First visit to NTU for Tsinghua’s ‘Yao Class’ students and First networking session for TAISP scholars – Tuesday, 6 August 2024

CCDS achieved several milestones on Tuesday, 6 August 2024.

CCDS hosted the first visit of Tsinghua University’s “Yao Class” to NTU. The Tsinghua delegation consisted of three faculty members and twenty-five undergraduate students (second or third year) and was led by Asst Prof Song Yifan.

The inaugural batch of scholars from the CCDS’ premier Turing AI Scholars Programme (TAISP) joined the session and mingled with the guests.  

This event also marked the first formal meet-up for the 27 TAISP scholars whose freshmen orientation was subsequently held on 8 August 2024.  

The brand new TAISP’s Space (N4-01B-04) buzzed with excitement as the Tsinghua delegation arrived, greeted by a warm round of applause from eager TAISP scholars.  The mingling session marked the inaugural event at this dedicated space for the new scholars, and the atmosphere was electric. 

The students from NTU and Tsinghua demonstrated impressive initiative, ensuring that each table was a melting pot of diverse perspectives. Their proactive approach fostered a sense of camaraderie and facilitated meaningful interactions between the two universities.

The event kicked off with a warm welcome by Assoc Prof Nicholas Vun, Assoc Dean (Postgraduate & Executive Education & Special Programs). In his address, Prof Vun provided an overview of CCDS’ rich history and its undergraduate programme offerings, highlighting TAISP and its unique features. Assoc Prof Vun also shared insights into CCDS’ cutting-edge research, highlighting key focus areas and exciting ongoing initiatives.  

The presentation by Ms Mona, facilitator from Tsinghua University, covered various areas such as research directions, research achievements, undergraduate and graduate education and sustainability development, just to name a few. 

Asst Prof Song from Tsinghua University also delivered an interesting presentation on cryptography and secret sharing. Following his talk, Assoc Prof Vun from CCDS posed a thought-provoking question to the students on “How does this relate to AI?” He then expanded on the historical significance of cryptography, highlighting Alan Turing's pivotal role in cracking Nazi communication encryptions during World War II which ultimately saved millions of lives. It was also noted that the TAISP programme was named in honour of Alan Turing.  

The event concluded with a networking segment over tea reception which facilitated meaningful and fun interactions between the CCDS TAISP students and their Tsinghua counterparts. 

Participants expressed enthusiasm for the event, with the “Yao Class” students finding the session both stimulating and informative, especially regarding the diverse research interests of both universities. TAISP students appreciated the opportunity to connect with their “Yao Class” peers, noting it as a valuable opportunity to share experiences and build professional relationships.

This event marked a significant milestone in strengthening cross-institutional collaboration and knowledge sharing. This collaborative partnership is poised to continue, with plans for CCDS’ TAISP scholars to visit Tsinghua University during the upcoming summer.