SoftBank Group Corp. Chairman & CEO Masayoshi Son Announces Support for Schwarzman Scholars from Japan

One Year Master’s Program at Tsinghua University, China

Fully-Funded Scholarship Program

All Curriculum Taught in English

New York and Tokyo, August 24, 2015. Schwarzman Scholars is proud to announce that the generosity of Masayoshi Son, Chairman & CEO of SoftBank Group Corp., will support the newly founded Masa Son Fellows of the Schwarzman Scholars Program for students from Japan. Schwarzman Scholars, founded by Blackstone Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder Stephen A. Schwarzman, is designed to prepare the next generation of leaders for the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century. Based at the prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing, the highly selective, one-year Master’s degree program aims to bring together the brightest minds to explore and understand the economic, political and cultural factors that are influencing the shifting interactions between nations, including China’s emerging role in the world.

When discussing his decision to support Schwarzman Scholars, Son said, “As a person who came from Japan to the U.S. to study as a youth, I can truly attest to the power of education coupled with cultural immersion. I am very excited to be a part of Schwarzman Scholars at Tsinghua University and am sure the program will help foster a new generation of leaders who can make a positive impact across borders through their greater understanding of China.”

Officially launched in October of 2014, Schwarzman Scholars’ recruitment effort is building momentum globally. During the inaugural cycle of campus tours, the global admissions teams has visited more than 300 universities ahead of the application deadline of October 1, 2015. In Japan, recruitment draws on individual universities as well as networks of young leaders to identify top talent in the region. Direct outreach to leading universities in the regions of Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai and Kyushu has been well received. Campus outreach has been supplemented through engagement with young professional networks, including the UN Forum of Japan.

“In order to create a more peaceful and prosperous future, it is crucial that the next generation of leaders forge deep relationships, authentic mutual understanding across cultures, and a dialogue of genuine respect,” said Stephen A. Schwarzman, the program’s founder. “We are pleased to begin the process of recruiting the most exceptional young people, and to provide them with the resources necessary to grow into the leaders that will define their generation and generations to come.”

As part of the program, Scholars will receive exceptional leadership training designed to promote interaction and collaboration. Classes and student life programming have been developed to allow students to interface with academic, business, political and non-profit leaders while also learning from each other. Concepts taught in class and through student life programs will be reinforced with a senior-level mentorship program. Scholars may also put their knowledge into practice during an internship at a major corporation, institution, or organization with the support of on-site career advisory services. These carefully designed programs coupled with career networking events will accelerate students’ paths to success as future global leaders.

With the support of distinguished economist and Schwarzman Scholars Dean David Daokui Li, the program’s curriculum has been crafted by some of the most talented academic leaders from leading global universities, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and Oxford. In addition to a core curriculum, scholars will focus on one of three academic disciplines: public policy, economics and business, or international studies.

With a $400 million endowment, Schwarzman Scholars will be the single largest philanthropic effort ever undertaken in China by largely international donors. The endowment will allow for fully-funded scholarships for all students, including travel costs and a personal stipend. All scholars will study and reside at Schwarzman College, a newly constructed state-of-the-art building at Tsinghua University, designed to encourage close friendships, cross-cultural connections, and intellectual exchange.

This unparalleled opportunity will be extended to 100 students in its first year, growing to 200 students in the future, with 45% of scholars coming from the United States, 20% from China and 35% from the rest of the world. The program is open to students and young professionals between the ages of 18 and 28 years old, regardless of nationality, who are proficient in English and have obtained an undergraduate degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university.

With the application live since April 2015 on schwarzmanscholars.org, the rigorous selection process is underway. In addition to evaluating applicants’ proven intellectual and academic ability, the admissions process is heavily focused on evaluating applicants’ leadership potential, strength of character, ability to anticipate emerging trends and paradigm changes, and capacity to inspire others to collaborate in creating change. Those selected will have demonstrated their potential to not only benefit from, but also contribute to, the Schwarzman Scholars program. Semi-finalists will be invited to in-person regional interviews in November 2015.

Visit schwarzmanscholars.org for frequently asked admissions questions and instruction on how to apply.

Prospective Applicants Please Contact:
info@schwarzmanscholars.org

About Schwarzman Scholars:
Schwarzman Scholars was inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship, which was founded in 1902 to promote international understanding and peace, and is designed to meet the challenges of the 21st century and beyond. Blackstone Co-Founder Stephen A. Schwarzman personally contributed $100 million to the program and is leading a fundraising campaign to raise an additional $300 million from private sources to endow the program in perpetuity. The endowment will support 200 scholars annually from the U.S., China and around the world for a one-year Master’s Degree program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, one of China’s most prestigious universities and an indispensable base for the country’s scientific and technological research. Scholars chosen for this highly selective program will live in Beijing for a year of study and cultural immersion, attending lectures, traveling, and developing a better understanding of China. Applications opened in Spring 2015, with the first class of students in residence by the summer of 2016. Learn more at www.schwarzmanscholars.org.

Media Contact:
Christine Anderson
(o) +1 646-313-6500
(m) +1 917-697-8795
pressroom@schwarzmanscholars.org