Alumni Stories | A Century of Academic Exchange Between Lehigh University and China
Founded in 1865, Lehigh University is a private research university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The university has a longstanding reputation for excellence in engineering and business education.
Founded in 1865, Lehigh University is a private research university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The university has a longstanding reputation for excellence in engineering and business education.
Lehigh University also has deep historical ties with Chinese students. According to university archives, 110 Chinese students attended Lehigh between 1879 and 1953, including six doctoral students. Many studied emerging fields in science, engineering, and technology before returning to China, where they made pioneering contributions across their respective disciplines.
Distinguished Chinese Alumni and Their Contributions
Lehigh University has played a notable role in the development of science, mathematics, and higher education in modern China. The following three alumni and scholars are among the most prominent figures associated with this history.
Xu Xi (1921–2013) | The “Father of Plastics in China”
Xu Xi was a polymer materials scientist, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a pioneering figure widely known as the “Father of Plastics in China.”
In 1947, he received a Boxer Indemnity Scholarship from the China Foundation for the Promotion of Education and Culture and began his studies in Lehigh University’s Department of Chemistry. He earned his Master of Science degree in 1948.
After returning to China, Xu established the country’s first plastics factory, the Chongqing Gallic Acid Plastics Factory, as well as the first university-level academic program dedicated to plastics. His work helped lay the foundation for polymer materials research and education in China.
Chuan-Chih Hsiung (C. C. Hsiung) | Differential Geometer
Chuan-Chih Hsiung was an internationally recognized differential geometer and a longtime faculty member in Lehigh University’s Department of Mathematics.
He joined Lehigh University in 1952 and became the university’s first Asian full professor in 1960. In 1967, he founded the Journal of Differential Geometry (JDG) at Lehigh and served as its editor-in-chief for 42 years until his passing.
The journal remains one of the world’s most influential academic publications in the field of differential geometry.
Zhang Xiaowen (1935– ) | Materials Scientist and Former President of Tsinghua University
Zhang Xiaowen is an expert in inorganic nonmetallic materials and a member of the International Academy of Ceramics. He served as president of Tsinghua University from 1988 to 1994.
From 1983 to 1984, Zhang conducted research at Lehigh University. After returning to China, he continued his work in advanced ceramic materials and higher education, while helping advance Tsinghua University’s development toward becoming a world-class institution.
Lehigh University College of Business Graduate Programs
The Lehigh University College of Business is accredited by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. It offers a range of graduate degree programs, including several STEM-designated programs.
Program | Chinese Name | Program Focus | STEM Designation |
1-Year Full-Time MBA (1-MBA) | 一年制全日制工商管理硕士 | An accelerated MBA designed to develop business and leadership capabilities | Depends on the selected concentration |
FLEX MBA | 灵活工商管理硕士 | A flexible online or on-campus MBA with options for joint degrees in educational leadership or engineering | Depends on the selected concentration |
MS in Management (MSM) | 管理学理学硕士 | A one-year program designed for graduates from non-business academic backgrounds | STEM-designated |
MS in Accounting and Information Analysis (MSAIA) | 会计与信息分析理学硕士 | Integrates accounting expertise with data and information analysis skills | STEM-designated |
MS in Applied Economics (MSAE) | 应用经济学理学硕士 | Emphasizes quantitative economics, econometrics, and applied data analysis | STEM-designated |
MS in Financial Engineering (MSFE) | 金融工程理学硕士 | Combines finance, mathematics, and computer engineering in an interdisciplinary curriculum | STEM-designated |
HYP Global and Lehigh University PMBC Program
HYP Global collaborates with the Lehigh University College of Business to offer the Pre-Master Bootcamp (PMBC), a preparatory pathway for graduate study in management.
Applicants first submit their academic backgrounds to HYP Global for assessment. Eligible students then complete the online PMBC preparatory curriculum. Those who meet the required academic standards may progress to formal admission to the corresponding master’s program at the Lehigh University College of Business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lehigh University’s overall academic reputation?
Lehigh University is a nationally recognized private research university in the United States. Its P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science and College of Business are particularly known for integrating academic study with industry practice, supporting strong graduate career outcomes, and maintaining close connections with employers.
How can students apply to a Lehigh University College of Business master’s program through PMBC?
Applicants begin by submitting their academic backgrounds to HYP Global for assessment. Eligible students enroll in the online PMBC curriculum. Students who successfully meet the required academic standards may receive formal admission to the corresponding master’s program at the Lehigh University College of Business.
