On the afternoon of November 8, applause first filled Room 206 of the Sino-European University of Technology building, where the themed talk “Oui Talk: UTSEUS Alumni Speak” opened with an introduction by Wu Xinqiao, a 2023 Information Engineering student. Half an hour later, the atmosphere continued to build in Room 406, where the “Oui Talk: UTSEUS Alumni Connections” exchange session began warmly under the moderation of Guo Kehui, a 2022 Information Engineering student, and Chen Siyu, a 2023 Information Engineering student. More than 60 current students and over 30 alumni from the Classes of 2005 to 2021 gathered together, with golden ginkgo trees as their backdrop and shared experience as their sail, to write another chapter in the 20-year story of inheritance and growth at the Sino-European University of Technology of Shanghai University (UTSEUS).
“Oui Talk: UTSEUS Alumni Speak” — Inspiring Minds, Illuminating the Road Ahead
At 15:20 in Room 206 of UTSEUS Building, “Oui Talk: UTSEUS Alumni Speak — My Journey as an Engineer” officially began. The event invited two outstanding alumni back to campus: Zhang Jiaying, a 2009 alumna and senior executive in North Asia Supply Chain at L’Oréal, and Chen Zikang, a 2019 alumnus and large-model engineer at Ant Group. They shared their personal growth journeys and professional insights with the students.
Speaking on the theme of “Deepening Expertise, Growing Steadily,” Zhang Jiaying reflected on her academic journey from UTSEUS to UTC in France and on her professional development in the supply chain sector of a multinational company. She also engaged with students on topics such as cross-cultural collaboration and the importance of building strong professional foundations.
Focusing on “Pursuing the Frontier and Daring to Innovate,” Chen Zikang vividly recounted his transition from Information Engineering to the field of large-model technology. He also offered many practical suggestions for students interested in internships in the tech industry and in learning AI.
During the Q&A session, hands shot up across the room as one question followed another. In the event feedback, one first-year student wrote: “Our alumni mapped out the entire route from UTSEUS to UTC to the workplace. As a complete beginner, I finally know where to take off next. My heartfelt thanks to them!”
“Oui Talk: UTSEUS Alumni Connections” — Heart-to-Heart Conversations Across Generations
At 15:50, Room 406 of UTSEUS was filled with warmth as the “UTSEUS Alumni Connections” session began in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The brief yet welcoming opening by the two student hosts quickly dissolved any sense of unfamiliarity, and the room soon came alive.
In the open discussion session, students eagerly raised questions about academics, internships, and career planning. When asked “How can I find the right internship?”, many alumni, including Wu Liuqiong from the Class of 2008, Du Tianren and Yan Dan from the Class of 2015, and Wang Junru from the Class of 2013, were quick to share advice drawn from their own experiences.
They emphasized the importance of refining one’s résumé to present relevant experience clearly and encouraged students to actively connect with senior students and alumni for referrals and guidance, noting that the UTSEUS alumni network is both supportive and warm.
When discussing “How to adapt to university life and plan for the future,” Deng Qixuan from the Class of 2015 shared sincerely: “When we were studying at UTSEUS, pursuing further education in France, and taking on internships, we were also exploring our own interests. Every attempt you make at university matters. The key is to find what you truly love and to have the determination to do it well.”
Guo Jinshan from the Class of 2016 also pointed to important industry trends: “AI and big-data models are already widely used in companies. If you start learning the relevant tools now, it will become a real competitive advantage in the future job market.”
The students listened intently, nodding often and raising their hands to ask follow-up questions. One first-year student commented after the event: “The alumni really shared the most valuable things they had. It was packed with practical insights. Through their growth stories, I could truly feel how UTSEUS shaped and nurtured them, allowing them to bloom. As a freshman, it deepened my sense of belonging to UTSEUS and strengthened my expectations for the years ahead.”
The group discussion session that followed adopted a café-style rotating format, allowing participants to engage more deeply around five themes: industry insight, skill development, further study planning, campus memories, and workplace soft skills.
In the Industry Insight group, alumni drew on their own professional experience to provide students with a systematic view of current developments in technical fields. In the Further Study Planning group, alumni with overseas academic backgrounds carefully explained the key points of university applications and cross-cultural adaptation.
One student wrote in their reflection: “During this event, I received a great deal of advice from alumni based on their own life experiences, and I benefited immensely. I believe these insights will help me better plan both my four years at university and the broader direction of my future life.”
Another student remarked:“A group of wonderful people is making UTSEUS feel more and more like a big family where everyone truly belongs.”
At the end of the event, everyone held postcards and carefully wrote down their wishes for the future of UTSEUS — some hoping UTSEUS would continue to flourish and produce outstanding talent, others wishing younger students the courage to pursue their dreams. Each postcard carried the shared affection, hopes, and aspirations of the UTSEUS community.
Shared Reflections — More Than a Gain, a Legacy Passed On
Although the two events took different forms, both left a deep impression on the hearts of UTSEUS students. One student reflected thoughtfully: “Speaking face to face with so many outstanding alumni not only helped me resolve many questions about academic planning and future development, but also cleared away many blind spots in my understanding. More importantly, it gave me tremendous confidence. I hope to carry this inspiration and confidence forward, move steadily toward clearer goals, and one day become a role model like them.”
For first-year students just beginning university life, the words of their seniors felt especially like guiding lights. One freshman said: “I especially liked what one alumna said — that you do not need to be overly lost or doubt yourself too much. As long as you keep trying, you will eventually find the job that suits you best and the life you truly want. I think that is exactly the meaning of organizing an event like this, bringing students and alumni together.”
That afternoon, alumni turned years of experience into gifts of wisdom, while students turned their curiosity into a relay baton for the future.
Experience was folded into memory, and the spark was passed on. The next journey now belongs to a new generation of UTSEUS students — to turn paper planes into real flight paths.
The flame of inheritance burns on, unceasingly; the story continues, and the future is full of promise.
Written by: Wu Xinqiao, Chen Siyu, Guo Kehui
Reviewed by: Shen Zhihong, Sui Pingping
