The Inaugural China Student Career And Education Expo Has Been Successfully Concluded
On the 28th November 2015, the Cathay Association for International Business held its inaugural Career and Education Expo at the China Exchange, sponsored by Mandarin Consulting, GE and PCCW. This was the first time there had been an Expo dedicated to employers and universities searching for Chinese nationals looking for employment and further education in the UK. Employers attending the event were seeking Chinese speaking employees to work in an increasingly China focused business landscape in the UK, as well as in their offices around the world. Companies included HSBC who used the event to launch their brand new China Return Programme, a graduate programme for bilingual Chinese speakers. Together with EY, Freshfields, Dynex, CPA Australia and Amber Education, we also had representatives from Smith Stone Walters, who were giving expert advice on UK visa application procedures. The universities included King’s College London, Oxford University and Sheffield University amongst others. Supporting organizations included the Hong Kong Association and the Hong Kong Society, Invest UK, the China-Britain Business Council, London & Partners and Eurasia Partners.
During the day we had speeches from Board Members of the Cathay Association headed by the Chairperson Carrie Waley and Co-Chairman Clinton Leeks OBE. As the founder of Cathay Association and Mandarin Consulting, Carrie thanked the attendees for their participation and drew on her personal experience to encourage everyone to face bravely the challenges of a new life in another country. She applauded the participants for having left home and for seeking a life of independence. With this independence will come great maturity, surely securing their success in British society. Mandarin Consulting and the Cathay Association exist in order to help Chinese students undertake the transition from student life to a professional career smoothly.
The students who attended the Expo, as well as some professionals, wanted to gain even more inside information from these leading companies, seeking to better their professional development. Following the event, students have given very positive feedback and appear to value highly the top level of companies involved and the abundance of information available.