In partnership with Tsinghua University Press, Cengage Learning Asia published a commemorative book titled Tsinghua University to mark the university’s centenary celebrations held on April 24, 2011. Prefaced by Professor Gu Binglin, president of the university, the book provides an overview of Tsinghua’s history, traditions, campus and architecture, faculty, students and alumni, R&D and international exchanges. Interspersed throughout each chapter are colorful photographs that help readers to visualize the history and current state of Tsinghua.
This is the first title in the Top Chinese Universities Series. The series aims to introduce international readers to the history, courses and programs, R&D, campus life, alumni, international relations, and student activities of some of the top Chinese universities selected for Project 985. The Project was initiated in May 1998 by the Chinese central government to promote its higher education system and boost the international reputation of Chinese universities. Other titles in the pipeline include Peking University, and Renmin University of China.
Tsinghua University was originally founded in 1911 by the Qing Dynasty government to prepare students for higher education in the United States. Over the past 100 years, it has evolved into a world-class comprehensive and research-oriented university. At present, it houses 16 schools and 57 departments, covering disciplines such as science, engineering, arts, economics, and management. In addition, Tsinghua has set up over 300 student exchange programs with other top universities of the world. Joint degree and master programs have also been set up in collaboration with French, German, and Japanese universities.
According to the World University Rankings 2011 published by Times Higher Education, Tsinghua University ranks 35th, above all other universities in China. Among its stellar alumni are President Hu Jintao; former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji; Cao Yu (a master of modern Chinese drama); and Charles Zhang (CEO of Sohu.com). Eminent scholars now teaching at Tsinghua include Nobel laureate Chen-ning F. Yang and Yau Shing-tung, winner of the Fields Medal—the highest prize in mathematics.
“Tsinghua University Press is one of our major publishing partners in China, so we are very happy to have worked with them to publish this title in connection with the university’s centenary celebrations. Despite a challenging work schedule of less than three months, we’ve managed to deliver this noteworthy text in time for their celebration,” says Paul Tan, Publishing Director, Cengage Learning Asia.
A total of 320 copies of the book have been presented to delegates at the Global Summit of University Presidents and the 15th Annual President Meeting for Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), both held on the Tsinghua campus during April 23–24, 2011.