TSINGHUA SEM NEWSLETTER School of Economics and Management, Tsinghua University Fall 2008 (No. 4) Contents 2008 SEM Freshmen Class: 23 Top in Province, Nearly One Half in Top Ten Second Degree in Economics Program Graduates Dean’s Message 2 First Class SEM Highlights 3 Tsinghua SEM Advisory Board Holds Annual Meeting on August 8 in Tsinghua Programs 5 Core MBA Curriculum Reform Launched Research 11 2008 Tsinghua Management Global Forum Held Cooperation and Development 13 Forum 15 News: 2008-06-01 through 2008-12-31 DEAN’S MESSAGE December 31, 2008 2008 marked the centennial of MBA education. In September, following a yearlong review and discussion process, the Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management made headlines with the launch of its new MBA curriculum. Tsinghua SEM offered China’s first MBA degree in 1991; this year, we honored one hundred years of MBA education by continuing the reforms that have kept us at the forefront of our field. Tsinghua SEM’s Second Degree in Economics Program graduated its first class this July. Since its inception in 2006, the program has drawn outstanding undergraduate students from throughout the university. Diplomas were awarded at a special graduation ceremony this summer, and we welcomed its graduates into the Tsinghua SEM alumni network. On August 8, China captivated the world with the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games. That morning, the Tsinghua SEM Advisory Board held its annual meeting in the university’s Main Building; board members attended the Olympic opening ceremony that evening. This year’s meeting saw a record number of overseas attendees, attesting to the Advisory Board’s extensive influence. 2008 was truly an unforgettable year. Having experienced the Sichuan earthquake and the Olympic Games, we are now facing the challenges of a global financial crisis and economic downturn. This year’s Tsinghua Management Global Forum focused on how Chinese businesses should weather the financial storm. With 2009 fast approaching, we hope to see the Chinese and global economies emerge from the crisis; we also look forward to a new year for Tsinghua SEM. QIAN Yingyi Dean SEM HIGHLIGHTS Attendees at 9th Tsinghua SEM Advisory Board Meeting, August 8 Tsinghua SEM Welcomes 2008’s New Second Degree in Economics Program Tsinghua SEM Advisory Board Holds Undergraduates: 23 Top in Province Graduates First Class Annual Meeting on August 8 Tsinghua SEM welcomed 200 new undergraduates Tsinghua SEM’s Second Degree in Economics On August 8, 2008, the Tsinghua SEM (188 from mainland China) at the beginning of the Program graduated its first class on July 4, Advisory Board held its annual meeting at the 2008 fall semester. The school continues to attract 2008. 61 students were awarded a second university’s Main Building. Dean Qian Yingyi the nation’s best minds: among this year’s new degree in economics upon completing program reported on SEM’s significant progress in the students from mainland China, 23 earned the top requirements; another five undergraduates areas of students, faculty, and internationalization score for their province or region on the university received minor certificates. Diplomas were during the past year; board members also discussed entrance exams, while nearly 100 placed in the top presented by Tsinghua SEM Dean Qian Yingyi the school’s future. Vice-Premier Wang Qishan ten. Dean Qian Yingyi said the school would make and Department Chair Bai Chong-en. spoke with international board members prior to every effort to create a positive environment and the meeting, which was also attended by Minister Launched in 2006, the program has an annual expand opportunities for development, allowing of Education Zhou Ji. The date of this year’s enrollment of around 150 students majoring in subjects all students to achieve their full potential during annual meeting, the board’s ninth, coincided with other than economics or management in Tsinghua their time at Tsinghua SEM. Individualized the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games— University. Students who complete all program personal and academic guidance is also available an occasion for China to play host to the world. requirements receive a second bachelor’s degree upon to help students map their futures. Board members attended the evening’s festivities graduation; those who have not met all requirements at the National Stadium. The 2008 meeting saw the have the option of receiving a minor certificate or highest attendance since the establishment of the continuing to pursue an economics degree after Advisory Board in October 2000. graduation. Enrollment is highly selective: students have excellent academic records in their original departments, most with a GPA above 85. Commencement for Second Degree