IMUSE REVIEW 2013
ICE BREAKERS
IMUSE 2013 kicked off with some ice breakers at Tsinghua University to help the delegates get to know each other. Afterward, the IMUSE organizing committee outlined the jam-packed schedule of events for the Beijing session.
SURVIVAL ISLAND
Delegates spent two days at a training center for outdoors surviving skills in suburban Beijing. They practiced walking through a single-plunk bridge and crossing the “forest” at midnight, then held a campfire party and with several group games and contests.
LECTURE
Ruan Zongze, Vice President of the China Institute, delivered a speech named about the future of Sino-US relations. With China rapidly advancing on the international scene, he emphasized the importance of communication in international relations and encouraged students to deepen their understanding of each other.
Afterward, Zheng Peiming, founder of the Shanghai Rongzheng Investing and Consulting Company, spoke about his experiences in starting his own company. He compared the cultural and economic environments in China and the U.S. and how they affect businesses.
MOVIES & DISCUSSION
Delegates watched a pair of videos that represented views on the “American dream” and the “Chinese dream.” The first was Richard Wilkinson’s TED talk, “How Economic Inequalities Harms Societies.” The second was a film shot by Tsinghua students about a blanket craftsman in Tibet. Delegates discussed the concepts of equality, development, and the protection of art and cultural heritage.
HEJUN CONSULTING
Every year, IMUSE visits the Hejun Consulting. Activities included a cultural workshop on calligraphy and painting, as well as a professional workshop involving consulting competition. In the competition, delegates split into teams to develop strategies for given businesses. Later, a panel of senior-level Hejun consultants gave feedback and awarded a prize to the winning team.
MEDITATION
Delegates participated in a meditation session led by an expert, and complete with relaxing music. As meditation is a way to better understand oneself, the process for involved a bit of soul-searching: delegates were asked to ponder what they were like as a child, what they are like at present, and they hope to be in the future.
OPENING CEREMONY
Li Shen of Peking University delivered the welcome address on behalf of IMUSE 2013 committee. Then, several conference delegates got on stage to share their stories. The ceremony concluded with delegates coming together to write their hopes for IMUSE 2013 on a postcard.
TEA DRINKING
Tea plays an important role in Chinese culture. In this ceremony, delegates were trained in the fine art of making Puer Tea. Led by a hostess in traditional Chinese dress, delegates followed step-by-step instructions for brewing and serving, tasting the beauty of ancient Chinese culture.
ACADEMIC LECTURE
Bai Yanqing, Tsinghua University guest professor, shared his own stories of America, pondering the essence of the American dream and discussing hopes for the Chinese dream from the point of view of Chinese scholars.
INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
Delegates visited a picturesque bookstore owned by Zheng Yu and Mr. Lv. The owners spoke of their dream to provide an environment for readers, though that dream is being threatened by larger firms and e-Books. Touched by the idealism of this dream, delegates analyzed and discussed the situation and proposed some possible suggestions for improvement.
HONG KONG TOUR
Even the ten-hour train ride from Beijing to Shenzhen didn’t faze the IMUSE attendees, who chatted and played like family members the whole time. After arriving in Hong Kong, delegates took a tour of K11, a distinctive “art mall” that integrates art exhibits with retail stores.
They then made their way to a slum called Sham Shui Po, an area that starkly contrasts with the rest of the metropolis that is Hong Kong. The residents of Sham Shui Po are faced with many difficulties associated with poverty, such as crowding, lack of living space, poorly-constructed homes, and lack of sanitation. Delegates were so deeply shocked when they visited SoCO, a local charity, where they raised questions and suggestions on public welfare, the wealth gap, and social mobility.
CLOSING CEREMONY
The ceremony begins launched with the presentation of each groups’ projects in the business planning workshop. Afterward, each delegate shared their favorite stories and takeaways from IMUSE 2013 and signed their names on huge goodbye card. Although the closing ceremony marked the end of the IMUSE 2013 Beijing Session, was not the end of friendships built there.
