In the opening ceremony for the first class of the Shenzhen Graduate School of Tsinghua University, Professor Lin Gongshi, vice president of the new school, explained how the school grew from an agreement on paper two years ago to a multi-million yuan campus with programs in four disciplines.

M.A. and Ph.D. students can now receive degrees in business administration, public policy, management, and engineering, Professor Lin told the crowd of faculty and students gathered at the Tsinghua Cultural Arts Center Sept. 26.

The Shenzhen Graduate School operates directly under Tsinghua University, and aims to become a center for fostering high-quality, creative students, developing high-level scientific research and social service, and improving the local and international academic exchange.

Special funding has been allocated for the school's science and research programs, and three state key labs have been built at a cost of 100 million yuan. Meanwhile, the school has stepped up construction of new buildings, which are scheduled to be completed in 2003.

The agreement to build the school was signed between the municipal government of Shenzhen and Tsinghua University on Oct. 14, 2000. The State Department of Education approved the founding of the school on April 23, 2001.

Some 3,000 students are currently enrolled.

Tsinghua Vice President He Jiankun and Shenzhen Graduate School Vice President Chen Haoming gave speeches at the opening ceremony. Liang Yongming, vice president of the graduate school, presided over the event.

(Liu Aixiang 31/10/2002)