association events

Over 300 alumni attended the celebratory events, which were an opportunity for UCA’s alumni community to come together and reconnect.

As part of the event, a graduation ceremony was held to honour those students who missed out on their original graduation due to Covid.

Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Melanie Gray delivered one of the keynote speeches, alongside Professor Lyndsay Duthie, Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic Partnerships and Industry Engagement, and Professor Hedley Roberts, Executive Dean for Canterbury School of Art, Architecture and Design.

Prof. Gray said: “Our graduates. You represent the best of what UCA stands for: imagination, resilience, innovation, and the courage to challenge the world as it is, and shape it into what it could be.

“Please stay connected with us, support each other, collaborate, and continue to let your creativity lead you forward. UCA is always your home, no matter where your career takes you.”

Zhuohan Shao, a Design Director at Allergy Studio and 2019 graduate of UCA’s BA (Hons) Graphic Design course, was invited to speak on stage at the Shanghai event.

He said: “It was a wonderful opportunity to share my experiences and insights with the community.”

Addressing UCA's Chinese alumni, Prof. Gray added: "You are the heart of UCA’s global reputation. Your creativity, your courage, and your persistence have carried you far beyond the classroom, and it is wonderful to see how many of you are now shaping the creative industries in China and across the world. We are incredibly proud of you."

UCA hopes that this creative alumni network will continue to thrive and promote cross-cohort and cross-disciplinary collaboration well into the future.