DKU celebrates resilience and achievements of Class of 2025
Duke Kunshan University celebrated its 2025 commencement on May 16, conferring degrees on 481 graduates and honoring a class shaped by resilience, adaptability and global ambition. The outdoor ceremony, held in DKU Square, recognized 339 undergraduate and 142 master’s students from across China and around the world. Students, families, faculty and guests gathered in celebration, many traveling long distances to mark
this milestone.
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DKU trio wins Yenching Academy scholarships
Three DKU seniors have earned places at Peking University’s Yenching Academy, one of China’s most competitive graduate fellowships, where acceptance rates dip below 3 percent. The winners — Abdul Haey-ee (Ace) Asim of the U.S., Enkhkhuslen Bat-Erdene of Mongolia, and Javier Sebastián Portilla of Ecuador — have received full funding to pursue master’s degrees in China studies this fall.
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DKU student wins first place at Stanford hackathon with app to fight food waste
Rebecca Combs, a computation and design major from the Class of 2025, won a first-place award at Stanford University’s prestigious TreeHacks hackathon.
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DKU professor named Guggenheim Fellow in foundation’s 100th year
Travis Wilkerson, filmmaker and associate professor of documentary practice, has been named a 2025 Guggenheim Fellow, joining one of the most prestigious fellowships in the arts and humanities in the foundation’s milestone 100th year.
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VaxLab partners with Duke-NUS to address immunization challenges in Asia
To tackle uneven vaccine access across Asia, the Innovation Lab for Vaccine Delivery (VaxLab) at DKU has partnered with Duke-NUS and other regional stakeholders to launch a landmark report analyzing immunization programs in 13 countries.
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Jeffrey Sachs calls on DKU students to "take on something big and important"
In a DKU fireside chat, the renowned economist and U.N. advisor delivered a powerful message to students: Don’t sit back and predict the future—make it.
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Strings of harmony: Ciompi Quartet inspires through music and collaboration
Duke’s Ciompi Quartet offered a mini-course at DKU that gave students an inside look at a professional chamber ensemble. The course ended with an evening of performance featuring Schubert and Beethoven as well as contemporary works by Maximiliano Amici and Chen Yi.
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DKU hosts first language and culture conference
The Language and Culture Center hosted its first language and culture conference “Think globally, act locally: How we engage language and culture,” bringing together about 120 scholars, educators and language teaching professionals.
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Silent café opens at DKU to support workers with disabilities
A coffee shop staffed entirely by people with disabilities has opened at DKU’s Academic Building, offering students, faculty and staff a quiet space for coffee—and reflection—on inclusion and accessibility.
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Public art comes to life at DKU with new sculptures
DKU welcomed four impressive sculptures on campus through a three-year loan from Jing’an Sculpture Park, a renowned public park in Shanghai known for its large collection of contemporary outdoor sculptures.
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Discovering masterpieces inside DKU’s Academic Building
Since its founding in 2013, DKU has gradually become home to a growing collection of donated artworks from artists across China and around the globe. These pieces line the walls of the Academic Building, infusing the space with creativity, culture and color.
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DKU students support local development through academic English course
Undergraduates in DKU’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program recently completed a project focused on the development needs of Dianshanhu Town in Kunshan. With support from the local government, students conducted field research, interviews and academic studies to propose practical development strategies. These efforts aim to promote high-quality socioeconomic growth in the region. One student proposal—helping
seniors adapt to digital life—has already been adopted, driving tangible progress in the local community.
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DKU launches Institute for Global Higher Education China
DKU’s Institute for Global Higher Education celebrated its official launch in China with the International Educational Innovation Forum, bringing together leading scholars, policymakers, and educators from top institutions worldwide.
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DKU hosts Sustainability and Finance Forums
The Digital Technology for Sustainability Symposium and DKU Finance Forum 2025 were held together at DKU in April. The joint events fostered diverse perspectives, promoted responsible innovation, and encouraged collective action for a more sustainable future.
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Inside international joint ventures: DKU hosts author talk with industry leaders
DKU Library hosted an author talk titled “Unlocking international joint ventures: A face-to-face with industry leaders,” drawing business professionals, students and faculty for a candid conversation on cross-border collaboration.
