About THIS

Greetings!

Columbia University’s Teachers College is delighted to collaborate with Tsinghua International School in Beijing. Teachers College is the largest and most comprehensive graduate school of education in the United States. For over 100 years, it has focused on preparing not only teachers, but also school and university administrators, counseling and school psychologists, librarians, policymakers, and a wide range of professionals in education and related fields. A combination of distinguished faculty, a diverse and international student population, renowned research facilities, and the wide array of cultural and social resources of New York City make Teachers College a fountain of knowledge and expertise that the institution wishes to share with others around the world.
Teachers College will work jointly with THIS, as this innovative school strives towards its goal of providing an excellent education within an international, cross-cultural environment. Faculty from the college will assist in the design of a curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking skills, creative learning, team work, and the use of the latest developments in research and information technologies. Also, the College will collaborate in the training and professional development of its teachers and its management team. It will foster links and networks with other independent schools in the United States, and with international education organizations. The College will work together with other parts of Columbia University, including the School of International and Public Affairs's Picker Center in developing mentoring and internship programs for students, lectures and discussion on the most recent public and social debates, and career guidance for graduating students.
Tsinghua International School is at the forefront of education and it will provide a significant contribution to the educational development of China and the rest of the world. We are glad to cooperate in this unique project.

Sincerely,

Francisco L. Rivera-Batiz
Professor and Director
Economics and Education Program
Teachers College, Columbia University

The Picker Center for Executive Education at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) of Columbia University is pleased to work with Columbia University Teachers College to assist the Tsinghua International School in its efforts to become a leading educational institution in China. For more than sixty years, SIPA has been a place where a distinguished university, a great city and the people and issues of global consequence would intersect (not unlike Tsinghau University in Beijing). SIPA has students and alumni from over 100 countries, six degree programs, a respected faculty of world class scholars and accomplished practitioners, a wide array of internship opportunities and expertise in critical issues such as international finance and trade, environmental health, sustainable development, housing, security and conflict resolution, globalization, international affairs, management and leadership.
We look forward to working with Columbia University Teachers College to assist Tsinghua International School to develop partnerships with prestigious American schools involving faculty and student exchanges, a mentoring program through which American college students guide Tsinghua students, and a coaching program through which young American working professionals provide career guidance to Tsinghua graduating students. We will also assist Teachers College and Tsinghua International School to design a volunteer summer internship program whereby qualified Tsinghau students might compete for assignments in government agencies such as the New York City Fire Department, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and the New York City Department of Small Business Services Department, non-governmental organizations such as the United Nations Development Program and the Northern Ireland Community Builders, and a wide variety of private companies located in New York City.
Tsinghua University has been ranked the best university in China for more than a decade. Tsinghua, like Columbia University, is well-known for producing great leaders—for example, the President of China is a Tsinghua graduate and the President of the United States is a Columbia graduate! With this heritage and tradition of training global leaders, Tsinghua International School and our partnership has a great future. We look forward to contributing to your success.

Sincerely,

William B. Eimicke
Director, Picker Center for Executive Education