On the weekend of March 28 through 30, what is expected to be the largest gathering of alumni in Asia in BU history will converge on Beijing for BU Momentum.

The three-day event combines BU’s fifth Asian Alumni Festival and its fifth Asian Business Forum—plus a celebration of the BU School of Management’s centennial and the first Campaign for Boston University event in East Asia—into a single opportunity for alumni, parents, and friends to connect, and to celebrate the energy, growth, and future of Boston University.

The weekend of cultural excursions, networking events, business panels, and celebrations will be headquartered at the five-star China World Hotel.

In previous years, the alumni festival and business forum were held on alternate years in different cities—most recently Seoul, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, and Taipei. The decision to hold both together in one city this year, with two other major BU events, was made to broaden the event’s appeal and bring as many alumni and friends together from throughout Asia as possible, creating a truly valuable networking opportunity and strengthening ties between Boston University and its Asian community.

An increasing Asian presence at BU

BU Momentum is organized by the Boston University Alumni Association of China, in collaboration with the University’s alumni relations department. BUAAC president Weiqiang Han (GRS’89, GSM’89), managing director of China International Capital Corporation Ltd., sees the event as a natural reflection of the growing size and influence of Boston University’s Asian alumni population, and as an important outreach to Asian students, who currently make up 75 percent of BU’s international student body. “Having BU Momentum in Beijing will not only strengthen the University’s branding in Asia, but it will lure the best talents from those emerging Asia countries,” Han said.

The event will also demonstrate and celebrate how much alumni in Asia contribute to BU—not only financially but also intellectually and culturally. New ideas from “a true global village” enrich the entire BU educational experience, said Han, who is a member of the School of Management’s Asia Dean’s Advisory Board and whose wife, Jie Yang (MET’93), holds a master’s degree in multinational commerce.

BU alumni in Asia are among the best organized in the world and have been operating highly active alumni associations for several years—by country and by region—throughout the continent.

“We know that BU owes a great deal of its increasing world footprint to activities in Asia,” said Scott Nichols, senior vice president for development & alumni relations. “Our alumni there continue to astound us with their energy, their eagerness to stay connected with us and with each other, and their incredibly successful efforts at organizing BU groups and activities. In China alone, BU has more than 900 alumni. These graduates are truly a tremendous creative force. Highlighting their professional accomplishments and hearing how they meet today’s business challenges will not only be gratifying but deeply instructive.”

An address by President Brown will be of special importance during the Momentum weekend, Han said. Brown, he added, will talk about BU’s strategic vision and future plans, including how the University anticipates meeting global challenges and their impact on education.

Nichols also notes Asia’s important presence in BU’s ongoing billion-dollar fundraising campaign. “I think we can safely say that the great majority of fundraising drives mounted by US-based universities are fortunate if just two percent of their support comes from overseas,” said Nichols. “In our case, that support has now exceeded 15.4 percent, with a deeply generous portion of it coming from Asia.”

Four signature events in one weekend

Combining the Asian Alumni Festival, Asian Business Forum, SMG centennial, and the BU campaign gala will give Boston University alumni in Asia a chance to take part in several valuable programs offered over a single weekend; it also allows planners to “tailor the programs to different Asian alumni and their families,” Han said.

In addition to the event’s social gatherings, three excursions—a day tour of Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven; a visit to businesses in Zhong Guan Cun, known as China’s Silicon Valley; and a trip to the Great Wall and the Sacred Way—will give attendees from outside of Beijing a chance to experience some of the area’s cultural highlights. Above all, the weekend will be a rich opportunity for professional networking, the value of which Han called “priceless.”

BU’s Asian Alumni Festival will spotlight the growing accomplishments and influence of BU alumni throughout Asia, through a series of professional presentations, and cultural and social events. The Asian Business Forum assembles leaders from several industries who share their perspectives and strategies for Asian companies as they deal with the challenges of a rapidly expanding world. During both events, attendees will have many opportunities to reunite, renew, and expand their business and personal networks with fellow alumni from all over Asia.

A Momentum calendar snapshot

Friday, March 28: BU Momentum begins with a morning tour of Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven (in southeast urban Beijing), and an afternoon excursion to Zhong Guan Cun, China’s Silicon Valley. A family-friendly welcome dinner will feature special performances by alumni groups from across Asia.

Saturday, March 29: BU President Robert A. Brown will officially open the meeting, with additional addresses from BU alumni leaders. The day will also feature the 100 Years Bold: SMG Centennial Celebration luncheon, to honor a century of leadership and innovation in business education. In the evening, participants will attend a gala campaign dinner celebrating Boston University’s rising momentum and groundbreaking vision for the future. It will feature performing artists from across Asia.

Sunday, March 30: The weekend winds up with a day excursion to Juyongguan Great Wall, the Sacred Way, and Ming tombs.

For tickets and more information about BU Momentum, visit bu.edu/beijing2014.