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苏世民学院   The Schwarzman College of Tsinghua

About some six years ago, The billionaire financier, Steve Schwarzman, decided to donate 100 million US$ to Tsinghua to set up a college to train specially future leaders of the world. Students must be 28 years old  or less and nominated by their government (40% from the US, 30% from China, the another 30% from the rest of the world countries). Admitted students undergo an 11 month graduate program in Global Management with a masters degree at the end. The idea is that for example if Obana and Xi Jing-Ping were college classmates together and formed a friendship, t hey would have a better understanding of each other and the world will be a better place. Similar ideas were embodied in the senior executive programs of the Harvard Business School and the Harvard  Kennedy School of Government . In fact an un-stated goal of the college is make the Schwarzman  Scholars in time more famous and prestigious than the Rhode Scholars of Oxford University.

The construction of the college on Tsinghua campus was completed two years ago and the first class of students was admitted in 2015. The Associated Dean for Academic Affairs,  Dr. Wen-Hao Cheng,  of the college is the brother of our friend in Lexington. Thus, he invited us and gave us a tour of the college.

First of all, the architecture of the college is unique - designed by the famed Yale architect, Bob Sterns. From the outside the college building looks like a five story typical Chinese building of an open court yard surround on four sides by buildings (四 合院). Once inside, you discover that there  are actually seven stories. But because of the open courtyard in the center, you get the feeling that the underground stories are actually above ground and through the open courtyard, you see sky and cloud even in the two undergroud levels. In this four sided building you have student  dorms, offices, class rooms, lounge rooms, dining rooms and cafeterias  - all in the latest style and up-to-date technologically equipped. . I have visited many college campuses  over the world, this college has to take the top spot in furnishing, equipment, and design. To just give one example, in the language lab lecture room, each individual seat with desk can swivel 360 degrees so that students when conversing with each other can speak directly face-to-face. Yet, they can face  the lecturer in the traditional lecture room style when the teacher speaks. in fact, in my opinion, this is the most luxurious campus I have seen. Guess for future world leaders, they are entitled and need to be accustomed to such luxury.

The operations of this Schwarzman college in only two years old. its real effect and influence of course won't be seen for several decades into the future. But I look forward to the date when persons and the media will proudly display their Schwarzman experience in China in their CVs.