Distinguished ambassadors, dignitaries, and academic leaders gathered on Thursday 26th June at Tsinghua University in China to mark the official launch of the Hazem Ben-Gacem Arab Scholars Program, a landmark initiative to empower up to 15 students a year from Arab League countries through world-class education while fostering academic excellence and cross-cultural collaboration.
This year, the Scholars Program will support six students from Arab League nations who are pursuing postgraduate courses. This program is understood to be the first scholarship established at Tsinghua University specifically for students from Arab nations and aims to strengthen Sino-Arab relations.
Tsinghua University is a top-ranked Chinese university with a strong reputation in technology and engineering, often compared to MIT. Established in 1911, Tsinghua University has 20 colleges and 90 undergraduate programs, enabling it to offer a wide array of academic disciplines. Tsinghua alumni have made significant contributions to the economic, cultural, and technological development of China and also represent many of the nation’s political elite.
Hazem Ben-Gacem, Founder and Chief Executive of BlueFive Capital, said: “For more than a thousand years, the Arab region and China have been bound by a vibrant exchange of goods, knowledge, and cultural dialogue. By enabling exceptional Arab students to study at Tsinghua, China’s pinnacle of academic excellence, we aim to develop leaders who will carry forward this agelong spirit of curiosity and collaboration, ensuring that the Arab-China relationship evolves as a beacon of cooperation in an increasingly fragmented world.”
Professor Yang Bin, Vice Chancellor of Tsinghua University Council, expressed the university’s sincere gratitude for Mr. Hazem Ben-Gacem’s generous donation. He noted that in recent years, Tsinghua has implemented a series of strategic initiatives to enhance its global impact, with particular emphasis on deepening engagement and cooperation with Arab League member states, which has significantly advanced cultural exchanges between both sides. Professor Yang emphasized that this initiative will not only motivate recipients to pursue academic excellence but also serve as an important milestone in strengthening the friendship between Tsinghua and the Arab world. It vividly embodies the shared values of openness, inclusiveness, mutual respect, and the pursuit of common progress across cultures and borders.
