On December 9th, the first graduation ceremony of the Global Innovation eXchange (GIX) Institute was held in Seattle’s GIX Building. The first graduation cohort was made up of 37 students from 11 countries and regions around the world. The degrees conferred at the ceremony were the 15-month Master of Science in Technology Innovation (MSTI) degree offered through the University of Washington, and the 27-month Dual Degree, which integrates the MSTI with the Master of Science in Engineering (Data Science and Information Technology） (MSE(DSIT)) through Tsinghua University. President Qiu Yong of Tsinghua University, President Ana Marie Cauce of the University of Washington and President Brad Smith of Microsoft, attended the ceremony.

On December 8, 2018, The Global Alliance in Management Education (CEMS) Graduation Ceremony took place in Malta. Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management (Tsinghua SEM) was awarded the title of CEMS School of the Year 2017-2018 in recognition of outstanding student satisfaction with the quality of the academic program and the services offered.

On the afternoon of December 6th, the Tsinghua University Latin America Center was inaugurated in Santiago, Chile. This is an important measure undertaken by Tsinghua University to promote the implementation of the global strategy and marks the temporary end of the overseas layout of the global strategy. Former President of Chile Eduardo Frei, Chairman of the Luksic Group Andrónico Luksic, President of the APEC CEO Summit 2019 Jean-Paul Luksic, representatives of the Luksic family, the Chinese Ambassador to Chile Xu Bu and other guests attended the ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in Chile.

On the afternoon of December 6th, the Tsinghua University Latin America Center was inaugurated in Santiago, Chile. This is an important measure undertaken by Tsinghua University to promote the implementation of the global strategy and marks the temporary end of the overseas layout of the global strategy.

On November 30th, the first “Hong Kong International Artificial Intelligence Summit” jointly sponsored by Tsinghua University and the University of Hong Kong was held at the University of Hong Kong. The summit focused on the prospect and application of artificial intelligence technology in the financial field, aiming to further promote research and exchange on artificial intelligence and promote in-depth cooperation between the scientific research field and industry. Academician Qiu Yong, President of Tsinghua University, Academician Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, Professor Joseph Klafter，President of Tel Aviv University, and Mr. Nicholas Yang, GBS, JP, Secretary for Innovation and Technology, HKSAR government, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.

On November 30th, President Qiu Yong led a delegation to visit the University of Hong Kong (HKU), and with President and Vice-Chancellor Zhang Xiang of the University of Hong Kong, signed a letter of intent for cooperation, announcing that the two universities will jointly launch Four-year Dual Bachelor’s Degree Programs. The first batch of the programs will cover two disciplines: economic management and computer science and technology. Students who have completed relevant courses will receive bachelor's degree certificates from Tsinghua University and Hong Kong University respectively. It is reported that the program will recruit students worldwide, with the first batch of students expected to start study in the academic year 2020 - 2021.

On November 29th, the signing ceremony of the Tsinghua University-University of Chicago Joint Research Center for Economics and Finance was held at the campus of the University of Chicago in Hong Kong. President Qiu Yong of Tsinghua University and President Robert J. Zimmer of the University of Chicago signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation. The two universities will jointly establish the Tsinghua University-University of Chicago Joint Research Center for Economics and Finance. Provost Daniel Diermeier, Vice President for Strategy and Innovation, Deputy Provost and Chief International Officer Balaji Srinivasan, Vice President for National Laboratories Juan de Pablo, Vice President for Communications Paul Rand, and Vice President for Alumni Relations and Development Sharon Marine of the University of Chicago, Former President Gu Binglin and Vice President and Provost Yang Bin of Tsinghua University and other guests had a meeting and attended the signing ceremony together.

On the afternoon of April 17th (local time), the China-Italy Design Innovation Hub and the Tsinghua Arts and Design Institute in Milan were officially unveiled in Milan, Italy. This is an important constituent part of Tsinghua’s Global Strategy, and the first teaching and research base Tsinghua has established in Europe. Simultaneously, the Tsinghua University Alumni Center in Italy was also inaugurated. The China-Italy Design Innovation Exhibition, co-organized by Tsinghua’s Academy of Arts & Design, the Politecnico di Milano, and the China-Italy Design Innovation Hub, formally commenced during Milan Design Week 2018.

