A 28-member team, formed by a group of alumni and students of the HKUST EMBA for Chinese Executives (HKUST EMBA) Program, participated in the 10th Inter-Business School Gobi Challenge (‘Gobi Challenge’) on 22-25 May 2015. They competed with some 2,000 EMBA students from 43 business schools from China and overseas in a grueling 112km expedition across the Gobi Desert. The race allows participants to revisit the “Journey to the West” by Xuanzang, a legendary monk in the Tang Dynasty, where they can relive the ingredients for success: a common goal, strong team spirit, endurance, among others.
Endurance is Key
A pre-event training session at Dunhuang, the starting point of the Gobi Challenge, paid off as the team achieved a satisfactory ranking of No.19 overall. They also notched three honors, including the “Best Organization Award”, the “Best Leadership Award”, and the “Shackleton Award” which recognizes team effort in promoting safety awareness.
The team has many unforgettable experiences to share too. A 2013 graduate Zhang Ji Hua hurt his foot on the first day and could have quit except for the unfailing support and encouragement from his former classmate Zhang Wen Yu. ‘One can walk fast alone, but can only walk farther with a team.’ Zhang was able to continue and finished the expedition.
Another team member Joseph Lau, a 2006 graduate, almost suffered from heat stroke on the first day. Although team leader Leo Yang, a 2011 graduate, advised him to withdraw, Joseph insisted on continuing and gradually recovered after listening to some practical tips from teammates. The full team finally finished the whole trek.
Video to Commemorate the Event
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Inter-Business School Gobi Challenge, the organizer called on all participating schools to submit a short video about the Gobi Challenge. The video contributed by the HKUST team (click here to watch) has been well-received, revealing the harsh conditions of the Gobi Desert.
The Gobi Challenge aims at promoting cultural exchange among local and international business schools, and encouraging participants to bring their potential to full play and excel. The HKUST Business School was the first business school in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan to take part in 2009. This year marked the sixth time of our participation.
Professor Xu Yan, Associate Dean (HKUST EMBA & Executive Programs) of the HKUST Business School, has been a long-standing supporter of the event. He was on hand in Gobi to cheer for the team, reminding them about the importance of safety.
Professor Xu once had said: there are two kinds of people in the world - those who have finished an EMBA program and those who have not. There are also two types of EMBA program - one that its students have trekked through Gobi and one that its students have not. His remarks have been much quoted among the previous HKUST EMBA walkers, and are a good reason for pride among the 28 new walkers this year.