On March 16th, the renewal signing ceremony between Tsinghua University and the University of Geneva for the dual Master of Public Policy for Sustainable Development Goals (MPP-SDG) was successfully held in a hybrid format. The agreement for this dual master’s program was signed between Wang Xiqin, President of Tsinghua University, and Yves Flückiger, Rector of the University of Geneva, on behalf of the two universities; and with Zhu Xufeng, Dean of the School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University (Tsinghua SPPM) and Pascal Sciari, Dean of the Geneva School of Social Sciences (UNIGE G3S), representing the two schools. Attendees present at the ceremony included Irina Bokova, former Director General of UNESCO; Nikhil Seth, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNITAR; Stéphane Berthet, Vice-Rector of the University of Geneva; Cherie Nursalim, Vice Chairman of GITI Group and Chairman of the Southeast Asia Chapter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN); along with members of the International Advisory Board for the Geneva-Tsinghua Initiative, and responsible managers for the corresponding departments at the respective universities.

Signing of the agreement at Tsinghua University

President Wang Xiqin delivered a speech

President Wang Xiqin recalled meeting with Rector Flückiger in Davos in January this year. He expressed being pleased to see the results at the global level derived from the MPP-SDG program. These young talents with diverse backgrounds are advancing the implementation of SDGs and pioneering the education for sustainable development. He was pleased to witness the extension of the collaboration for MPP-SDG dual master’s program. It represents the start of a new phase of collaboration between the two universities, providing a basis for more beneficial development, and a comprehensive and sustainable relationship as partners. President Wang Xiqin also stated that looking to the future ahead, we expect to further develop the long-established relationship as partners, cultivating more outstanding young innovators, who possess determination, an international perspective, and a willingness to take part in global affairs. We will write together a new chapter for sustainable development.

Rector Yves Flückiger delivered a speech

Yves Flückiger noted that during these six years of the joint initiative for sustainable development between Tsinghua University and the University of Geneva, there have been fruitful outcomes derived from the in-depth talent cultivation, academic research, operation of summer courses, innovation activities, among many other dimensions. In the future, the University of Geneva will continue partnering with Tsinghua University to join hands in the promotion of higher education in the field of sustainable development.

Zhu Xufeng delivered his speech

Pascal Sciari delivered his speech

Zhu Xufeng, Pascal Sciari and Bernard Debarbieux, the former Dean of G3S, also made their statements, introducing the detailed performances at the two universities in regard to the MPP-SDG program. They hope that in the future the two universities continue compiling quality resources, promoting pragmatic collaborations, and enhancing development for each other.

As presented by Zhu Xufeng, since the inception of the program in 2018, it has admitted 129 students from 30 countries. Among them, 62 students have obtained the double degrees. Seven years after the initiation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UN is going to hold an SDG summit and evaluate the progress of SDGs. Many people all over the world are wondering if the goals could be achieved as planned due to the negative impact brought by the Covid-19 pandemic. Being researchers and practitioners of the modern-day higher education system, it is more urgent than ever for us to uphold true multilateralism and promote SDG-oriented graduate education. The collaboration extension ceremony is a positive signal, showing that international cooperation in higher education can make a remarkable difference in the major issues of sustainable development.

Renewal Ceremony of MPP-SDG Dual Master Agreement

Wang Hui, Deputy Director of the Office of International Affairs at Tsinghua University, and Yin Chengzhi, Associate Dean of Tsinghua SPPM were present in the meeting

Being a key component of the joint initiative between Tsinghua University and the University of Geneva, the Tsinghua SPPM and the UNIGE G3S took the lead in establishing the MPP-SDG program in 2018, which is targeted at the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and has a duration of 2.5 years. This dual master’s program is focused on the benefits of the joint education system, to cultivate multifaceted professionals who can exercise sustainable development at a practical level. Their careers or further studies involve the fields of education, technological innovation, energy, environmental protection, corporate social responsibility, security, and finance, among others. Some prominent examples of their employment units include the United Nations Office at Geneva, the United Nations Environment Programme Office in Geneva, the Office of the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in China, the Representative Office of the United Nations Development Programme in China, the International Organization for Migration in Geneva, the International Trade Centre, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Australian Border Force, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, China, the Headquarters of the Xinhua News Agency in China, and the International Affairs Office of the Santiago Metropolitan Region Government in Chile.