On March 2nd, Monsieur Jean-Maurice Ripert, the French Ambassador to China, visited Tsinghua University. Qiu Yong, President of Tsinghua University, received Ambassador Ripert at Gongziting, and communicated with him about further deepening Sino-French cooperation in research and education, in different fields.

On March 8th, Chen Xu, Chairperson of the University Council, met with Madame Sophie D’Amours, the Rector of Laval University of Canada, at Gongziting. They had in-depth communication on the topic of the further promotion of educational and research cooperation between Tsinghua and Laval.

Associate Professor Tao Xiaoming from the Department of Electronic Engineering has been awarded the L’Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science China Fellowship 2018. She is one of the ten female scientists being granted this honor.

On the Chinese New Year’s Eve, Qiu Yong, President of Tsinghua University, Chen Xu, Chairperson of the University Council, and other University leaders, made dumplings and greeted the new year with students staying on campus.

On January 22nd, Tsinghua President Qiu Yong led a delegation to Davos, Switzerland, the first of their visits overseas in 2018. They attended a series of multilateral and bilateral exchanges in three days, negotiating cooperation with leaders of political, academic and business communities as well as international organizations, and opening up a new initiative for the implementation of Tsinghua’s Global Strategy.

On January 24th, the second Belt and Road Davos Forum, co-organized by Tsinghua University, the International Cooperation Center of the National Development and Reform Commission, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), formally commenced in Davos, Switzerland, where the World Economic Forum is simultaneously being held.

18 Tsinghua research achievements were recognized at the 2017 State Science and Technology Awards ceremony on January 8th, where Tsinghua professors accepted the awards at the annual State Science and Technology Award ceremony in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

2017 was a year of great accomplishments, growth, and achievements for Tsinghua. At the beginning of 2018, we have compiled a list of top ten news stories of 2017.

On December 31st, the Tsinghua University New Year Gala was held on campus. University leaders Qiu Yong, Chen Xu, Jiang Shengyao, Xue Qikun, Ji Junmin, Yang Bin, Li Yibing, Wang Xiqin, and Guo Yong attended the Gala, together with over 3,500 students, faculty and alumni of the university.

On Dec 21, 2017 President QIU Yong of Tsinghua met with a delegation from Tohoku University, Japan. The delegation included President Susumu SATOMI, Vice President Toshiya UEKI, Professor Hideo OHNO, Professor Motoko KOTANI and representatives from various Tohoku schools and departments.

A number of outstanding Tsinghua students were honored on December 21 at the 2017 Tsinghua Scholarship Awards Ceremony in the Main Building. 20 students were awarded Tsinghua Top Grade Scholarships, 50 students received Jiang Nanxiang Scholarships, and 50 students received “December Ninth” Scholarships. Tsinghua University President Qiu Yong, Tsinghua Vice President Wang Xiqin, and Tsinghua University Vice Chairperson Guo Yong awarded certificates to the scholarship winners.

On December 15th, the Tsinghua Laboratory of Brain and Intelligence (THBI) and the Future Laboratory, Tsinghua University (THFL), were officially unveiled. Among the attendees at the ceremony were Hua Jianmin, the Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 11th National People’s Congress, former State Councilor and Secretary General of the State Council, as well as the Chairman of Tsinghua’s Committee of Strategic Development; Xu Guanhua, member of the Standing Committee of the 11th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee, former Minister of Science and Technology, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Chair of the Scientific Steering Committee of the Institute for Global Change Studies at Tsinghua; Wu Qidi, former Vice Minister of Education and Director of Tsinghua’s Center for Engineering Education; Zhang Jingan, former Secretary-General of the Ministry of Science and Technology, former Chief of the Science and Technology Daily, Deputy-Director of the Administration Committee of Institute for Culture Creativity, Tsinghua University; Professor Sir Keith Burnett, the President & Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, the President of Tsinghua University Qiu Yong, and the Vice President Xue Qikun.