President Qiu's remarks at UN SDSN's webinar
University Sector Support to a "Decade of Action" and SDGs Realization
Qiu Yong
President of Tsinghua University
As the UN SDGs enters its fifth year, we believe that it is critical for universities to further strengthen cooperation with the UN. Tsinghua University has demonstrated its commitment to work with UN agencies and our global partners to effectively respond to the call for a "decade of action".
Tsinghua University works to promote the realization of SDGs through its research and education programs. Tsinghua University and University of Geneva jointly signed a Cooperative Memorandum on Sustainable Development under the witness of the Presidents of China and the Swiss Confederation in January, 2017. Tsinghua then founded the Institute for Sustainable Development Goals, making substantial progress in SDGs related research. The institute has worked to integrate the SDGs into policy and promoting international exchange and cooperation. Another key outcome of the Geneva-Tsinghua Initiative is the Dual Master's Program for SDGs, which will welcome its 3rd cohort of students this fall.
Tsinghua shoulders it responsibilities, addressing the most urgent challenges around the world, such as climate change. In May 2019, the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate was jointly established by 12 universities from six continents at Tsinghua University. The alliance aims to promote university leadership and the role of the university in climate change mitigation. Earlier this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his appreciation to the alliance's student representatives for their concern for the shared future of mankind. We are delighted to learn that Secretary General Guterres also highly affirmed the Manifesto of Youth on Climate Change signed by the alliance's student representatives.
Tsinghua continues to promote the quality and inclusiveness of education during the pandemic. On February 3, 2020, Tsinghua convened a university-wide "in cloud" class for more than 57,000 faculty members and students. The University made a solemn pledge to the society that: the fundamental duty for a university is to educate people and cultivate talents. Tsinghua was committed to "classes commencing on schedule, despite the postponed return to campus". We utilized innovative technologies to ensure the quality of online teaching and learning. We also ensured the on-schedule graduation of our students. In addition, Tsinghua set up 147 online "clone classes" for Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan University and others universities, supporting the regions hardest hit by the pandemic.
Tsinghua continues to promote international cooperation with global partners during the pandemic. On April 24, Tsinghua jointly organized a Special Dialogue with UNESCO, on the urgent topic of Online Education. On April 2, Tsinghua established the Vanke School of Public Health. The former Director-General of WHO Dr. Margaret Chan servers as the School’s inaugural Dean.
Ladies and gentlemen, I believe that future universities must be more open, more integrative and more resilient; future learning must be more student-driven; future teaching must be smarter; future education must be more inclusive. Only by building closer and stronger partnerships with UN agencies can universities contribute to the realization of SDGs. Only by joining hands can we jointly achieve this "decade of action" – and in so doing, inspire a brighter future for all. Thank you!
Editor: Guo Lili
