ZHUHAI, CHINA – On June 16, in Zhuhai, China, on behalf of President Ross Gittell, Ph.D., Bryant University Provost Rupendra Paliwal, Ph.D., conferred Bryant Zhuhai’s sixth graduating class of 63 students with a Bryant Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with a major in Accounting. Paliwal and Yang Chen, Vice President, Beijing Institute of Technology Zhuhai, addressed the graduates and distinguished guests. Hong Yang, Ph.D., Bryant University’s executive director of China Programs and Charles J. Smiley Chair Professor of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, attended the ceremony and conducted bilateral meetings with the leadership of Bryant’s partner institution in Zhuhai.
Bryant Zhuhai was approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education and the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) in 2015 and welcomed its first entering class of Chinese students in September of that year. It is the only U.S.-China joint four-year undergraduate business degree program in Guangdong Province, offering dual degree programs for Chinese students across the county. The academic program for Chinese students is taught in English by distinguished faculty and mirrors Bryant's internationally recognized rigorous curriculum.
Addressing the graduates, Paliwal encouraged the Class of 2024 to carry forward Bryant Zhuhai’s values of excellence, integrity, and service that define the Bryant community. He urged the graduates to remember the bilingual and bicultural learning experiences in addition to the business skills they mastered at Bryant Zhuhai.
Chen, in his address, emphasized the significant value of this collaboration to the students and the exchanges in the educational endeavors of China and the United States. He encouraged the Class of 2024 to carry forward the spirit of youth and maintain a passion for hard work. Chen also suggested the graduates embrace the world with an open mind and genuinely communicate with people from all countries.
"Four years ago, I gave the convocation speech, welcoming a fresh-faced class of hopeful young minds. These new students were brimming with nervous excitement, clutching backpacks loaded with laptops and dreams," said Rob Staton, faculty representative from Bryant Zhuhai. "Looking out at the class of 2024 today, in your caps and gowns, I see not just the culmination of your dreams, but the remarkable journeys you’ve taken.”
The success of Bryant Zhuhai’s Class of 2024's is a testament to Bryant's commitment to international education in providing a transformative and globally focused educational experience. By offering a rigorous curriculum, experiential learning opportunities, and a supportive learning environment, Bryant Zhuhai has prepared its graduates to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
About Bryant University
Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I. is a leading private university offering an innovative and uniquely integrated business and liberal arts education. Founded in 1863, Bryant University has approximately 3,800 graduate and undergraduate students from 38 states and 49 countries. Bryant University is recognized as a leader in international education and regularly receives top rankings from U.S. News & World Report, Money, Bloomberg Businessweek, Wall Street Journal, College Factual, and Barron’s.
Zhuhai and Providence, Rhode Island, USA sister cities
On December 5, 2018, Providence officially became a sister city to Zhuhai. The two cities, working in partnership with Bryant University, are dedicated to exploring cultural and economic opportunities for cooperation.
