May 4, 2025 | Chengdu—In a powerful display of endurance, strategy, and unity, a 30-member team from the School of Economics and Management (SEM) at Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU) has once again claimed the top honor at the 14th Asia-Pacific Business School Desert Adventure. Held from May 2 to 4, 2025, in the Tengger Desert, the grueling three-day event brought together over 4,000 participants from more than 110 business schools across the region.

Led by Ms. Song Jie, staff member of the Professional Degree Education Centre, the SEM team secured the prestigious "Golden Sand Gull" Award—the competition’s highest accolade—for the fifth consecutive year, underscoring the school’s sustained excellence in leadership, resilience, and team collaboration under extreme conditions.  Additionally, SEM’s Super A mixed team achieved an impressive fifth-place finish, further highlighting the depth of talent and preparation within the program.

Forged in the Desert, Bound for Victory

The Tengger Desert presented relentless challenges, including sudden sandstorms, scorching daytime temperatures, and unexpected heavy rains. Despite these adversities, the SEM contingent demonstrated unwavering determination, trekking across vast dunes with full gear while refining navigation strategies each evening. Their performance embodied SWJTU’s motto: “Striving Unceasingly for Self-Improvement”—a spirit that guided them to victory.

Strategic Excellence: SWJTU Wisdom in the Desert

The “Golden Sand Gull” Award recognizes not only physical endurance but also stamina but also meticulous planning, logistical coordination, and mutual support. In the months leading up to the event, the team underwent intensive training across multiple terrains—including campus grounds, including campus facilities, Jincheng Lake, Longquan Mountain, and Qinglong Lake—culminating in final desert simulation drills to ensure peak readiness.

A Triumphant Return: A Victory for All of SWJTUers

This year’s team reflected a diverse cross-section of the SEM community, comprising MBA, EMBA, and MEM candidates, supported by dedicated alumni entrepreneurs and committed faculty. Among them was a post-90s engineer who continued despite injury, and numerous behind-the-scenes contributors who ensured seamless logistics—a testament to collective effort and institutional pride.

As the golden trophy gleams against the desert horizon, it also shines as a beacon for future generations of SWJTU students—inspiring them to explore uncharted territories, embrace challenges, and lead boldly on new paths of innovation and excellence.

Congratulations to every member of SEM team:

· Team Leaders: Ming Xingcai, Ren Yun

· Super A Team: Tian Zhengyi

· A Team: Cheng Zhizhou, He Huiyuan, Luo Yi, Liu Lin, Gao Zhiyong, He Fang, Chen Jingxuan, Luo Jun, Ji Jianhui, Wang Ruchao, Zhao Yaxi, Si Xiaohua

· B Team: Liu Kai, Chen Qian, Long Xianming, Li Yaping, Ming Xingcai, Ren Yun, Wang Yanqun

· C Team: Song Jie, Chen Wenjie, Xu Hanlin, Tian Juan, Zhang Jianmin, Wan Ping, Wang Lina, Tao Maoqing, Liu Yanru, Jiang Wenzhu