By the Office of Overseas Promotion

Tsinghua President GU Binglin delivered a speech at the Educating the Next Generation of Global Leaders Panel of the 19th Annual Conference of the Committee of 100 hosted by the Chancellor of University of California at Santa Barbara, Henry Yang, on April 8. President ZHOU Qifeng of Peking University, President John L. Hennessy of Stanford University, and Marye Anne Fox, the Chancellor of University of California at San Diego, also joined the discussion, which was held in San Francisco.

In his speech, President Gu shared his thoughts on higher education with audience over three hundred. He used Tsinghua University as an example and briefly introduced its practice of educating leaders in both academic and non-academic fields during different periods of its history. President Gu summarized three important elements of educating global leaders of the next generation, namely innovative capability, global vision and social commitment.

President GU Binglin delivers a speech

At the end of the discussion, President Gu answered questions from the audience and local correspondents concerning Tsinghua’s relationship with its American counterparts and China’s endeavors to strengthen the education of talented individuals.

President GU Binglin answering questions

He also attended the Gala Reception and Awards Program after the panel discussion on the evening of April 8. Excellence awards for 2010 were given to Lien Chan, Chen Ning Yang, Charles K. Kao, Daniel C. Tsui, Steven Chu, Cheng Siwei and Yuan Yuan Tan.

Before the panel discussion began, a special meeting was organized by the Committee of 100 and hosted by its President CHENG Shouzhong. At that gathering President Gu introduced the preparations for Tsinghua’s centennial celebration in 2011 to nearly twenty members of the Committee.

(Photo by Zhang Yi)