Emma Wang

Alumni

International Studies with Education

Study level:Postgraduate
Home country:China

Emma works as the Charity Director at Heng Yuan Xiang (Group) Co., a well-known and highly respected company based in Shanghai, China.

Emma Wang smiling in front of a black background

Meet Emma from Heng Yuan Xiang | Built in Birmingham | University of Birmingham

Transcript

My name is Emma Wang.
I was graduated from University of Birmingham in 2018, with a Master's Degree in International Studies in Education.

When I finished my study, I turned back to China and working for a local company named Heng Yuan Xiang in Shanghai, because I've been serving for this company for more than 17 years now, and when I back to China, I'm working as Charity Director of that company, and our company enjoys a high prestigious reputation in China.

I'm in charge of the charity department. I initiate a lot of charity activities.
We are the Chinese Olympic Committee sponsor. We sponsor three times of Olympic Games, in 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London and 2022 in Beijing Winter Olympics.
We customised the uniforms for the Chinese committee athletes and also provided the refugee groups uniforms.

The reason I chose the studies in Birmingham, the first one is University of Birmingham enjoys a high prestigious reputation in the world, and the second one reason is the major I choose, the education, because it ranks third in the UK and the second in Europe.
And as a last reason is that because of the location, it's very near to London, and everything is very convenient.

I think the faculty gave me a lot of help, not only in my curricular, they also provide us a lot of opportunity to visit the kindergarden, boys school, and vocational school and give us a lot of opportunity to see how the education and how they work in the UK.

I really recommend the curriculars our Education School provided for us, it’s not only focussed in education area, but also enlarges my horizon in citizenship and the education iniquity and girls education in developing countries.
That gave me a deep thinking about our charity work in China, and when I come back, I can use that latest research and the latest information in my real work and it helped me to co-operate well, and talk well with the government and the non-governmental organisations.

For myself, I really enjoy my life in Birmingham and I also recommend students if you wanted to choose study in the UK, Birmingham is a good place and it's a location very close to the city centre and we have a high reputation in the world and we have a very good academic environment.

You can find your confidence in that very amazing, diverse environment and the diverse culture.

My Graduate Story

My name is Emma Wang, and I completed an MA in International Studies in Education at the University of Birmingham in 2018. I am currently the Charity Director at Heng Yuan Xiang (Group) Co., a well-known and highly respected company based in Shanghai, China, where I have worked for over 17 years.

In my role, I lead the company’s charitable activities, collaborating with government and non-governmental organisations to implement meaningful programmes. Our company is a proud sponsor of the Chinese Olympic Committee and has supported athletes in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2012 London Olympics, and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. We not only custom-designed uniforms for athletes but also extended our support to refugee groups.

A Day in My Life

My day-to-day work involves initiating and managing charity projects, maintaining partnerships with stakeholders, and ensuring that our activities contribute positively to society. I work closely with teams to align our philanthropic efforts with the company's values and national priorities. Collaborating with both government and non-profit sectors is a key part of my work.

My Birmingham Experience

I chose to study at the University of Birmingham for several reasons: its strong global reputation, the high ranking of the School of Education—third in the UK and second in Europe—and its convenient location near London.

The faculty were incredibly supportive, both in the classroom and beyond. One of the most impactful aspects of the course was the placement opportunities, which allowed us to visit a variety of educational settings including kindergartens, boys’ schools, and vocational institutions. These experiences helped me understand the UK’s education system and inspired new ways to approach education equity in my work back in China.

The curriculum extended beyond traditional educational theory, broadening my horizons with subjects like citizenship, girls' education in developing countries, and education inequality. These topics had a lasting influence on my thinking and allowed me to integrate global best practices into the charity programmes I now oversee.

Birmingham’s Impact

The academic knowledge and practical experiences I gained at Birmingham equipped me to make informed, impactful decisions in my current role. I’ve been able to incorporate up-to-date research into my charity initiatives and engage more effectively with both government and NGO partners.

Advice for Students

I highly recommend the University of Birmingham for its excellent academic environment and international reputation. If you are considering studying in the UK, Birmingham offers a diverse and inclusive atmosphere that helps build confidence and broadens your worldview. You’ll find inspiration not only in the classroom, but also in the vibrant student life and cultural diversity the city offers.

My Achievements

One of my proudest achievements is applying what I learned at Birmingham to real-world challenges. The focus on equity in education and global perspectives directly influenced the design and implementation of our charity work in China. Supporting Olympic athletes and refugee groups are just a few examples of how our work has national and international reach.