Mathematics is an essential branch of science for both global and national development; it serves as the foundation of scientific and technological progress and is also the key to unlocking the world. The great mathematician Hua Luogeng once said, “From the vastness of the universe to the minuteness of particles, from the speed of rockets to the ingenuity of chemical engineering, from the changes of the Earth to the mysteries of life, and from the complexity of daily life—mathematics is indispensable everywhere.” In today’s high-tech era, the widespread application of mathematics in science and technology related to daily life, as well as its crucial role in international scientific, technological, and talent competitiveness, is widely recognized. With the development of the economy and society, the demand for mathematical talent across all industries will continue to grow, and the prospects for this field are exceptionally broad.
The Department of Mathematical Sciences has incorporated this principle into every aspect of its teaching arrangements and training programs. In terms of instruction, it places particular emphasis on having academic leaders teach foundational courses for first- and second-year undergraduates as well as specialized courses for third- and fourth-year students. For example, the department assigns Changjiang Scholars, recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, and senior tenured professors to teach these courses, and also invites renowned professors from overseas to teach foundational or specialized courses for undergraduates. Since 2017, the Department of Mathematical Sciences has assigned an academic advisor to every incoming freshman, providing attentive guidance and support for students’ academic and personal lives throughout their university years.
The Department of Mathematical Sciences at Tsinghua University designs its undergraduate programs based on the principles of tailored instruction and flexible management, offering three main categories of programs: the “Undergraduate Program in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics,” the “Tsinghua Academy Mathematics Class Program,” and the “Shing-Tung Yau Mathematics Talent Class Program.” The “Shing-Tung Yau Mathematics Talent Class” program began recruiting students in 2018 and is open to high school sophomores and juniors nationwide. Its purpose is to identify mathematically gifted young students and, through tailored instruction, enable them to enter the field of mathematical research at an early stage. The “Tsinghua Academy Mathematics Class” program, meanwhile, is part of the Ministry of Education’s “Pilot Program for Cultivating Top Students in Basic Disciplines,” with Professor Shing-Tung Yau serving as the chief professor. Each year, this program selects approximately 20 undergraduate students from the Department of Mathematical Sciences who demonstrate exceptional mathematical talent and aspire to make mathematical research their lifelong career. It provides them with opportunities to study and work under the guidance of internationally renowned masters in mainstream mathematical research, enabling them to rapidly develop into influential mathematicians.
Internationalization is a key feature of student development in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Tsinghua University. Each year, the Tsinghua Academy Mathematics Class and the S.T. Yau Center for Mathematical Sciences invite a group of internationally renowned scholars to Tsinghua to teach foundational and specialized mathematics courses. Students engage with these distinguished scholars from China and abroad through lectures, seminars, and academic talks, and receive guidance from them in their studies and research training. At the same time, based on students’ needs for specialized knowledge and research training, the Department of Mathematical Sciences annually selects and funds a group of undergraduates through the Tsinghua Academy Mathematics Program to study at prestigious universities in Europe, the United States, and other regions under the guidance of relevant faculty mentors. In 2018, 40 undergraduate graduates from the Department of Mathematical Sciences went on to pursue doctoral or master’s degrees at top-tier universities in Europe, the United States, and other regions, with the majority receiving full scholarships. These universities include Harvard University, Princeton University, Stanford University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Chicago, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), the University of California, Berkeley, École Normale Supérieure (ENS) in Paris, and the University of Paris VI, among others. In 2018, a total of 40 undergraduates from the Department of Mathematical Sciences participated in joint training and academic exchange programs abroad, with 12 students going to institutions such as École Normale Supérieure (ENS) in Paris and Harvard University for exchange programs, graduation projects, and degree programs; 14 students participated in the “Exploring the World” overseas internship program, undertaking 1- to 3-month study tours at renowned universities in Europe and the United States; 4 students participated in Tsinghua University’s Oxford Summer Program for Outstanding Undergraduates; and 10 students took part in international cultural exchange and cultural immersion activities.
The Department of Mathematical Sciences also hosts a base under the “111 Talent Introduction Program” (approved by the Ministry of Education and the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs) and collaborates in the field of mathematics with renowned French institutions, including the École Normale Supérieure, École Polytechnique, University of Paris VI, University of Paris VII, University of Paris XI, the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), and the Institut des Hautes Études Scientifiques (IHES). After a decade of development, it has become an internationally influential training base for outstanding young Chinese mathematicians. The base has established four research directions: “Number Theory and Arithmetic Geometry,” “Fractal Geometry and Harmonic Analysis,” “Probability Theory and Its Applications,” and “Dynamical Systems.” These four areas represent active, cutting-edge fields in contemporary international mathematics, and the directors of each direction are internationally recognized leaders in their respective fields. As of 2018, a total of 70 students were sent to world-class universities, including the University of Paris VI, the University of Paris VII, the University of Paris XI, the École Normale Supérieure (Paris), and the École Polytechnique, where they studied under internationally renowned experts. These students have since achieved outstanding results in their respective research fields and have established a certain level of academic influence.