The event featured co-authors Dr. Alan MacCharles, senior director of Executive Education and Lifelong Learning at DKU, and Mr. Mark Schaub, international partner at King & Wood Mallesons. Dr. Tim Klatte, partner and head of Forensic Advisory Services at Grant Thornton Shanghai, served as moderator. The session opened with remarks from Dr. John Quelch, DKU executive vice chancellor, who praised the authors’ book as
“the most important and strategic work on international joint ventures.”
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DKU professor named to Scientific Data board
Luyao Zhang, assistant professor of economics at DKU, has been appointed to the editorial board of Scientific Data, a peer-reviewed journal from the Nature Portfolio. She has also published two papers in the journal this year. Her work, guided by the theme of digital transformation for the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizes open access to research, data and code to support global innovation and equity.
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DKU hosts Wenhong Zhang for high-profile talk on global health challenges
Wenhong Zhang, director of China’s National Center for Infectious Diseases and the Department of Infectious Diseases at Fudan University’s Huashan Hospital, visited DKU as a guest speaker in the Xingquan Lecture Series. He delivered an engaging lecture on infectious disease research and, during a Q&A session with DKU students and faculty, shared his insights on global health and talent development with his signature
wit and depth.
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Chinese course fair and speech competition held at DKU
The Language and Culture Center hosted a Chinese Course Fair and Chinese Speech Competition, featuring a variety of activities, including course showcases for students at different Chinese proficiency levels, interactive games, thematic speeches and stand-up comedy-style presentations. It provided both domestic and international students with a platform to experience the charm of Chinese language courses and showcase
their learning achievements.
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A conversation with China’s leading podcasters
DKU Library hosted a panel discussion featuring the three hosts of the popular Chinese podcast Stochastic Volatility — Zhiqi Zhang, Shiye Fu and Jianguo Leng. The event was co-organized with the Gender Studies Lab of the Humanities Research Center, the Environmental Research Center and the Cultures and Movements major at DKU.
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Hands-on, minds-on: DKU U-Corp sparks innovation from Kunshan to Chicago
The University-Corporation Innovation Lab (U-Corp) at DKU is building partnerships across sectors through student-led projects. A highlight was the U-Corp@PEER team’s presentation on generative AI and education at the 69th Comparative and International Education Society Annual Conference in March 2025. With seven new projects launching in spring 2025 — including ones on chronic disease, inclusive entrepreneurship and
smart energy — U-Corp continues to provide students with hands-on learning and cross-sector collaboration.
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DKU career services fosters growth through industry engagement
This spring, the Career Services team organized various events to support students’ professional growth. March highlights included a fireside chat with Duke academic leaders, a field trip to PwC Shanghai, and a panel with AmCham Shanghai on China's business landscape.
Activities in April included a recruitment session with Tencent and corporate visits to the New Development Bank, Luxshare and Skechers, offering students firsthand exposure to global industries and career opportunities. These initiatives continue to bridge academia and industry, preparing students for future success.
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DKU professor delivers lecture at Xi’an Conservatory of Music
Maximiliano Amici, assistant professor of music and composition at DKU, delivered a lecture at Xi’an Conservatory of Music as part of the Silk Road Musical Talks series. Focusing on his string quartet “Encounter,” Amici explored the fusion of Shanxi folk melodies with chromaticism and offered insights on blending traditional themes with modern composition techniques.
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Prof. Fujie Xu attends 16th CUGH conference
The 16th Annual Conference of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health was held from February 20 to 23, 2025, in Atlanta. Themed “Innovating and implementing in global health for a sustainable world,” the conference brought together 1,344 researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and young scholars from 61 countries around the world. Professor Fujie Xu, co-director of the Global Health Program at DKU,
participated in the event, contributing to discussions on advancing sustainable solutions in global health.
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2024-2025 Sino-Foreign University Cup
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Blood donation event
Books for veggies event
Fluffy day
Food and sustainability festival
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Music events
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Four undergraduates whose research studies are winning acclaim
Four rising seniors whose undergraduate research has already uncovered discoveries in fields from cancer biology to the cultural influence of music have been named the 2025 Faculty Scholars, the highest honor given by the university faculty to undergraduate students.
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Zhihua Foundation donates 40 million yuan to Wuhan University
On May 26, Hong Kong Zhihua Foundation Limited donated 40 million yuan to Wuhan University to support the development of the university’s educational initiatives.
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Kunshan promotes Qingyanggang business district and key development areas
Kunshan recently held a promotion and cooperation event to spotlight the Qingyanggang Central Business District and other key development areas. The event presented a strategic plan focused on integrating industry, urban growth and community development.
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