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Tsinghua-CityU of Hong Kong MPA-EMBA Dual Degree Program
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【Editor’s Note】:
Tsinghua University has been taking large footsteps towards internationalization ever since its establishment more than a hundred years ago. Up to now, over 80 international graduate degree programs have been implemented to enhance students’ global competency and the reputation of Tsinghua worldwide. With various cultural backgrounds, students and teachers from all corners of the world gather in the beautiful campus of Tsinghua University, sharing knowledge and life experiences and opening windows of the outside world for each other. The “International Programs in the Eyes of Student Reporters” series are narrated by the program students and teachers, providing readers an in-depth insight to those colorful pictures of cultural integration.
When Tea Kong became a part of the first cohort of the Tsinghua-City University (CityU) MPA-EMBA Dual Degree Program in 2019, he had no idea it would turn out to be such a valuable experience. Even now, as Cambodia’s Vice Minister of Commerce, Tea Kong can still vividly recall the profound impact the program had on him.
“It surpassed all my expectations,” Tea Kong said. “We were provided with a unique opportunity to dive into both public and business management simultaneously.”
The Tsinghua-CityU MPA-EMBA Dual Degree Program is the first cross-disciplinary postgraduate program of this kind in Asia, jointly developed by Tsinghua University's School of Public Policy and Management and the College of Business at the City University of Hong Kong. Since Tea Kong and his classmates embarked on their educational journeys, four additional cohorts comprising students from 11 different countries and regions have joined the program, pursuing the Master of Public Administration degree from Tsinghua University and the Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the City University of Hong Kong.
The“1+1>2”
Collaboration
According to Chen Tianhao, an associate professor at Tsinghua’s School of Public Policy and Management and the co-director of the MPA-EMBA program, the program’s fundamental objective is to foster public affairs leaders and senior management talents who can effectively integrate public values and entrepreneurship through innovation.
“Public value serves as the guiding force for action, while entrepreneurial spirit represents the motivation and innovation,” he explained. “In this program, students from the public sector are encouraged to approach relevant policies with an entrepreneurial mindset, while students from the private sector learn to consider public values in their business operation.”
In July 2013, Tsinghua’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program received the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) Accreditation, which was the first MPA program outside the United States to receive NASPAA Accreditation. In August 2022, Tsinghua MPA program passed the NASPAA accreditation again, and has become the only program in China that has received a second NASPAA Accreditation. Meanwhile, CityU’s College of Business is one of the first business schools in the Greater China region to obtain accreditations from two prestigious global business education networks: the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International and the European Quality Improvement System.
However, Professor Chen believes the significance of the collaboration between the two schools extends beyond their individual strengths.
“The essence of collaborative governance in public management lies effectively in uniting all stakeholders to achieve common goals,” he emphasized. “As a joint initiative between two academic institutions, the MPA-EMBA program harnesses the power of interdisciplinary and cross-regional collaboration to achieve outstanding outcomes.”
Tea Kong also shares the same perspective and finds the combination of disciplines to be highly practical and especially “tailored” to his specific needs.
“I transferred to the Ministry of Commerce in 2016, where I was responsible for the business, economic and trade cooperation with China,” he said. “This role generated a strong demand for knowledge in both public and business management fields.
China on the
Belt and Road
For Zhang Xiaomeng, a current student in the MPA-EMBA program, the program’s key advantage lies in its practical insights into the context of China. Before making the final decision to pursue her master’s degree in Tsinghua, Zhang actually had a few other options in mind, including a similar program offered by the world-class Harvard Kennedy School. However, after careful consideration, Zhang, who wished to open businesses in China, chose Tsinghua as the next stop for her educational journey.
“Understanding public policy and public administration significantly impacts business outcomes,” said Zhang. “My goal is to continue working in China, and while there are similar programs elsewhere, what I can learn at Tsinghua is unique because it provides insights into how public administration functions in China.”
The program is designed to offer students a comprehensive understanding of China not only from a domestic perspective but also from a global standpoint. As of the latest data updated in December 2023, nearly half of the program’s students come from regions outside Chinese mainland, with 29.2% from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan, and another 11.6% from other countries around the world.
Under what Professor Chen calls a “China Development Model + Global Strategic Management” framework, the program enables students from other countries, especially those along the Belt and Road, to gain insights into China’s development process. At the same time, it can also serve as a platform to enhance the understanding of students from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan regarding Chinese mainland’s modernization practices.
Ho Kinu, a third-year student from Macau, says the program is invaluable to Chinese students who did not grow up in Chinese mainland.
"I’ve lived as a Chinese for many years, but I never had the opportunity to truly understand how China’s system operates,” said Ho. “It wasn’t until I enrolled in this program that I had the chance to learn about our own constitution. It’s very inspiring to get to understand the goals of the constitution and how it aims at helping people.”
A focus on
Public-Private-Partnership
Another major highlight of the program is its emphasis on the Public-Private-Partnership aspect.
