Distinguished guests, university partners, colleagues, students, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.
It is my great honor and pleasure to welcome you to the 17th BNBU International Postgraduate Education Information Fair. As the newly appointed Associate Vice President for Global Engagement, this is one of my first major occasions to address our community, and I cannot think of a better way to start.
For seventeen years, this fair has been a flagship event at BNBU. It has grown from a modest information session into a vibrant global platform. Seventeen years is not just a number. It represents continuity, trust, and a shared commitment to our students’ futures. It represents thousands of conversations, many difficult decisions, and countless young lives changed through international education.
We live in a world that is profoundly connected and yet deeply divided. The challenges we face — climate change, artificial intelligence, public health, inequality, cultural misunderstanding — do not respect borders. Solving them requires people who can move across borders, disciplines, and cultures. It requires people who can listen, question, collaborate, and lead in unfamiliar settings. International postgraduate education is one of the most powerful ways to build that capacity.
International postgraduate study is not merely a degree, or a line in your CV. It is an important investment in your ability to think differently, to adapt, and to grow. It is a formative experience that shapes not only what you know, but who you become. It is also a serious decision—academically, financially, and personally.
That is why today really matters. At BNBU, our liberal arts tradition and whole-person education have always emphasized international outlook and global competence. We want our students to be globally literate, locally rooted, and future ready. For us, global engagement is not only about students going abroad. It is also about bringing the world to our campus, building partnerships, diversifying our curriculum, and creating pathways for research, internships, and career development. This fair is a visible expression of our commitment.
Dear students, you are the sole reason we are here. I encourage you to be curious and courageous. Visit booths; Attend information sessions; Ask questions. What does the programme actually teach? Who are the faculty members? What research opportunities exist? What funding and scholarships are available? What career support is offered to international students? What alumni do after graduation? Please do not just collect brochures. Please actively talk and clarify.
And remember: the best pathway is not always the most popular one. It is the one where you can thrive. Think about academic fit, financial fit, cultural fit, and long-term career fit.
Dear exhibitors and partners, thank you for travelling to BNBU and for believing in our students. Your presence here gives them access, information, and hope. I invite you to build deeper partnerships with us—through joint programmes, research collaboration, internships, and student exchange.
To my colleagues from the Career Development Center, thank you so much for your outstanding dedication. Events like this scale do not happen by accident. They require months of planning, coordination, and care. You are building bridges between BNBU and the world, and between our students and their future.
As the Associate Vice President for Global Engagement, I want BNBU to be known not only for welcoming the world to our campus, but for sending our students confidently into the world. That means internationalization at home, global partnerships, and career readiness must go hand in hand. I am firmly committed to listening, building, and creating more pathways for our students.
To my dear students, please be bold. Ask questions you are afraid to ask. Introduce yourself to someone from another country. Explore a programme you have never heard of. The world is vast, and your potential is unlimited. Today is not just about choosing a university. It is about choosing the kind of person you want to become.
It is now my honor to declare the 17th BNBU International Postgraduate Education Fair officially open. I trust it will be informative, inspiring, and transformative for everyone.
Thank you.
October 21, 2026
Michael SHENG, Chair Professor
Associate Vice President (Global Engagement)