Tsinghua University workshop

This week, the Blavatnik School of Government was delighted to welcome a group from the Tsinghua University in Beijing for a joint workshop. The two-day workshop was entitled “Research frontiers for better government” and provided a huge range of opportunities for discussion and debate. The focus of the first day was integrity and regulation in government, while sessions revolved around public administration the following day.

Participants included senior faculty from the School of Public Policy and Management at Tsinghua University. They had the chance to meet with members of the Blavatnik School’s faculty individually, and of course to explore our beautiful city.

Associate Professor Thomas Hale, Director of China Engagement at the Blavatnik School, said, “The workshop allowed us to have an in-depth exchange of research with our colleagues from Tsinghua. These kinds of exchanges are so important because many of the basic problems governments face—trust, integrity, performance, and how to manage cross-border interdependence—are so similar.“

There was also an opportunity for representatives of Tsinghua University to meet with three student council members: Jonathan Padilla, Jordan-Nicolas Matte and Junlyu Zheng. A particularly welcome introduction for Jonathan and Jordan in particular, who have been awarded a Schwarzman Scholarship and after completing the MPP will go to Beijing to study at Tsinghua University for the academic year 2017-18.

During the two days, a number of ideas for future collaboration between the School and Tsinghua University emerged, and we look forward to working together.