In the early spring of Tsinghua,
Everywhere exudes vitality and vigor.
A highly anticipated recruitment campaign kicked off,
Attracting the attention and participation of numerous graduates from the class of 2024.
Employment has always been a hot topic.
Not long ago,
Tsinghua University's school-wide employment meeting was held.
The meeting disclosed
The employment destinations of over 8000 graduates from the Class of 2023,
Sparking public attention.
Every year,
Numerous graduates set out from Tsinghua,
Embarking on the next chapter of their lives.
Standing at a crossroads in their lives,
What choices have they made?
We take the decade as a scale,
Recording their footprints.
Over 80% of graduates employed by key units
2024 Graduates Flock to Career Fair
On March 15th, Tsinghua University hosted its largest annual career fair, attracting over 430 employers from 29 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, offering a plethora of job opportunities to the graduating class of 2024.
A highlight of the event was the "National Heavy Industries" special session, where over 120 companies such as China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, China North Industries Group Corporation, China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, and Huawei Technologies showcased their offerings. This face-to-face interaction reinforced students' aspirations to pursue careers in key industries.
"In 2023, the number of Tsinghua graduates signing contracts for employment in the national defense and science and technology sector increased by 25% compared to 2022." This statistic announced at the university-wide employment work conference highlighted the success of efforts to guide students' career choices.
"During my five years at Tsinghua as a student, the atmosphere of 'aspiring to greatness, pursuing the mainstream, occupying the grand stage, and accomplishing great things' was incredibly strong," said Dai Zongren, a doctoral graduate from the Department of Precision Instruments. He participated in the 2022 "National Defense Science and Technology Talent Week" event and was deeply inspired by this atmosphere, choosing to join the Southwest Institute of Technical Physics under the China North Industries Group Corporation upon graduation, fulfilling his pursuit and value by "going where the motherland needs him most."
A decade ago, Fang Zhou, a 2014 master's graduate from the School of Materials, made a similar choice at a similar crossroads. After graduating, he joined the Aerospace Materials and Processes Institute under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, dedicating himself to China's aerospace industry. He has since participated in the development of large-scale thermal protection structures for the exterior surfaces of spacecraft, including the Shenzhou series manned spacecraft, the Chang'e-5 lunar probe, and the Tianwen-1 Mars probe. He became the protagonist of the viral social media post "Tsinghua Fangzhou Protects the Ark" after the successful landing of the Shenzhou-12 manned spacecraft.
Over the past decade, countless "Fang Zhous" and "Dai Zongrens" at Tsinghua have transformed individual choices into collective choices.
From 2014 to 2023, over 80% of Tsinghua graduates seeking employment were hired by key units such as leading enterprises, provincial- and ministerial-level research institutes, prestigious universities, national agencies, military units, defense industries, major media outlets, important financial institutions, key cultural, sports, and health institutions, and international organizations. Huawei Technologies, State Grid Corporation of China, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China National Nuclear Corporation, Aviation Industry Corporation of China, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, and China North Industries Group Corporation were among the top 20 employers in terms of the number of job offers extended.
Increasing Numbers of Graduates Venturing to Western Regions
During the 2022 graduation season, two Tsinghua doctoral graduates, complete strangers but united in their aspirations, made the same choice: to head west. That year, Wang Yucheng, a 2017 doctoral graduate in precision instruments, and Huang Bohao, a 2016 doctoral graduate in mechanical engineering, joined the Xi'an Flight Automatic Control Research Institute under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, embarking on a path of aerospace patriotism together. Two years into their careers, they have transformed from students into young engineers. Their supervisor described them as "down-to-earth and willing to endure hardships" and noted that "they both gave up lucrative salaries."
Peng Haoyang on the Frontlines of the Yalong River in Sichuan
Peng Haoyang, a 2022 PhD graduate from the Department of Hydraulic Engineering, has also taken root in the west. At the Yalong River demonstration base for green, clean, and renewable energy, he is leveraging his education to contribute to the development of the complementary wind and solar power generation system. Amidst the rugged and perilous mountains and valleys, he remains steadfast and true to his mission.
Their stories are but a microcosm of countless Tsinghua graduates who, upon graduation, have resolutely ventured into the vast expanse of the west.
According to data from the university-wide employment summit, over 50% of Tsinghua graduates have sought employment outside Beijing for nine consecutive years. In 2023, the number of graduates signing contracts for employment in western regions surpassed that of 2022 by 15%. Wang Xunguo, Deputy Minister of the Organization Department of the Guizhou Provincial Party Committee, attended the university-wide employment summit and spoke as a representative of the region. Just two months prior, he had graced the opening ceremony of Tsinghua University's 2023 Autumn "Talent Month in the West" and the university's "Guizhou Talent Week."
Strengthening the allocation of talent to key regions has become a pivotal focus of Tsinghua University's employment guidance work in recent years. Since 2020, the university has vigorously implemented a special program to optimize the regional distribution of graduates seeking employment. With the selection and appointment of key graduates as a catalyst, Tsinghua has built close partnerships with local organization departments. Through recruitment briefings, networking events, and employment practice programs in various regions, the university encourages and guides graduates to take root at the grassroots level and contribute selflessly to local communities. The university has successfully hosted events such as "Talent Week in the West" and "Talent Month in the West," inviting regional human resources and social security departments. Moreover, it has organized key enterprises and institutions to come to campus for group recruitment, which has facilitated the comprehensive flow of talent to key regions.
