Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management (Tsinghua SEM) has been awarded accreditation from the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) at the end of February, 2008. This makes Tsinghua SEM the first university business school in Chinese mainland to be accredited by EQUIS, a leading global accreditation system of management education.

"Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management is very proud of being the first university business school in Chinese mainlandto achieve EQUIS accreditation. It is a remarkable international recognition of our school's achievements. EQUIS accreditation distinguishes itself not only by its challenging academic standards but also by its emphasis on internationalization, corporate links and community contributions. We are grateful to EFMD for its encouragement and support, and to the peer reviewers for their very helpful evaluation and profound insights," said Professor Yingyi Qian, Dean of Tsinghua SEM.

(At the press conference to announce the news held on March 4, 2008, Dean Qian Yingyi and Executive Associate Dean Chen Guoqing showed the certificate of accreditation to the conference participants)

In 2007, Tsinghua SEM has been awarded accreditation by AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) for its business and accounting programs. The School's success in EQUIS accreditation has made Tsinghua become the only business school in Chinese mainland double-accredited by both AACSB and EQUIS, two of the most prestigious international accreditations of management education.

"This accreditation sets a new starting point for the school’s further development in pursuit of its mission to become a world-class school of economics and management", said Professor Yingyi Qian, Dean of Tsinghua SEM.

EQUIS, the accreditation arm of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD)is the leading international system of quality assessment, improvement, and accreditation of higher education institutions in management and business administration.Created in 1997 by a mandate of EFMD's member business schools including Bocconi, HEC- Paris, IESE, IMD, INSEAD, ESADE, London Business School, and Rotterdam School of Management, EQUIS was inspired by the need to develop an international accreditation system for those business schools, wherever they were in the world that were trying to make an impact beyond their domestic frontiers.

"EFMD is delighted to welcome theSchoolofEconomicsand Management atTsinghuaUniversityinto the global community of EQUIS accredited schools." "In gaining accreditation,TsinghuaUniversityhas shown that it is without question one of the finest institutions inChinaand having EQUIS will help to raise its profile even further on the international stage," said Professor Eric Cornuel, Director General & CEO of EFMD in his letter of congratulations.

The accreditation with the EQUIS quality assurance seal by the EFMD is a result of a comprehensive quality assessment process. Business schools that are accredited by EQUIS must demonstrate not only high quality in all dimensions of their activities, but a high degree of internationalization. EQUIS also believes that business schools should be as closely connected to the real world of business so there must be a balance between high academic quality and the professional relevance provided by close interaction with the corporate world. So far, 111 institutions represented 33 countries have been awarded EQUIS, with 8 from the Asia-Pacific Region.