On March 26, 2010, world-renowned scholars from Tsinghua University, MIT and CUHK gathered together at ITCS to discuss the establishment of the Tsinghua-MIT-CUHK Joint Center. Professor Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, Director of ITCS, Professor Amy Yuexuan Wang, Deputy Director of ITCS, Dr. Victor Zue, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT and Co-Director of CSAIL, Dr. Helen M. Meng, Professor in the Department of Systems Engineering and Engineering Management and Associate Dean of Research in the CUHK Faculty of Engineering, and representatives from the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange and Office of Scientific R&D at Tsinghua University joined the meeting.

“Tsinghua-MIT-CUHK Joint Center for Theoretical Computer Science” has been proposed as a working name on the Tsinghua side during the meeting. And all parties believed that the trilateral agreement should be built under an operative framework and focus on its sustainable development. A joint research group made up of six students, with 1-2 from each side will be set up and carry out research activities in Tsinghua, MIT and CUHK at the first phase of the Joint Center.

Tsinghua University has established partnerships with more than 200 world top universities. According to Mr. Wu, Deputy Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, Tsinghua University, student exchange programs have been carried out with 72 universities to promote academic interaction and faculty exchange.

On March 27, Professor CHING Pak Chung, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Director of Shun Hing Institute of Advanced Engineering from CUHK also visited ITCS to talk about the Joint Center. The inauguration ceremony of the Joint Center is expected to take place during MIT President’s visit to Tsinghua University.