This weekend, Schwarzman Scholars welcomed guests from around the world to celebrate the program’s official opening. Over two days at the newly completed Schwarzman College, leaders from business, politics and academia discussed the future of international leadership, and welcomed the inaugural class of one of the most selective post graduate programs in the world.
At the event, the program announced that it has raised a record $435 million, making it the single largest internationally-funded philanthropic effort in China’s history. The program also unveiled a new partnership with the Oxford University-based Rhodes Trust to co-develop a next generation leadership experience.
You can see more images from the weekend here.
The event was the culmination of a three-year effort that has received global recognition and support. Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama both re-affirmed their support for the program in statements delivered at the event. To watch the full event, click here.
Many dignitaries attended as well, including Madame Liu Yandong, Vice Premier of China, Max Baucus, the United States Ambassador to China, and Kevin Rudd, former Prime Minister of Australia. Additional messages of support were delivered by 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.
To watch select messages and more, click here.
During his remarks, Steve Schwarzman reflected on the origins of the program and acknowledged the supporters who had helped turn an idea into the single largest philanthropic effort in China’s history. He also praised the inaugural class of Scholars and reaffirmed his belief in the importance of greater international understanding. You can read his full remarks here.
The event also gave guests the opportunity to tour the newly opened Schwarzman College, one of the most advanced academic facilities in the world. You can see more images of Schwarzman College here. There is also now a virtual tour to explore the campus from your desktop or mobile device.
Schwarzman Scholars also held two panels on the future of higher education and global leadership in the 21st century. We were honored to host the presidents of Yale, Cambridge, Tsinghua and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, as well as lead a conversation between Dr. John Hood of Rhode Trust and Steve Schwarzman.
You can watch both panels below.
To read more about the event, see below:
- Financial Times: Schwarzman Scholarship aims to help Asia avoid a ‘Thucydides’ trap’
- Reuters: Blackstone’s Schwarzman launches ambitious scholars program in China
- Wall Street Journal: Blackstone’s Schwarzman Invests in Elite Education in China
- South China Morning Post: World leaders send congratulations as Tsinghua University welcomes first cohort of Schwarzman Scholars
- CCTV: 习近平 奥巴马向清华苏世民书院开学典礼致贺信 / President Xi and President Obama send letter to congratulate the convocation of the Schwarzman Scholars Program
- BBC China: 美國巨富的中國獎學金項目在清華大學啟動 / U.S. tycoon sets scholarship program in China, which marks official start in Tsinghua University