Schwarzman Scholars marks official start

The convocation ceremony of Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University was held on September 10th for the first cohort of 110 Schwarzman Scholars hailing from all corners of the world. Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama both sent congratulatory letters to the convocation ceremony. Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong gave a speech at the ceremony.

Inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship, Schwarzman Scholars is designed to educate future world leaders about China and to prepare them to confront the most difficult challenges of the coming century. The scholars will be in Beijing for a year of study and cultural immersion, with the aim to create impacts academics, business and public policy.

Congratulatory messages were sent from other distinguished leaders around the world such as First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, former United States President George W. Bush, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic.

"A win-win relationship of mutual respect and understanding between China and the West is vital to continued global peace and prosperity. These scholars, and those who follow will play an important role in fostering friendship, cooperation, and collaboration in our increasingly interconnected and constantly shrinking world,” said Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman and CEO of Blackstone, in his remarks delivered at convocation ceremony.

“The Schwarzman College’s mission is to cultivate future leaders with a global vision and a commitment to advancing human civilization. I encourage the Schwarzman scholars to channel their energies into building a virtuous character, laying the foundation for a prosperous life, and becoming veritable members of Tsinghua University,” said Tsinghua President Qiu Yong.

The convocation marks the opening of Schwarzman College, the program’s dedicated state-of-the-art academic and residential building, which was designed by world-renowned architect Robert A. M. Stern and is one of the most advanced higher-education facilities in the world.