The Schwarzman Scholars Program: Focus on China

By The Editors

The $300 million “Schwarzman Scholars at Tsinghua University” program, jointly founded by Tsinghua University in Beijing and Stephen Schwarzman, was launched on April 21 and will emulate the famous Rhodes Scholarship program, the oldest and most celebrated international fellowship in the world.  The launch ceremony was held at Tsinghua University. Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Barack Obama both sent congratulatory letters.

Starting in June 2016, every year for the next 50 years, 200 students from all around the world will receive the scholarship for a one-year master’s program at Tsinghua University in public policy, international relations, economics, business or engineering.  During the scholarship year, Schwarzman scholars will travel around China and will meet Chinese leaders.

Forty-five percent of the scholars will come from the United States, 20 percent from China, and 35 percent from Australia, Canada, Europe, Latin America and the rest of Asia. Africa may be added later.  Together, the scholars are expected to participate in an international network that can bridge differences between China and the West.