“Promoting infrastructure connectivity among Belt and Road countries is one of the key focuses of the program,” said Professor Chen. “As an important approach to infrastructure construction and operation, PPP enables intensive cooperation between the government and private investors, facilitating the advancement of connectivity.”
In January 2016, Tsinghua University, the City University of Hong Kong, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe signed a memorandum of cooperation to promote collaboration in the field of PPP, serving as the foundation for PPP education and research within the program. According to the program’s official website, notable experts in the program’s special committee include Wang Tianyi, Co-director of the Center for PPP at Tsinghua University and Consultant of MPA-EMBA program, former Chairman and CEO of China Everbright Environment Group Limited; Han Zhifeng, Deputy Director General of the Investment Department at China’s National Development and Reform Commission; and Geoffrey Hamilton, Director of the PPP Center at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
The program’s focus on PPP particularly attracted Tea Kong, whose thesis also revolves around this topic.
“For me, PPP holds greater significance than basic general public policy and business knowledge,” KONG said. “As Cambodia enters a stage of stable economic and social development, infrastructure construction becomes particularly crucial.”
To learn
from the “best”
The MPA-EMBA program offers a comprehensive curriculum structured around five modules, each serving a distinct purpose. While the EMBA and MPA modules establish foundational knowledge, the Global Management/Belt and Road/PPP module and Overseas module deepen students’ understanding of China’s development model and global PPP operations. The Frontier and Integrate module is specifically tailored to equip students with the latest governance and business innovation.
To deliver these modules, the program’s professors possess not only strong academic expertise but also practical knowledge gained from their diverse experience within China and internationally. Immersed in this dynamic learning environment, Zhang described her educational journey in Tsinghua’s MPA-EMBA program as a “privileged opportunity to learn from the world’s leading scholars in their respective fields.”
Among the many impressive classes, Zhang found it hard to single out the most memorable throughout her time in the program.
“There’re many [classes] that left a lasting impression,” said Zhang. “But if I have to pick the most impressive one, it’d be a particular lecture given by Professor Cheng Wenhao.”
Zhang vividly recounted the story told by Professor Cheng during that special lecture. The story featured Lu Zuofu, a prominent Chinese businessman in the shipbuilding industry. Zhang was impressed by his selflessness as he devoted his wealth and resources to transporting over 1.5 million people to safer zones during World War II.
“From Professor Cheng’s teaching, we didn’t just gain insights on how to do business in terms of creating profits, but we also learned how to be responsible for our society. This mindset is also deeply ingrained in the very essence of the program.”
The learning experience is further enhanced by the field trip to other provinces in China. As part of the Public Policy class taught by Professor Qi Ye, students had the chance to visit Jiangmen, a city in Guangdong province, and talk with the local officials. Through interacting with officials from different departments, students gained valuable insights into Jiangmen’s development and investment plans. “It’s a rare and valuable opportunity to meet representatives from all departments of a city in a single meeting,” said Ho. “We learned a lot from our visit to Jiangmen.”
From the world to China,
from China to the world
March 2023, the first batch of postgraduates from the Tsinghua-CityU Dual Degree Program celebrated their in-person commencement ceremony. After an online graduation in 2022, students and professors from all around the globe gathered in Hong Kong, China to mark this special occasion.
Among the attendees was Tea Kong, who currently serves at the Embassy of Cambodia in Beijing. He playfully remarked on his “destined connection” with China. The program has inspired him to further learn from China’s experience, not only for the development of his own country but also for addressing the universal challenges in PPP cooperation.
Zhang Xiaomeng, meanwhile, is set to complete her studies in 2024. Based on her personal experience, she firmly believes that the program is a “perfect fit for people who care not only about the business world but also about social responsibility and future development for the world.”
As recruitment of the next program cohort continues, Professor Chen says the program is looking for students who are willing to “seize opportunities, face challenges, overcome difficulties, create values and have the spirit of a public servant.”
Those students will take part in a program that is constantly expanding, both in its offerings and its ambitious scope.
“In the future,” he said, “the MPA-EMBA program will continue to foster student exchanges, enhance curriculum designs, and attract more students from countries along the Belt and Road, all with the aim of promoting stable and long-term economic and social development among diverse countries and regions.”
Program Overview:
The Tsinghua University School of Public Policy and Management is building a strong, long-term academic and educational relationship with the City University of Hong Kong. In September 2018, the universities signed an agreement to create a dual master’s degree program in Public-Private Partnership. The joint program is committed to developing interdisciplinary talents with unique learning experiences across public administration and business management.
Students in the program will be awarded both a master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Tsinghua and a master’s degree in Executive Business Administration (EMBA) from CityU after fulfilling the degree requirements of both universities.
来源丨微信公众平台“清华大学研究生教育”
供稿丨教学办
编辑丨王瑞琪
审核丨朱旭峰文章转载自清华大学公共管理学院,侵权立删
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