in Economics Program, July 4 9th Tsinghua SEM Advisory Board Meeting, Reception Hall, the Main Building, Tsinghua University, August 8 SEM HIGHLIGHTS Core MBA Curriculum Reform Dr. Yan Peng Honored in 2008 Top 2008 Tsinghua Management Global Launched 100 Doctoral Dissertations Forum Held 2008 marks the worldwide centennial of MBA The Ministry of Education and the Degree The 2008 Tsinghua Management Global Forum education, and on September 24 Tsinghua SEM Committee of the State Council recently released was held at Tsinghua University on November announced reforms to the core curriculum of its their list of China’s top 100 dissertations. Among 14, 2008. This year’s forum focused on “how MBA program. The updated program is designed the honorees was Tsinghua SEM’s Yan Peng, for Chinese businesses should weather the global to cultivate future leaders with wide-ranging his dissertation titled Attribute Domain-Based financial storm.” Recognized as Tsinghua’s management skills. Association Rules Extensions. This was the first- top annual management conference, the event ever doctoral dissertation in management to win brought together more than 500 participants from In the 2008 fall semester, several new courses such an honor. Yan Peng, who earned his doctorate the government, academic and business sectors were introduced on a trial basis into the first- from the Department of Management Science and to discuss strategies for minimizing the impact year curriculum; MBA students enrolling in 2009 Engineering in 2006, had papers published in a of the financial crisis on China’s economy and will study a fully redesigned curriculum. During number of international journals during his time businesses. Keynote speeches were delivered their first eight weeks at Tsinghua SEM, students at Tsinghua SEM. Yan earned top honors in the by Jiang Jianqing, Chairman of the Industrial will attend “soft courses” such as Management Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Awards and has and Commercial Bank of China, and Shen Communications, Leaders and Teams, Career been named an Outstanding Doctoral Graduate of Liantao, chief consultant with the China Banking Development Planning, and Introduction to Tsinghua University. Regulatory Commission and an adjunct professor Management Science. The redesigned curriculum at Tsinghua SEM. Subsequent panel discussions puts particular emphasis on cultivating practical “Principles of Economics” Course focused on “revising Chinese micro-economic skills and a global perspective. “Integrated policy in the context of a global financial crisis” Practice Courses” required during the fourth Recognized by Ministry of Education and “challenges and solutions for Chinese module provide students with hands-on A list unveiled this October named ten Tsinghua businesses facing a global financial crisis.” experience operating real programs. Students University courses among the nation’s “Outstanding are also encouraged to gain international Classes of 2008”. Among the honorees was experience through overseas summer internships, Principles of Economics, taught by Tsinghua SEM international exchange programs and short-term Dean Qian Yingyi. Launched in 2002, the course study-abroad programs. In another change to the targets first-year undergraduates majoring in program, students will be required to submit a Economics and Management. It is also offered as case analysis report rather than a graduation paper an elective for students pursuing a second degree in or graduation report. economics. 2008 Tsinghua Management Global Forum, November 14 Dean Qian Yingyi teaches Principles of Economics to first-year undergraduates PROGRAMS TEACHING ACHIEVEMENTS SEM Honored for Teaching Excellence Tsinghua University announced the recipients of its Award for Teaching Excellence 2008 on June 27. Among the honorees were three programs offered by Tsinghua SEM. Top honors went to “Patterns of Internationalization in Tsinghua SEM’s Undergraduate Program,” created by Zhu Yujie, Li Daokui, Bai Chong-en, Guo Xunhua, and Zhou Guang, along with the “Entrepreneurship Series for Postgraduates,” run by Gao Jian, Zhang Wei, Mei Meng, Luo Jianbei, and Lu Xiangqian in partnership with Tsinghua Science Park. Xue Lei, Xu Zhong, Li Hua and Li Danchen were also recognized for their program “Innovations and Practices for Cultivating Talent in Sports Management.” Tsinghua SEM Honored for Accounting Major 23 majors offered by Tsinghua University have been recognized as “Distinctive Major Programs” by the Beijing Education Committee, including Tsinghua SEM’s Accounting program. Set up in 1994, the program has graduated 580 students, with 99 currently enrolled. According to the university’s Academic Affairs Committee, Tsinghua SEM’s accounting major will contribute to better undergraduate