108 graduates from the Tsinghua International MBA (IMBA) Program Class of 2010 gathered on July 20, 2010, for the official IMBA Commencement Ceremony. The Tsinghua International MBA Program, a partnership between the Tsinghua School of Economics and Management (SEM) and the MIT Sloan School of Management, has come a long way since the first batch of IMBAs at Tsinghua SEM graduated in 1999. The ceremony was graced by Professor QIAN Yingyi, Dean of Tsinghua SEM, and Professor WANG Jiang from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Families and friends of the graduating students also joined in the celebration. 

As Ms. Pearl MAO Donghui, Director of Tsinghua International MBA Program, introduced, amongst the graduates this year are 43 international students from 11 different countries. The students’ diversity in backgrounds and experience have added important elements to a program which cultivates managerial talents who are ready to take on challenges in China and the world. 

The increasing importance of developing China-related knowledge and skills in today’s and tomorrow’s global economy was not lost on the students. Guest speaker, Mr. Jack PERKOWSKI, Founder and Managing Partner of JFP Holdings, Ltd, reminded students that China has seen amazing development over the past thirty years. He urged the graduates to remain flexible, open, and to keep on learning after passing out of the school gates. Students were also inspired by alumni who have gone on to achieve career success. Mr. Max JOHNSON, International MBA Student of Class of 2009, currently a Business Development Manager at China/CIS, Wogen Metal Commercial (Shanghai) Ltd Beijing Branch, related the skills he acquired at Tsinghua SEM and affirmed the importance of the IMBA program in his career development.

On behalf of the graduating class, Mr. Marshall ROSLYN, International MBA Student of Class of 2010, thanked the school, faculty and teachers for their strong support and guidance throughout the course. He reflected upon the fact that the year of 2010 was in between two momentous occasions – the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, and the 100th anniversary of Tsinghua University. And while the graduating students would each go on to face different challenges in their new careers, the IMBA and Tsinghua experience would continue to be an important anchor in their professional and personal lives.

The ceremony proceeded onto the conferment of certificates, with MIT’s Professor WANG Jiang and Professor GAO Jian, Assistant Dean of Tsinghua SEM handing out the MIT Sloan certificates and Tsinghua degrees, respectively. In closing the event, Professor GAO Xudong, Director of Tsinghua MBA Programs, encouraged students to continue to value and live out core principles of integrity and trust, in becoming future effective business and society leaders.  The completion of the graduation ceremony marks the successful passing of the IMBA Class of 2010 through the gates of Tsinghua University and MIT, and the graduates now embark on their new career journeys.