Schwarzman Scholars Celebrates the 10th Anniversary of Schwarzman College Groundbreaking
NEW YORK, NY, USA and BEIJING, CHINA October 24, 2023 — Today, Schwarzman Scholars celebrates the 10th anniversary of the groundbreaking of Schwarzman College in Beijing, China. A world-class academic building developed on the campus of Tsinghua University, Schwarzman College is home to the Schwarzman Scholars program, one of the globe’s most prestigious fellowship programs.
Earlier this year, Schwarzman Scholars also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the announcement of the program. On April 21, 2013, American philanthropist Stephen A. Schwarzman announced a $100 million personal gift and an accompanying fundraising campaign to build and endow Schwarzman Scholars as a highly selective international scholarship program at Tsinghua University. His vision was, and remains, a bold and vital undertaking: to create a network of future global leaders who will increase international collaboration and cooperation.
“It’s hard to believe that it has already been ten years since we announced the program at the Great Hall of the People with endorsements from both President Xi and President Obama. This is a monumental anniversary for the program and for the College.” says Schwarzman. “We should all be proud of how far we’ve come. But it is still only the beginning of a larger global endeavor; our work is really only getting started and the possibilities are beyond what we can imagine today.”
At the College, Scholars undertake a curriculum focused on the pillars of Global Affairs, China, and Leadership, and complete a master’s degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University. The program is designed to help Scholars understand China and its engagement with the world; prepare to meet current and future challenges in global affairs; and become informed, empathetic, and culturally attuned leaders. An ideal home and partner for the program, Tsinghua University is a world-class academic institution renowned for producing leaders of impact. Tsinghua is currently ranked as the top university in Asia and the 12th best university in the world by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024.
Since it launched, over 900 alumni from 88 countries have graduated from the program. Alumni are now making a significant impact in communities all over the world and serving in leadership positions in a variety of fields including business, government, law, energy, sustainability, art, music, healthcare, technology, and more.
“We have alumni occupying high-level positions in government, NGOs, and Fortune 500 companies. We have alumni who are working in law to help civilians in conflict zones and others who lead clean energy companies. One group of alumni are working together in health tech to respond to health crises.” says Schwarzman. “They are taking the torch as the next generation of global leaders, shaping our world with purpose, with integrity, and with international collaboration.”
Earlier this month, Schwarzman Scholars held an anniversary celebration at Schwarzman College to honor the program’s first ten years of existence. The event was attended by Founding Trustee Stephen A. Schwarzman, Tsinghua President Wang Xiqin, Tsinghua Vice Presidents Wang Hongwei and Yang Bin, Schwarzman Scholars Chief Executive Officer Amy Stursberg, and Dean of Schwarzman College Xue Lan. Altogether, more than 250 guests were in attendance, including esteemed donors, faculty, and alumni.
Since its inception, over $560 million has been raised for Schwarzman Scholars. The program has received support from over 100 distinguished donors, including corporations, individuals, and foundations from every corner of the globe.
Schwarzman College officially opened in 2015 for the inaugural class of Schwarzman Scholars and is currently hosting its eighth cohort. Designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, Schwarzman College is a beautiful academic and residential facility that unifies Eastern and Western design principles, symbolic of the program’s mission to bridge cultural divides. One of the most advanced higher-education facilities in the world, it houses student residences, classrooms, the Dalio Auditorium, a world-class library, a dining hall, a gym, common areas, and more. Upon completion, it was one of the first academic buildings in China to be awarded LEED Gold certification and heralded as one of the best new university buildings in the world by Architectural Digest.
The eighth cohort of Schwarzman Scholars will graduate in 2024. For more information, please visit www.schwarzmanscholars.org.