The lessons that last and last(2)

Rivalries ride high

While reuniting former students, alumni clubs allow rivalry between members, particularly in the case of clubs which cover different universities.

Morris said that it was not uncommon for Oxford and Cambridge to form alumni clubs together. In China there are another two in Beijing and Hong Kong, though Oxonians and Cantabrigians will almost always disagree about which university is superior.

Despite the long and fierce rivalry between the two universities, for Morris, Oxford and Cambridge are more like siblings that occasionally quarrel. "Actually Oxford and Cambridge graduates kind of see themselves as coming out of the same mold ultimately," he said. "While there is rivalry there, we are competing with a kind of mutual understanding to improve each other."

Morris, who received his undergraduate degree from Oxford and his postgraduate degree from Cambridge, said he saw the same culture of "relentless, unyielding pursuit of excellence in all that you do" at both universities. He said the biggest lesson he learned after four years at Oxford and another year at Cambridge was how to survive and thrive in a highly competitive environment.

"The motto of Oxford is Dominus illuminatiom mea, or 'The Lord is my light.' In other words, though we as humans are imperfect, we can take some of the 'perfect' from God to be our inspiration and try to be as good as we possibly can in all that we do," he said. He recalled how one of his former teachers, a tough lady, "threatened" having him transferred to a lesser university when he once handed in some poor translations.

Working to an extremely tight schedule, Morris had to write two 4,000-word essays a week and produce 24 translations from ancient Greek to English every term while he was studying classical Greek and Latin at Oxford. Looking back on his old school days, Morris felt it was a necessary trial which helped him gain a sound academic intellect and taught him how to balance a heavy workload and a social life.

Smith has studied at four different universities and said it was hard to tell which of the four he had the strongest attachment to. He spent four years at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, and then at the Beijing International Studies University, Melbourne University and participated in a joint program between Nanjing University and Johns Hopkins University in the US. "Perhaps it is the last that I share the most ties with, but I have benefited greatly from graduating from all four universities," he said.

"Part of the reason I am running this association is because I have seen so many personal benefits from it," Smith said. He has met people who have been tremendously helpful to his career, as well as people who have become close friends.

A sense of belonging

Even for those who have left their old school many years before, a sense of belonging and attachment is always there. And no matter how far along the road of life one travels, old school ties will always bring former students together. "Whenever you know that somebody is from the same university, you feel this instant sense of camaraderie and there's always this spontaneous intimacy between you," said Kevin Lam, an active member and the main organizer of the University of Toronto's alumni club in Shanghai.

Lam, who was born in Hong Kong, migrated to Canada when he was 17. He spent four years at the University of Toronto, studying computer science and economics. Based in Shanghai since 2005, Lam said he has made several friends and business acquaintances at club events. "I am in logistics and people sometimes consult me when they have questions about foreign trade. After we become friends, I sometimes get orders for my company from the people I first met at the club," he said.

Morris said that he had also personally gained a lot from club ties. He said the Oxbridge Club boasts a diverse membership from elite business leaders to prominent lawyers, from dedicated teachers to rags-to-riches entrepreneurs.

"I've been very fortunate to have managed to invite a number of them to come to my school and talk to our students about their profession and career," said Morris, the vice principal at the Shanghai United International School.

It's not all about business networking, it's also about sharing knowledge about Shanghai and about China, Morris said. He said that he has met members who grew up in Shanghai and expats who are married to local people, and their individual stories provide fascinating insights into the development and transformation of the city over the years. Talking to these people, one could always get useful everyday tips about life in the city.

The clever connections

As an important economic and cultural hub on the Chinese mainland, Shanghai is also a significant chapter for elite foreign universities trying to connect its graduates working and living here. The Global Times talked to three of the most active alumni clubs in Shanghai.

The Shanghai Oxford and Cambridge Society

Despite their historic rivalry, Oxford and Cambridge share a joint alumni club in Shanghai. Founded almost a decade ago, the Shanghai Oxford and Cambridge Society has about 500 members in Shanghai and neighboring cities.

Two of the oldest and most renowned universities in the UK, Oxford and Cambridge define the English pursuit of excellence. Together the two distinguished institutions have produced 41 British prime ministers. Notable Oxonians include writer J. R. R. Tolkien, media guru Rupert Murdoch and actor Hugh Grant, while Cambridge boasts Charles Darwin, John Keynes, E. M. Foster and the great Sinologist and historian Joseph Needham.

In Shanghai, Oxford and Cambridge alumni meet on the third Thursday of every month at Cottons on Anting Road. E-mail info@camoxsh.org for membership. Check www.camoxsh.org for more information.

The Australia China Alumni Association

In partnership with 27 Australian universities, the Australia China Alumni Association (ACAA) is open to all Australian university alumni based in China. With more than 6,000 members across the country including around 2,500 in the Yangtze River Delta area, the ACAA is Australia's biggest overseas alumni network.

The ACAA has connected a sizeable number of graduates from Australian universities who are now prominent lawyers, doctors, diplomats, academics and successful entrepreneurs. As well as supporting alumni through social networking, the ACAA also provides a platform where members can seek professional guidance and exchange expertise. Check www.austchinaalumni.org for more information.

The University of Toronto Alumni Club

Often ranked as the leading university in Canada and constantly one of the top 30 worldwide, the University of Toronto is guaranteed an upfront seat in the world's best university league tables.

As well as two governors-general and four prime ministers, the University of Toronto has also been responsible for 10 Nobel Prize winners. Among its graduates can be found physician Norman Bethune, business leader Jeffrey Skoll and journalist Malcolm Gladwell.

With over 200 members in Shanghai and other cities in the Yangtze River Delta, the Shanghai branch of the University of Toronto alumni club has witnessed a steady growth in membership as it hosts a variety of events as well as fostering stronger ties between members. Check http://alumni.utoronto.ca/ for more information.