The Annual Women’s Symposium began in 2007 to introduce Sias women students to women leaders. The first Symposium was attended by 1400 women students. This year’s Symposium was attended by 10,000 women and men students.

The purpose of the Symposium is to inspire university women to discover the importance of leadership and to encourage them to see themselves as women who can contribute to their communities and can make a meaning contribution through their work.

The Annual Symposium brings forth new possibilities for young women and men to consider and choose a future for themselves that will influence and promote achieving gender equality, social justice, and human dignity to underserved populations in their communities, countries, and around the world.

Participants, both men and women, attend the Symposium from universities from many parts of China. Professionals from corporations, businesses, government, the private sector, ex-pats and organizations come to this 3 day event each May. They are housed on Sias campus so they can experience college life, see the World Academy in action, attend a Meet and Great reception, Welcoming Banquet, musical performance, and the Honoring Mother’s Reception. Visits to local villages and to the Zen Musical Performance at Shaolin Temple are optional events they can choose.

The number of participants continues to grow as well as the cultural differences of participants. In recent years participants included students from 46 other universities and presenters from 8 countries (Australia, Bangladesh, Italy, Malaysia, Nepal, Spain, Singapore, USA, as well as Chinese speakers). This wider diversity promotes global engagement and enhances global citizenship.