Haaga-Helia Alumni Gather in Beijing

The Finnish Embassy in Beijing hosted a Finnish Higher Education Alumni Gathering at the Ambassador's Residence, bringing together alumni from several Finnish universities and universities of applied sciences on 17 March 2026. The event provided an opportunity for alumni and partners to reconnect, exchange experiences, and strengthen links between Finland and China in education, business, and innovation.

During the event, experts from the Finnish Embassy shared insights on Finland-China cooperation across various sectors, particularly in the fields of economy, culture, and education. A highlight was the sharing on Moomin as a cultural bridge, offering an inspiring perspective on how Finnish culture resonates in China. The programme also featured a panel discussion, where alumni from various backgrounds shared their career journeys and explored possibilities for professional development. It also generated thought-provoking ideas on strengthening Sino-Finnish exchanges and emerging topics such as how AI affects career development. 

Jouni Ahonen, Vice President, and Yan Dong, Specialist in Education Export, represented Haaga-Helia at the event. Leyan Zhang, one of our alumni from Haaga-Helia’s joint degree programme in Aviation Business with Chongqing University of Science and Technology, also participated in the “This is Finland” video campaign, sharing his learning experience.

– All in all, the event had a warm and welcoming atmosphere and a strong sense of community. The participants were united by their love for Finland and Finnish higher education. The alumni are proud of their education and their alma mater, Jouni Ahonen described the atmosphere.

The gathering served as a valuable platform to reinforce the Finnish higher education alumni community in China and to highlight the impact of Finnish education internationally. It also helped foster new connections between alumni, universities, and organizations interested in developing collaboration between the two countries.

We are grateful to the Finnish Embassy in China and also to University of Oulu, Aalto University, University of Helsinki, JAMK University of Applied Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences - SAMK, Hanken School of Economics, LUT University and University of Vaasa for their cooperation in organising this joint alumni event together with us.