By Bisma Ahmad, David Bartle, Tran Jamille, Xie Kaifan, Zou Yuqin

Not too long ago, Chinese students went abroad to learn the latest in technology and innovation. Now, more and more every year, the world’s best and brightest are coming to China. And coming to Tsinghua University.

“Forty years ago, the development of our country was far behind others so we went abroad to study,” said Professor Zhou Lizhu, head of Tsinghua University’s Advanced Computing program. “Now others come to China to learn from us. It’s such a big change,”

China aims to be the world leader of artificial intelligence by 2030 through its Artificial Intelligence Development Plan, issued in 2017, as part of a broader development initiative. Chinese tech giants have invested billions into research and development. The country is already leading innovation in drone technology and facial recognition.

Tsinghua was listed as the world’s top school for both engineering and computer science, according to a ranking survey by U.S. News & World Report in 2020. A key to Tsinghua’s growth is the Advanced Computing program, also known as ACP. Forbes senior writer Bernard Marr selected the AC program as the top AI and data science master’s program in a worldwide ranking for 2021.

“The prestige of the school is the major boost,” said first-year student Tiago Antunes, currently studying from home in Portugal due to the pandemic. “But when I took a closer look at the curriculum I found that it’s also cutting-edge.”

Tsinghua-based vision, future-oriented results

The Advanced Computing Program was established in 2010, a year before Tsinghua’s centennial celebration, which focused on the university’s creative responses to globalization. The ACP program hoped to attract international students looking to gain expertise in in the cutting-edge areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer systems, human-computer interaction, big data, data mining amid rapidly increasing demand for diversified computer science talent around the world. The program started only as a master’s program, but added a doctoral degree track in 2019.

Taught in English, the ACP program has cultivated 156 students from 47 countries and attracted 290 exchange and fellowship students to Tsinghua as of June 2020. Students have come from every habitable continent, and 114 students have graduated from the program.

The master’s program requires students to accumulate 24 credits over the course and complete a thesis based on research project in two years.

“Students are able to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of topics including machine learning, big data and human/computer interaction etc. from some of the most prominent experts in China and work alongside major companies including Microsoft and IBM that are partnered with Tsinghua’s researchers,” said Professor Zhou.

International students experiencing Chinese culture during their study

Lecturers including Chen Wenguang, Tang Jie and many young experts in the faculty are internationally accredited for their academic achievements. Zhu Jun, for example, is a pioneer among the young generation of AI researchers. He has a combination of 17 patent applications and patent certificates, including three in the United States, and has published more than 100 papers in academic journals.

Along with innovative courses, the program provides students the ability to explore various specialties with experienced mentors. After enrollment, the Computer Science Department faculty holds an orientation where nearly half of the faculty will be assigned either to supervise students directly or become involved in their development. The two-way academic advising process pairs students and faculty according to their preferences.

Kembabazi Barbara Gamukama Yihong Kembabazi, a first-year ACP student from Uganda, said she values the program’s opportunity to interact closely with world-class faculty.

“I knew I’d get enough support,” Kembabazi said. “[Tsinghua] tends to bring lots of resources and opportunities for their students.”

Zhou said the student pool has grown over time, with students applying from prestigious universities and colleges in Europe and North America, as well as Africa and Asia. While 47 countries are represented in the program since its creation, 45% of students have come from 21 nations, mainly in Europe and the Americas.

The program’s growing international stature has made its admissions process very competitive, and most applicants don’t make the cut.

Professional opportunities in China and around the world

Most of the students return to their home countries, but more are hoping to stay in China after graduation. Among them is first-year student Sam Sabour from Iran. Sabour earned his undergraduate degree in China and hopes to stay in China after completing the Tsinghua program because he wants to be part of a world leader in the development of AI, machine learning and technology.

“I chose Tsinghua for this program is [because] if you want to have a career in China, having the Tsinghua name on your résumé, really helps – and also the connections that you can have with some of the tech companies here,” Sabour said.

AC students say that compared to their undergraduate universities, the Tsinghua name carries “weight” on its own, including partnerships with multinational corporations and professional networking potential.

“This degree is worth much more – at least in my eyes – much, much more than if I got a degree in Iran and probably a lot of other universities,” Sabour said.

Ugandan student Kembabazi, whose mother is Chinese, also is thinking of remaining in China following graduation.

“I want to stay in China or go anywhere that's going to help me develop my future,” said Kembabazi, who earned her undergraduate degree at the Beijing Institute of Technology. “I know if I go back to Uganda or East Africa, chances are I would start up a business [and pursue managerial work].”

Zhou says students are attracted both by the program’s global ranking and the “China spirit” of leadership in innovation. As Portuguese student Antunes puts it, “Going to China means better future opportunities.”

Antunes said he was hesitant to study abroad, but when he searched for the world’s best computing programs, Tsinghua was on top, and that is what made him change his mind.

Graduates of the program have added to China’s explosive technology industry growth. Ahmed Muhammad Al-Sayyadi, an alumnus from Yemen, got his initial financial support from Tsinghua’s School of Economics and Management for his startup project, which used algorithmic models to analyze historical and network data to provide “box office prediction” services for the Chinese film industry. Al-Sayyadi is the first foreigner to receive a permanent residency permit for entrepreneurship in China.

Inspired by a professor at Tsinghua, Hugo Wan, a French alumnus of the program, came back to his hometown and founded a Paris-based startup that used image processing and deep learning techniques to distinguish the authenticity of luxury goods. The company has recently received a €1.2 million investment deal, which is around $1.4 million USD.

Malaysian graduate Ng Ying Yi founded the cross-border logistics startup AllSome, which provides a parcel tracking system for e-commerce fulfillment and logistic solutions for online sellers. The Shenzhen-based company recently raised $1.94 million USD in fresh investments from East Ventures, 500 Startups and Y Combinator.

The program’s director is proud of his graduates’ success stories.

“Competition is very fierce,” Zhou said. “In order to enable students to compete and succeed in the market after graduation ... [we] facilitate the delivery of the latest knowledge to students.”