On June 29, 2014, Tsinghua SEM held the 2014 Commencement in the Gymnasium of Tsinghua University. More than 2,000 graduates, their families and friends, and the faculty and staff of the School participated in the Commencement. Mr. Jack Ma, Chairman of Alibaba Group and a member of the School’s Advisory Board, delivered the Commencement Address.

The 2014 Tsinghua SEM Commencement

In his opening remarks, Dean QIAN Yingyi said that this year marked the School’s 30th anniversary. Over the past months, the School organized a series of activities to celebrate the milestone. Just before the Commencement, the School gave every SEM graduate a picture album titledThe Magnificent 30 Yearsas a graduation gift.

Six graduate representatives delivered valedictory addresses at the Commencement. They are MA Yuan from the undergraduate program, XIA Bingqing from the second- degree undergraduate program, FENG Ming from the PhD program, YIN Hang from the Master’s program, DONG Ding from the MBA program, and KONG Falong from the EMBA program. They shared their stories of how the School had changed their lives as well as their visions for the future after graduation.

Mr. Jack Ma, Chairman of Alibaba Group, which is eyeing a public listing on the New York Stock Exchange soon, told his personal stories and gave his advice to the SEM graduates in his Commencement Address.

Mr. Jack Ma delivers the Commencement Address

Mr. Ma looked back on his student days, saying that even though he did not do well on the College Entrance Exam, he had never given up his dreams. He urged the SEM graduates to make constant efforts in discovering and learning from others’ strengths, grabbing opportunities in the fast-changing society, and getting prepared for possible setbacks ahead. Mr. Ma gave the advice to the graduates on the three principles that he had upheld over the past three decades: being idealism, taking responsibilities, and having positive energy from optimism.

Dean QIAN Yingyi takes photo with each graduate

Following the Commencement, Dean QIAN Yingyi took photo with each SEM graduate.