On the afternoon of December 12, 2024, the inaugural "International Students' Afternoon Tea with the Dean" was held at Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management (Tsinghua SEM). In his opening remarks, Dean Bai Chong-En emphasized the importance of listening to the voices of students from different backgrounds and considering the school's affairs from multiple perspectives. He encouraged students to ask questions directly related to their academic experiences.

A group photo of the event.

The event brought together Dean Bai Chong-En, Associate Dean He Ping, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee Liu Qing, Assistant Dean Zhang Chen, and Assistant Dean Chi Wei, alongside 18 faculty and staff, for an in an in-depth discussion with 40 international students, including 25 undergraduate students, 15 graduate students and exchange students. The session addressed a wide range of topics, including curriculum design, internships, career development, international exchange programs, and student life.

Bai Chong-En speaks at the event.

Regarding undergraduate curriculum and academic career, students raised concerns about overlapping general education courses and academic workload. In response, faculty explained that general education is a long-standing hallmark of the school. Tsinghua University's Xinya College adopts a similar general education course structure, which serves as an example reflecting its academic significance. Students can choose one course from the designated course groups to minimize redundancy.

Regarding workload, the school has made efforts to ease academic pressure while maintain rigorous standards essential for graduate school applications. Bai Chong-En emphasized that international students should avoid comparing their process to that of domestic students. He stressed that it is important to find a comfortable and sustainable learning pace.

Tsinghua SEM holds "International Students' Afternoon Tea with the Dean" activity on December 12, 2024.

To help students develop a research mindset in economics discipline, the Tsinghua Xuetang Economics Program includes a forum that introduces cutting-edge knowledge in economics and will soon be open to international students who are interested in deepening their understanding of the discipline.

Bai Chong-En highlighted that economics is not just about knowledge acquisition but also about cultivating a structured way of thinking. What is taught in class primarily focuses on how to use specific frameworks to analyze and derive concise principles. Although these principles are merely starting points for theory and may not apply to every situation, they provide significant support for academic research.

Chi Wei speaks at the event.

Students expressed concerns about the challenges international students face in securing internships. Faculty encouraged them to apply boldly for open positions. Unless explicitly stated "international students not accepted," students are free to submit their applications. They also advised students to focus on internships with international organizations and companies that have ties to their home countries. It is important to frequently check social media channels such as the WeChat group, where the Career Development Center (CDC) often shares job information.

Franz-Jkob Bodenmeier (German), an undergraduate student of the Class of 2026, speaks at the event.

In response to questions about HR’s expectations, faculty noted that international students' diverse backgrounds, global perspective, and cross-cultural communication skills are distinct advantages. While GPA is often less emphasized for international students, proficiency in Chinese remains critical for those seeking opportunities in China. Additionally, Bai Chong-En advised the students to prioritize the quality and relevance of internship experiences over the prestige of the company.

Students inquired about the expansion of the exchange programs with North American and European universities. Faculty believed that academic exchanges play a vital role in professional growth and said the school is actively exploring collaborations with institutions in these regions. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to establish strategic cooperative relationships with universities in emerging markets such as the Middle East and Africa, to provide students with a broader range of global experiences.

Carson Jiahao Feng (Canadian), a graduate student, speaks at the event.

Faculty recommended graduate students, particularly MBA students, to engage with Tsinghua x-lab, where learning camps and Hackathon competitions focused on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are held on a regular basis. These initiatives are open to all enrolled students and free of charge, encouraging cross-disciplinary collaboration. The school helps make connections between students and investment funds to support their entrepreneurial ventures.

He Ping speaks at the event.

Source: Undergraduate Student Affairs Office, Graduate Student Affairs Office

Editor: Ren Zhongxi