Data indicates that the number of Tsinghua University's 2023 graduates seeking employment in western and northeastern regions has increased by 22% year-over-year, with a significant number of graduates choosing to establish their roots in key regions such as Tibet, Qinghai, and Xinjiang.
From Guangdong to Beijing to Qinghai, Su Huaye, a 2014 master's graduate from the School of Law, became one of Qinghai's first selected and appointed graduates. In Haidong, Qinghai, he witnessed and participated in the construction of the first Beijing Zhongguancun Science Park industrial base established outside Beijing. He also transitioned from an "outsider" to a "local." In his eyes, "the distant land" has now become his "home."
From Tibet to Beijing and back to Tibet, Ren Zeng Dunzhu, a 2019 undergraduate from the School of Journalism and Communication, carried the conviction that "leaving the Tibetan Plateau is to better return." He chose to go back to Tibet as a university village official, hoping to do something meaningful for the people of his hometown. To him, "the distant land" could not resist the call of "home."
Nearly 70% of graduates who pursue further studies abroad attend universities ranked among the world's top 50
Intro: Dong Han and Dong Xin Ma, the Tsinghua University "twin sisters" who went viral with their "best study plan," have done it again. After completing postdoctoral work at Purdue University in the US and the University of Toronto in Canada, the sisters returned to China in 2022, accepting positions at Dalian University of Technology and Tsinghua University, respectively. Their story is a testament to the growing trend of Chinese students returning home after studying abroad.
Journey Abroad and Return to China: From crossing oceans to riding the waves home, the Ma sisters' journey mirrors that of many Tsinghua University graduates. Nearly 70% of graduates who studied abroad attended top-50 universities worldwide. Graduates have gone on to pursue doctorates at Stanford University, Oxford University, and Yale University, among others. Driven by a spirit of exploration, they have sought challenges and opportunities on a global scale.
Alumni Statistics: According to the Tsinghua University Alumni Association, the majority of alumni who studied abroad in the past 20 years have returned to China and become influential figures in various fields.
New Trends:
Two notable trends have emerged: an increase in alumni taking on positions in academia and international organizations.
Angel, a 2023 Ph.D. Graduate from Tsinghua University
At 16, Angel enrolled in Tsinghua University, and by 24, she had earned her Ph.D. She transitioned from electrical engineering to aerospace engineering and was immediately offered a tenure-track associate professorship in the School of Astronautics at Northwestern Polytechnical University. Angel's story is one of many from the 2023 graduating class at Tsinghua University.
Angel's story is one of a thousand among the 2023 Ph.D. graduates from Tsinghua University.
In 2023, the number of Tsinghua University Ph.D. graduates employed by academic institutions exceeded one thousand for the first time, with an "academic employment rate" of 47.1%. They contribute to building a strong nation in education and technology in their respective roles.
In recent years, Tsinghua University has made remarkable achievements in graduate employment at academic institutions and international organizations.
2023 International Organization Fair (IO Fair)
On October 26, 2023, Tsinghua University's first "IO Fair" (International Organization Consulting and Exchange Fair) was held at the Student Career Development Center, providing a platform for students to learn about international organizations.
In 2023, Tsinghua University had a total of 102 students who interned or worked at 38 international organizations, including UNICEF, IFAD, UNDP, AIIB, and EBRD. Yang Qing, a 2023 master's graduate from the School of Public Management, represents these students. Aspiring to become an expert in climate change at international organizations, she joined EBRD after graduation to contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative and China's carbon neutrality goals.
Li Shuyin, a 2017 doctoral graduate from the Department of Industrial Engineering, works at the International Atomic Energy Agency; Yang Yuanchen, a 2020 doctoral graduate from PBC School of Finance, works at the IMF headquarters; Yang Fan, a 2021 master's graduate from the Department of Electronic Engineering, interned at IFAD and later worked at the United Nations Secretariat. "If you want to make a positive change in the world, you should step out of the ivory tower and truly understand the world." Their powerful words demonstrate the confidence and determination of Tsinghua students and Chinese youth to go global.
Firmly Committed to Innovation and Entrepreneurship
On January 11, 2024, the Gravity One (Yao Yi) Hai Lan Zhi Jia, China's first private-sector maritime launch vehicle, executed a successful maiden flight, setting new records for the world's largest solid-fueled launch vehicle and China's highest-capacity civilian commercial rocket. Responsible for this achievement is Yao Song, a 2015 Department of Electronic Engineering alumnus from Tsinghua University and Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Dongfang Space United.
As society continues to evolve, imaginative and creative university students have become integral to innovation and entrepreneurship. By leveraging their specialized knowledge and strong practical skills, they have achieved a series of technological breakthroughs and innovations, as well as reaped abundant rewards.
Over the past decade, many Tsinghua alumni, like Yao Song, have surged forward with fervor and firm resolution into the realms of innovation and entrepreneurship. More than 40 individuals per year have chosen to embark on entrepreneurial endeavors after graduating, with a focus in sectors such as culture, creativity, the internet, and technical services.
From chronicling events as journalists to treating patients as physicians and upholding justice as attorneys, Tsinghua graduates have forged a plethora of unique paths, vividly illustrating the concept that "meaningful lives are shaped by diverse choices."
During graduation season, Tsinghua University students are immersed in an atmosphere of "establishing lofty ambitions, entering the mainstream, taking on a grand stage, and accomplishing great things."
