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April Newsletter: From Tsinghua’s 114th-birthday homecoming to springtime cultural showcases, GBJ blossoms on campus

Updated: May 12

Tsinghua celebrated 114 years of excellence, Campus comes alive with color, culture, and community spirit.
Tsinghua celebrated 114 years of excellence, Campus comes alive with color, culture, and community spirit.

GLOBAL BUSINESS JOURNALISM NEWSLETTER

April 2025

Spring semester is in full bloom
Spring semester is in full bloom

Spring is in full bloom at Tsinghua University, and April has been a month of vibrant events, meaningful achievements, and exciting new initiatives for the Global Business Journalism community. From welcoming alumni back to campus during Tsinghua's 114th anniversary celebrations to launching new resources for budding business journalists, there’s been no shortage of inspiration.


Here’s a roundup of the highlights!


1. Tsinghua turns 114: Alumni homecoming weekend brings campus alive


Tsinghua University marked its 114th birthday in late April with a vibrant homecoming weekend that brought thousands of alumni back to campus. The university was abuzz with reunion hugs, nostalgic smiles, and proud purple banners wishing Tsinghua a happy anniversary. Alumni traveled from around the globe to revisit their alma mater, turning the leafy Beijing campus into a lively melting pot of past and present generations.


Throughout the weekend, departments hosted exhibitions, open houses, talks, and performances, showcasing Tsinghua's evolving legacy. Sporting spirit was also alive, with the annual Tsinghua Campus Marathon and the Alumni "Ma Yuehan" Cup 5000m race drawing large crowds.


University leadership shared messages emphasizing gratitude, innovation, and a bold future ahead. As Tsinghua celebrated 114 years of excellence, the atmosphere was filled with pride, unity, and hope.



  1. Tom Fletcher’s call for a new humanitarian vision


Bakhtawar Tauseef with Tom Fletcher, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
Bakhtawar Tauseef with Tom Fletcher, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

The Tsinghua Global Vision Lecture featuring Tom Fletcher, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, was held on April 25, 2025, at the School of Public Policy and Management as a part of Tsinghua 114th-anniversary celebrations.


The session explored “The Future of the International Humanitarian System,” addressing the challenges and opportunities facing global humanitarian efforts.


Bakhtawar Tauseef from the Global Business Journalism program attended the lecture and reflected on the key takeaways.


Check out the GBJ website this coming week to read these articles.


3. French poetry under the blossoms: Alex at the 2025 Haitang Festival

GBJ student Alex at 2025 Haitang Festival
GBJ student Alex at 2025 Haitang Festival

In mid-April, GBJ student Alexandre Guery brought a touch of French poetry to the 2025 Haitang Festival under Beijing's blooming crabapple trees. The festival, welcoming guests from over 40 countries, celebrated international friendship through art and culture.


Alex performed an excerpt from Victor Hugo's "Après l’hiver," capturing the spirit of renewal and springtime with moving verses. The event also featured traditional Chinese dances, a stunning rendition of "茉莉花 (Mòli Huā)," and an unforgettable Italian opera finale.



Beyond the performances, Alex connected with ambassadors from Switzerland and Romania and explored the nearby museum at Soong Ching Ling’s former residence, making it a day full of culture, friendship, and springtime celebration.



4. From pageants to purpose: Maria Rincon’s journey to redefining success


GBJ alumna Maria Rincon's journey from beauty pageants to a career in meaningful communication has been a path of courage, reinvention, and authenticity. Once a shy newcomer to Canada, Maria found her voice through pageantry, eventually transitioning from television hosting to working in NGO communications and corporate public speaking coaching.


Today, Maria helps major clients sharpen their communication skills, emphasizing empathetic listening as an irreplaceable human trait in an AI-driven world. Her next big milestone? Delivering a TED Talk in Hong Kong this May on redefining success from the inside out.


Maria’s story reminds us all: success isn’t about external recognition; it's about living in alignment with your true self.


Maria’s LinkedIn:


Maria’s public speaking coaching website:



5. The Kung Fu dream: A cultural experience at Tsinghua

GBJ student Bakhtawar Tauseef (seventh from the left) at Oriental Martial Arts Fair at the Zijing Sports Field.
GBJ student Bakhtawar Tauseef (seventh from the left) at Oriental Martial Arts Fair at the Zijing Sports Field.

Bakhtawar Tauseef from the GBJ program at Tsinghua University took part in the Oriental Martial Arts Fair at the Zijing Sports Field. Led by World Martial Arts Champion Dr. Lin San Zhe. The event gave international students a hands-on introduction to the basics of Chinese Kung Fu and explore its cultural significance.


6. Hidden Gems on Campus: Spring finds and secret hotpot delights


As spring quickly turns into summer, your bike will probably need some tending to after all those campus-loving birds have used pretty much every single bike outside the dorms as their personal toilet. The perfect place to freshen up your bike is right next to the Zijing canteen entrance, where they’ll make your bike feel clean as ever for only 20 yuan.



Even though the hotpot restaurant is not hidden, have you found the bonus gem inside? The single-person hotpot! Perfect in case you don’t want your food to be too spicy, as you can make your own seasoning for your very own hotpot. Get a set of mixed meat, veggies and noodles for only 35 yuan!

7. New Business Journalism resource page now live!

Big news for those looking to level up their reporting skills! GBJ has launched a brand-new Business Journalism Resource Page filled with practical tips and strategies for covering economics, finance, and business.


Whether you're deciphering earnings reports or simplifying complex financial topics for readers, this page offers essential tools to support your growth as a journalist. Check it out here:


👉 Economic Journalism Tips and Resources: Click here!

Stay ahead of the curve and make the most of this new resource!



Here are some other stories we've published on our website since our last newsletter, in case you've missed them:



Thanks for reading the April GBJ newsletter. We'll be back with more news and updates from students, alumni and faculty next month. If you want to be the first to read each GBJ newsletter, subscribe here and receive an email notification when a new newsletter is published.


Share your GBJ stories with us. We'll include as many as possible in future newsletters. Contact us at GBJprogram@gmail.com or tsjcws@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn.
Share your GBJ stories with us. We'll include as many as possible in future newsletters. Contact us at GBJprogram@gmail.com or tsjcws@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn.



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