On June 13, 2017, the Tsinghua-INSEAD Executive MBA Program (known as TIEMBA) Class of 2019 Opening Ceremony was held at Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management (Tsinghua SEM). The new incoming class is the first class since TIEMBA’s tenth anniversary milestone. This 11th class includes 39 students hailing from 16 different countries.

Professor QIAN Yingyi, Dean of Tsinghua SEM, gave the opening keynote speech as he reflects upon the first ten years and his hopes moving forward. “Today we celebrate the 10th anniversary of TIEMBA and kick off the second decade with pride and confidence. TIEMBA is more than a set of courses. Indeed it is a community and family. I hope that in the following 18 months you will gain not only the professional knowledge but also new friendships, as well as a new and different understanding of your career and your life.” Dean QIAN Yingyi addressed.

Keynote Speech by Professor QIAN Yingyi, Dean of Tsinghua SEM, at the TIEMBA Class of 2019 Opening Ceremony

Professor Urs PEYER, Dean of Degree Programs at INSEAD, expressed excitement at what would happen in the next 18 months. “Two world renowned institutions have come together to build this TIEMBA program,” Professor Urs PEYER started, “students will be given the best of both institutions while exploring the challenging curriculum in the most vibrant regions of the world.” Professor Urs PEYER stressed that the “global perspective” is a core focus of the program. “No other school can bring to a program like TIEMBA, because the talent who could manage between the east and west around the globe is what is truly needed in this world.”

Keynote Speech by Professor Urs PEYER, Dean of Degree Programs at INSEAD, at the TIEMBA Class of 2019 Opening Ceremony

On behalf of the new incoming class, Ahmed Elnawawi gave his thoughts on the special day. As a member of the 2019 TIEMBA class, Ahmed shared his story from Egypt and his life of research in economics. Participants all shared his excitement that the class body has “a lot of cultures and backgrounds.” Diversity is a great strength, and the newest TIEMBA class is as strong as it is diverse.

Speech by Ahmed Elnawawi, Class Representative of TIEMBA2019

Last on the podium was 2011 alumni speaker Helen Hai. She reflected on her journey and remarked on how much TIEMBA changed her perspective toward happiness and life. Helen Hai offered that “going through this journey together with my classmates” was instrumental to finding her “purpose,” and also expressed excitement in meeting the newest TIEMBA class, “I’d like to congratulate all of you to embark this new journey in your life, I wish you can move your vision to action, dreams to reality.”

Speech by Helen HAI, Alumni Representative, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Goodwill Ambassador, CEO of the Made in Africa Initiative

After the speeches concluded, the TIEMBA class of 2019 and accompanying professors wrote down their expectations for the future on special wish cards. Stringed together with balloons, their hopes for the future were let loose into the sky.

Group Photo of Tsinghua-INSEAD Executive MBA Program Class of 2019

TIEMBA is a unique and modular dual-degree program that offers our participants the best of both institutions: one of China's most elite universities and one of the world’s top international business schools. It is always an important part of the program to combine theory together with practice, which leads the program to invite global executive leaders walking into the class.

Official website

(Source: TIEMBA program)