Duke Kunshan University (DKU), a new China-US joint venture in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, held its opening ceremony on Aug 20, to welcome the university's first batch of teachers and students.

The ceremony featured both Chinese and American culture, which included English speeches as well as Kunqu opera performances.

Duke Kunshan University in Kunshan,Jiangsu province. [Photo/Asianews Photo]

Twenty-nine DKU faculty members, including 22 from Duke University, also participated in the event. DKU Chancellor Liu Jingnan emphasized the university's focus on elite education during his speech. Executive Vice Chancellor Mary Brown Bullock expressed her wish to DKU to set itself as a model for the future of higher education around the world.

Ye Yongling from China, on behalf of undergraduate students, shared his personal story to stress the importance of being open-minded in the era of globalization. Ginny De La Cruz, who is from the US, also delivered a speech on behalf of graduate students.

A bird's view of the Duke Kunshan University campus. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

DKU students and faculty members will begin classes on August 25. DKU's three masters programs in global health, medical physics and management studies have enrolled 42 graduate students from the United States, China, Russia, Argentina, Kenya and Singapore, who will receive master's degrees from Duke University upon the completion of their studies. The university also welcomed 62 undergraduate students from 22 different universities.