Tsinghua University celebrated its centennial anniversary on April 23-24. Meanwhile, the Department of Economics, the predecessor of SEM, also commemorated its 85th anniversary. During the two days, nearly 4,000 Tsinghua SEM alumni across the world returned to the School; 15 academic and alumni reunion events took place in honor of Tsinghua University’s 100th anniversary.

In the lobby of Tsinghua SEM Shunde Building, a huge backdrop reading “Welcome Home” with over 400 alumni photos presents a simple review of the School’s history. Alumni coming from all over the world looked for familiar faces on the backdrop, marveled at great achievements of SEM and took photos in front of it. A picture of the backdrop taken by a reporter from China News Service was chosen as the only photo in the April 24 headline news of Sina and Sohu, China’s top two Internet portals.

Alumni taking photo in front of the "Welcome Home" backdrop

Many alumni from the Department of Economics, including senior alumni who graduated in 1947, 1948 and 1949, were invited to attend Tsinghua University Department of Economics 85th Anniversary Celebration Ceremony and to listen to Nobel Prize winner Eric Maskin’s speech in the inaugural Chen Daisun Memorial Lecture in Economics. Deans of Departments of Economics from over ten universities in China also presented at the ceremony.

On April 23, an alumni forum was hosted by alumni of 1986-1991 with the theme of “Initiating the 12th Five-Year Plan, New Growth Driven by Investment.” With a distinctive mix of industrial knowledge and experiences, six high-profile alumni gave engaging presentations on functions of capital market, investment focuses, innovation of internet enterprises utilizing capital, values of human resources management in the new 12th Five-Year Plan. Nearly 300 alumni and current students attended the forum.

Reunion classes of 1991-1996 hosted a symposium themed “Inspiring the Path Ahead” to have free discussions with current students and young alumni on April 23. 18 alumni from various industries openly shared their life experiences and reflections on career development with nearly 100 fellow students and provided valuable suggestions for them.

Moreover, reunion classes of 1991-1996 also hosted and sponsored Tsinghua SEM Alumni Reunion Gala Dinner at Royal King Hotel Beijing on April 23. Around 450 alumni together with members of the Dean’s Council of SEM and more than 30 faculty members attended the event. The dinner began with Dean QIAN Yingyi’s warm opening address, followed by a video featuring ZHU Rongji, Founding Dean of Tsinghua SEM, former Premier of the State Council, returning to SEM the day before. Representatives from different reunion classes gave heartfelt speeches and many classes also presented spectacular shows during the dinner.  

An EMBA and Executive Education Alumni Forum, an MBA Alumni Cocktail Reception and an FMBA Alumni Cocktail Reception were also successfully held on April 23. Over 20 classes of different programs and different years organized reunion symposiums and other get-together activities at SEM on April 23-24.

The two-day celebration of various SEM events in honor of Tsinghua 100th anniversary turned out to be a huge success. SEM alumni network was strengthened and alumni’s bonds with Tsinghua SEM reinforced. (Source: SEM Alumni Services Office)