As one of the primary annual traditions of Sias International University, the 11th Women's Symposium was held on May 13 and 14, at the Sias Basketball Arena. The chief guests included the President and Owner of Global Interactions Inc., and Founder of the World Academy for the Future of Women, Jerrie Ueberle; Chief Executive of St. James's Place International (Hong Kong) Limited, Marianne Green; Writer and Lecturer in International Affairs, Werner Salinger; Executive Producer of TheAuthorsShow.com, and Director Media Relations for the World Academy for the Future of Women, Danielle Hampson; Independent Economist and Chairman of the China Corporate Capital Alliance, Du Meng; Curator of the Henan Provincial Children's Library, Cui Ximei; CEO of CBAC, Zhang Jufang; and Associate Professor and Postdoctoral Fellow at Tsinghua University, Yang Liu. Sias was represented by the President, Dr. Chen Sikun; Vice President Liu Shuqin; Assistant Principal Sun Rujian; and other school leaders and members of the university management. Representatives of Chinese and foreign faculty were also present at the ceremony and forums. Vice President Liu Shuqin presided over the opening ceremony.
Sias President, Dr. Chen Sikun, delivered the opening speech during which he introduced the guests. He said that Sias had consistently pursued the fusion of Eastern and Western education for the past 19 years and that the annual Women's Symposium was one of its most distinct traditions. He hoped that the majority of teachers and students would participate in the lectures and forums so that they would broaden their horizons, and increase their knowledge. After this, the Founder of the World Academy for the Future of Women, Jerrie Ueberle, delivered a speech and invited all students and teachers to participate in the forums over the course of the next two days.
At the opening ceremony, the Chief Executive of St. James's Place International (Hong Kong) Limited, Marianne Green, delivered a lecture on the topic of exploration. She said that the mission of the World Academy for the Future of Women was to empower women to explore their passions, set goals, and achieve success. She shared her life experiences and said that understanding one's passion from a variety of perspectives would help in exploring unexpected things. The key to success, she said, was to ensure the independence of choices, along with preparation to meet challenges. Independent Economist and Chairman of the China Corporate Capital Alliance, Du Meng, also delivered a speech and spoke of the prospects of women's innovation and entrepreneurship. He encouraged women to continue to adapt, change, and improve themselves, showing their intelligence, tenacity, kindness, and charm.
Following the Outstanding Community Leadership Awards, there was a choral performance by the Zhengzhou Xiangyun Primary School. The opening ceremony was concluded by the Sias Symphony Orchestra who performed both the Official Sias Song and the World Academy song.
The 11th Women's Symposium was held over the course of 3 days. Nearly 50 experts, scholars, and celebrities from around the world, and from different fields, delivered speeches, lectures, and took part in a wide range of forums. They explored the trends of globalization in the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures. They spoke on the integration of women in society, and the promotion of gender equality. The forums followed the perspectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development goals and tried to analyze and discuss the different strategies and methods of public welfare, so as to improve people's lives around the world by sharing insights into intercultural relations, the empowerment of women, social welfare, and other such goals. There was also a cocktail party at Sias' Chinese Garden, theatrical performances, and a forum for sharing about the unique relationship between mothers and daughters.
On the 14th of May, the closing ceremony of the 11th Women's Symposium was held at the Sias Basketball Arena. Sias Party Secretary, Fei Hexiang, delivered his congratulations to the organizers of the Symposium. He said that at Sias, the importance of growth, diversity, and internationalization was important for female students. He hoped that the Symposium would broaden the students' international vision and help them realize their own potential by giving them the guidance needed to thrive in the era of globalization.
The President of Enactus China, Janet Shanberge, delivered a lecture titled 'No Excuses'. She stressed the importance of attitudes and said that a competent person was one who could work without prejudices with regard to traditional "female roles". The President of 'Lean in China', Chen Yuxin, also delivered a lecture and spoke of the significance of leadership, life goals, and planning. She encouraged those present to dare to innovate.
Finally, the Women's Alumni Association Supervisor, Tao Mengdi, announced the 2017 Jerrie Ueberle Leadership Awards, and the Alumni Scholarship awards list. At the closing ceremony, new members took the oath of the World Academy for the Future of Women, and Jerrie Ueberle delivered the closing speech.
