Schwarzman Scholars to Participate in Sixth Annual U.S.-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange

This marks the third year Schwarzman Scholars has been jointly invited by the U.S. State Department and Chinese Ministry of Education to participate. Schwarzman Scholars Founder Stephen A. Schwarzman will present to the Education Working Group and participate in the opening and closing session at the State Department with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong.

“The relationship between the United States and China is crucial to international stability and a more mutually prosperous future, and we are honored to be a part of this important conversation,” said Schwarzman Scholars Founder, Stephen A. Schwarzman. “As we prepare to welcome our first class of Scholars in 2016, we are thrilled to continue to work together to further strengthen ties between these two nations.”

Schwarzman Scholars has made considerable progress since its launch just over two year ago and has garnered momentum on all aspects of program development. Schwarzman Scholars has raised $340 million to date and recently increased its fundraising target to $400 million. The program’s elite Academic Advisory Council has helped to develop program areas and curriculum to ensure that each component of the program is of the highest caliber to appeal to and challenge the world’s top students. Visiting professors have been hired, renowned thought leaders have agreed to serve as guest lecturers, top companies and organizations in Beijing have agreed to offer internships, and leading individuals have signed on as mentors. Construction at Schwarzman College is well-underway and on-schedule for completion. The global recruitment effort has hosted regional launch events, campus information sessions and live webinars, all yielding considerable interest. The program is now accepting applications for the first class of Scholars, set to matriculate in 2016, with more than 4,000 applications started to date.

To apply to Schwarzman Scholars, please click here.

About Schwarzman Scholars:

Schwarzman Scholars was inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship, which was founded in 1902 to promote international understanding and peace, and is designed to meet the challenges of the 21st century and beyond. Blackstone Co-Founder Stephen A. Schwarzman personally contributed $100 million to the program and is leading a fundraising campaign to raise an additional $300 million from private sources to endow the program in perpetuity. The endowment will support 200 scholars annually from the U.S., China and around the world for a one-year Master’s Degree program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, one of China’s most prestigious universities and an indispensable base for the country’s scientific and technological research. Scholars chosen for this highly selective program will live in Beijing for a year of study and cultural immersion, attending lectures, traveling, and developing a better understanding of China. Applications opened in Spring 2015, with the first class of students in residence by the summer of 2016. Learn more at www.schwarzmanscholars.org.