January 11, 2019 – Peking University officially announced preparations for a “Future Leaders” International Undergraduate Dual-degree Program. This forward-thinking program, which is grounded in the rich history of Peking University and capitalizes on the strengths of the Guanghua School of Management, will establish an international network of elite institutions of higher education to offer students a unique dual-degree opportunity at the undergraduate level. The program is aimed at developing future global leaders equipped with an intimate understanding of China who can help navigate inter-country exchanges created through the Belt and Road Initiative and will prepare students for the new wave of globalization.
“The Belt and Road Initiative has injected new significance into globalization, and Peking University wants to give young people from around the world the opportunity to pursue their dreams while simultaneously making a contribution to field of education,” says Peking University President HAO Ping. “Peking University has played a key role in China’s national progress, and during this critical juncture in history, we look forward to using our unique strengths to continue this tradition. This International Undergraduate Program represents one of Peking University’s contributions to promoting long-term global development, further opening up Chinese education opportunities to international students, and building a shared future for humanity.”
The “Future Leaders” International Undergraduate Program will be launched and operated through Peking University’s Guanghua School of Management. According to Guanghua Dean LIU Qiao, “Today’s youth have grown up in the era of globalization, making them both key participants and change agents in solving challenges currently facing globalization. I am looking forward to welcoming students from diverse backgrounds to Guanghua as part of this exciting new program and witnessing the deep friendships that will form. Students will develop skills in cross-cultural cooperation and leadership that will allow them to collectively develop solutions.to global problems.
Global Network of Partners
The innovative and international education philosophy and talent development strategy represented by Peking University’s “Future Leaders” International Undergraduate Program have already received support and participation from elite business schools around the world. The institutions who have indicated intent to become founding members of the program’s international network include 14 schools from 13 countries: Bocconi University (Italy), Erasmus University’s Rotterdam School of Management (Netherlands), ESSEC Business School (France), FGV-Sao Paulo (Brazil), University of Hong Kong, IE Business School (Spain), Keio University (Japan), University of Mannheim (Germany), Moscow State University (Russia), National University of Singapore, Queen’s University (Canada), Tel-Aviv University (Israel), Warsaw School of Economics (Poland), and York University’s Schulich School of Business (Canada).
This program will focus on admitting top students with outstanding leadership potential from each partner institution. After completing their first two years of study at the institution in their home country, students will complete two more years of study together as a single cohort at Peking University. These arrangements will allow students to simultaneously learn about China and other parts of the world, helping them to mature into leaders with strong academic fundamentals, impeccable moral character, open minds, the ability to bridge cultural divides, and a strong sense of mission to improve humanity. After students meet the graduation requirements of their respective home institutions and Peking University, they will receive bachelor degrees from both institutions.
Professor Stefano Caselli, Vice Rector of International Affairs at program partner Bocconi University looks forward to the benefits the program will bring to students. “Bocconi very much values the long-lasting relationship with Guanghua School of Management and is proud to be one of the founding partners of this new innovative Bachelor initiative,” he said. “We strongly believe that this program will be a unique opportunity for Bocconi students to gain strong knowledge and understanding of Chinese culture and business environment.”
Professor Bernard Yeung, Dean of the National University of Singapore’s School of Business echoed similar sentiments. “We enthusiastically support the pioneering education philosophy and talent development model represented by this international undergraduate program. China’s continued development has garnered the attention of the world; and the Belt and Road Initiative is playing an important role in promoting global interconnectivity, improving economic and cultural cooperation, and generating opportunities for shared, peaceful development. This new international undergraduate program will give NUS students an ideal opportunity to improve their understanding of China. I am confident the program will create the conditions necessary for broadening students’ international perspectives and deepening their personal growth.”
Creating a Talent Development Model that Develops Future Global Leaders Who Understand China
Students’ undergraduate experience has a profound impact on the formulation of their personal values systems and attitudes toward life. The International Undergraduate Program innovates on traditional education models by bringing together students from a wide variety of backgrounds to help them understand one another and become more accepting of one another’s differences. This kind of experience will grant them a true international perspective and improve their capacity for solving complex global problems.
Through specially-designed coursework, cultural exploration activities, social research, and field visits to locations like Shenzhen, Xi’an, and Shanghai, international students will be part of a dynamic program giving them rich and well-rounded China experience. Peking University has created customized courses on China’s development that will be required for all students participating in the program, including Chinese Economy, Chinese Finance, Chinese Management, Chinese Society, and others. These specialty courses will allow participants to develop a more complete picture of China by understanding it through different angles and will equip them with what they need to promote cooperation between countries across the world.
World-class Faculty Teach the Next Generation’s Most Promising Students
The program will rely on top faculty at the Guanghua School of Management to create an international teaching environment. In the 2018 QS World University Rankings, the three subject areas to which Guanghua made the most significant contributions were ranked first in mainland China and among the best in Asia. The Guanghua School of Management’s faculty consists of some of China’s brightest minds in the fields of economics and management. They are at the forefront of social and economic reforms and use international research methods to analyze China’s economy and management trends to push the frontiers of business knowledge.
Guanghua prides itself both on the number and quality of academic research articles it publishes. In 2017, Guanghua officially announced its “Guanghua Thought Leadership Platform” to research China’s economic and social policy along with cutting-edge business practices to make new contributions to the field of business and to the national development strategy.
The International Undergraduate Program will also integrate academic study and with practice by inviting thought leaders from top academic institutions, government policymakers, and industry executives to give lectures and interact with students.
Students Joining Peking University in 2020 with Full Program Scholarship
The Peking University Belt & Road Institute will be offering merit-based full scholarships to all students selected for participation in the international undergraduate program in recognition of their outstanding talent and leadership potential. These scholarships will cover the costs associated with their time studying at Peking University, including Peking University tuition costs, living accommodations, and a living stipend. Peking University and the Guanghua School of Management’s establishment of the Belt and Road Institute would not have been possible without generous personal and corporate contributions. Other individuals or organizations interested in supporting the Institute’s mission are encouraged to contact the Institute.
The first cohort of the International Undergraduate Program will consist of approximately 50 students—including both Chinese students and a broadly diverse group of international students—who will be welcomed to the Peking University campus in Fall 2020 for their third and fourth years of academic study. The program will be expanded to approximately 100 students per year in subsequent years.
