On the evening of Tuesday, 18 March 2026, the London Centre of Beijing Normal - Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU) successfully hosted the first “Blue Badges Network” alumni gathering, bringing together alumni from BNBU, Yale University, and the University of Oxford. The theme “Blue Badges” was inspired by a shared feature of the three institutions—the dominant blue color in their university crests. As the initiator of the event, the BNBU London Centre played a central role in its planning, organisation, and alumni outreach, providing an important platform for cross-university exchange.

A particularly notable attendee was Zhang Zhen (张震), a 2021 graduate of the Government and International Relations (GIR) programme (former name of GAD), who is currently pursuing a PhD in History at the University of Edinburgh. Travelling from Vancouver via Toronto, he came directly from the airport to the event with his luggage, and later that same evening took a long-distance train back to Edinburgh. His dedication not only demonstrated a strong commitment to the alumni network but also deeply moved everyone present. Although this was the first edition of the event, it clearly reflected the strong sense of cohesion and initiative among Blue Badges alumni, and with continued support, the network is set to grow further.

On Wednesday, 1 April 2026, alumni from the Globalisation and Development (GAD) programme of BNBU gathered in London for a second alumni event. This gathering was initiated by the Yale Blue Green (YBG) London alumni community, with participants also joining from Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Cambridge, and LSE. Xiao Rui (肖瑞), a 2025 GAD graduate, actively participated in the event and shared his current academic experience studying Anthropology at LSE, receiving appreciation from one of the organisers, Natalie, a Cambridge alumna. Through relaxed and engaging conversations, participants exchanged ideas and further strengthened their connections and shared sense of community.

Alumni association members Zhang Qifan (left, GAD Class of 2023) and Xiao Rui (right, GAD Class of 2025).