On National Day, October 1st, coinciding with the 129th anniversary of Tianjin University, Zheng Dong, an esteemed alumnus from the class of 1988, returned to his alma mater to donate 50 million yuan. This generous contribution will establish the "Tianjin University Zheng Dong Excellence/Lecture/Distinguished Professor Fund," aimed at recognizing teaching staff, expressing gratitude to Tianjin University, and supporting the construction of a strong educational nation. The donation ceremony took place in the 1895 Administration Building, attended by Tianjin University Party Secretary Yang Xianjin, Vice President Zheng Gang, and other representatives from the university and alumni associations. The ceremony was presided over by Mr. Pan Feng, Director of Alumni and Fund Affairs and Secretary General of the Tianjin University Peiyang Education Development Foundation.
During the event, Zheng Dong shared his insights and experiences from his academic and professional journey, emphasizing that attracting talent and rejuvenating the nation through science and education are essential for the rise of a great power. "On the eve of the 129th anniversary of my alma mater, I make this donation to establish the Zheng Dong Excellence/Chair/Distinguished Professor Fund at Tianjin University, supporting the university in attracting and cultivating outstanding talents and building a high-level faculty team," he stated, expressing his hope to contribute to the development of Tianjin University.
Yang Xianjin, representing the university, expressed profound gratitude and respect to Zheng Dong for his dedication. Yang remarked that Zheng Dong's generosity exemplifies a strong sense of patriotism and responsibility in supporting the development of his alma mater. He encouraged students to emulate Zheng Dong, striving to become pillars of the nation and contributing to the construction of a powerful country. The university also hopes that more alumni will support the development of Tianjin University, working together to build a world-class university with Chinese characteristics and making significant contributions to the construction of a strong educational nation.
In 1988, Zheng Dong enrolled in the Chemical Engineering major at Tianjin University, where he was among the first batch of student Party members in his class. After graduation, he worked for a large state-owned enterprise and a major commercial enterprise. In 1994, he entered the venture capital field, actively participating in the economic construction landscape. Zheng Dong has always believed that his career development has greatly benefited from the education and support he received from his alma mater, and he continuously seeks to give back. Previously, during the 119th anniversary of Tianjin University, Zheng Dong donated 50 million yuan to support the construction of the new Tianjin University library, which is now named the "Zheng Dong Library." This library has gained popularity among faculty and students, becoming affectionately known as "the most beautiful library" and serving as a spiritual and cultural hub on the Peiyang Park Campus. Furthermore, Zheng Dong has consistently supported talent development at Tianjin University. Since 2010, he has established the "Zheng Dong Scholarship" to encourage and assist students in their personal development, with over 700 young students benefiting from this initiative and evolving into talented individuals.
By: Zhang Yifan
Editor: Qin Mian
