Sequoia China Founder Donates 300 Million Yuan to Establish Sequoia Academy at Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Shanghai Jiao Tong University has officially established the Sequoia Academy, an initiative designed to enhance the cultivation of top-tier innovative talent and deepen foundational scientific disciplines in response to national strategic demands.

The university also announced the formation of an advisory committee for the academy, co-chaired by Ding Quiling, President of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Shen Nanpeng, founding and executive partner of Sequoia China. The committee includes leading figures from academia and industry.

The establishment of the academy is made possible by a significant donation of 300 million yuan from Shen Nanpeng, an alumnus of the 1985 cohort of the university's first educational reform pilot class. The fund, named the "Sequoia Academy Construction Fund," was announced during the university's 130th anniversary.

The Sequoia Academy will focus on undergraduate education, particularly through its "Sequoia Scholars Program." This program allows selected students to pursue interdisciplinary studies beyond traditional major boundaries, with tailored curricula designed to strengthen their foundations in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and artificial intelligence.

Students enrolled in the academy will benefit from a flexible 3-to-6-year academic system. This structure allows for adjustments to accommodate research, internships, or entrepreneurial pursuits, enabling students to manage their academic progress according to personal development and career goals.