DKU welcomes largest cohort of first-year students from 38 countries

“I believe that DKU will help me achieve my goals by not only immersing myself in Chinese culture but also broadening my perspective through other students, faculty, and courses,” said Sara Salazar, a Class of 2028 student from Texas, the United States.

Salazar, who spoke on behalf of her class at the convocation, and her sister, Ally Salazar, are among the approximately 500 students hailing from 38 countries worldwide.

The Salazar sisters have been studying Mandarin for 12 years, and as their Chinese language skills grew, so did their interest in China’s people and culture.

At the convocation, the Salazar sisters are joined by students from China, the United States, Germany, New Zealand, Morocco, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Mongolia, and a number of other countries across five continents. For the first time, students from the Czech Republic, Israel, Latvia, and Trinidad and Tobago have joined the DKU student body.

DKU welcomed its largest undergraduate class this year, up 25% from the previous year and doubling the size of its inaugural undergraduate class in 2018. Approximately 350 students are from China, with about 150 being international—a 50 percent increase from the previous year’s 100.

This year, Duke Kunshan had the highest number of applicants from around the world, with nearly 10,000 from 123 countries competing for the 500 spots.

Executive Vice Chancellor John Quelch thanked the students and their parents for trusting DKU and assured them that the faculty and staff take their responsibilities seriously. He also encouraged students to trust one another, to trust faculty and staff, and to act with the highest level of integrity in everything they do to gain the trust of others.

“The next four years will be the most revealing in your life. You’re going to learn more than you ever expected. You will also do enormous good in the world, not just for yourself, your family and friends, but also for society. However, you must overcome your inhibitions and trust yourself and each other,” said Quelch.

Chancellor Yaolin Liu encouraged students to adopt a lifelong learning mindset, use the “learning to learn” approach, celebrate DKU’s cultural diversity daily, and maintain their health and wellness.

Liu also assured the students that they are joining a global community of over 70 countries, each with their unique background and perspective, but all committed to improving the world and eager to assist the students in becoming their best selves.

Others who spoke to the students via video messages or in person included Duke University Provost and DKU Board of Trustees Chair Alec D. Gallimore, Wuhan University President Pingwen Zhang, and DKU faculty representative Jingbo Cui, an associate professor of applied economics.

Yuzhen Dai from the Class of 2027 congratulated her new classmates and encouraged them to seize the opportunities that lie ahead.

“Outside the classroom, clubs, lectures, and workshops are excellent opportunities to broaden your horizons. DKU’s liberal arts education gives you enough time and autonomy to explore fields that you are passionate about.”

DKU was established in 2013 as a joint venture between Duke University, Wuhan University, and the City of Kunshan. In May 2024, DKU graduated its third undergraduate class. More than 80% of DKU’s undergraduate students went on to graduate school, many at world-renowned universities, supported by prestigious scholarships such as the Rhodes at Oxford University, the Schwarzman at Tsinghua University, the National Science Foundation, and the European Union’s Erasmus Mundus program.

When the students graduate from the four-year bachelor’s degree program, including the opportunity to study at the Duke University campus in the United States, they will receive degrees from DKU and Duke and join the Duke and DKU global alumni networks of over 200,000.

Words of encouragement for the Class of 2028:

“You are surrounded today by faculty, staff, and administrators who are eager to meet you and welcome you to campus. Their job is to support your learning, growth, and success. You are also surrounded by your classmates, a remarkable bunch. You all share a common interest in pursuing a rigorous liberal arts education in a uniquely global environment. I encourage you to take advantage of that, to continue to step outside of your comfort zones to learn from each other, to challenge your assumptions, and to always think about applying what you are learning in new and different ways.”

Alec D. Gallimore, provost of Duke University and DKU Board of Trustees chair

“You are as young and dynamic as DKU itself. As you begin your university experience, may you vigorously seek the profound truths of life, ponder deeply on your contributions to others, society, our country and nation, and ultimately to all of humanity, cultivate a sense of global community of shared future, and let the purpose of life be ever elevated through the harmonization of individual and societal well-being.”

Pingwen Zhang, president of Wuhan University

“As we embark on this new academic year, I encourage you to step outside of your comfort zones, embrace the breadth and depth of knowledge, dedicate yourselves with enthusiasm, manage time efficiently, and build long-lasting goals that will motivate and guide you for a lifetime.”

Jingbo Cui, associate professor of applied economics