From January 24 to 30, 30 students of Tsinghua Microsoft Special Pilot CS Class 70 joined ITCSC Winter School 2010 in the Chinese University of Hong Kong, led by two ITCS teachers. It is the fourth time for the junior students to go to Hong Kong for academic exchanges since the foundation of ITCS. In Hong Kong, “Pearl of the Orient”, its academic feature expanded the horizon of the students, while its scenery deeply impressed them.

This “Winter School 2010” was hosted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and invited 80 computer science undergraduates from prestigious universities like Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, University of Science and Technology of China, National Tsing Hua University, and universities in India, providing them with a platform to communicate and exchange research ideas. Therefore, this was a very rare opportunity, not only for broadening students’ views and cultivating first-class computer science talents, but also for promoting the development of theoretical computer science in our university.

Prof. Andrew Chi-Chih Yao made the opening remarks of the winter school.

“All junior students have the chance to visit Hong Kong for academic communication and exchange” is one of the most innovative elements of the training mode of ITCS Special Pilot CS Class. Up until now, the institute has sent about 120 students in four groups to go to Hong Kong for academic exchange activities such as Winter School, and students have benefited a lot from these visits. The academic exchanges in Hong Kong have covered a very broad range of topics including network, communications, algorithm complexity, linear algebra, game theory, etc.

This winter school invited several leading professors in the field of computer science from world-class universities in Hong Kong such as the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, etc. In the morning, lectures were given concerning the most cutting-edge areas of theoretical computer science, while in the afternoon, students would split up into several smaller groups, discussing the current hot topics in the field. This approach of learning will not only ensure the students ample time to digest the lectures, but also promote the communication and cooperation between students from various districts effectively. In the oral defense session on the last day, a group from Yao Class was the winner.

Awarding Ceremony. A group from the Yao Class won the first prize.

On the last day of the winter school, the Chinese University of Hong Kong arranged a tour around Hong Kong for all the participants. Most of the Yao Class students regarded it as a rewarding trip, for they not only expanded their academic horizons, but also was impressed by the beauty and prosperity of Hong Kong.

Group Photo of the Winter School