MPA

Tongji University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, established in 2001, was among the first 24 institutions in China approved to confer this professional degree. It aims to cultivate versatile talents with both political integrity and professional competence in public affairs management and policy research, serving as a backbone force for advancing the modernization of China’s governance system and capabilities.

The MPA program aligns with the era of Chinese modernization, grounded in the core principles of sustainable development. It receives support from university-wide platforms such as the United Nations Institute for Sustainable Development and the Think Tank for Sustainable Development and New Urbanization. Leveraging Tongji’s disciplinary strengths in urban planning, engineering construction, and the academic resources of its School of Economics and Management—including first-tier disciplines in public administration, applied economics, management science and engineering, and business administration—the program adopts a problem-oriented approach. It addresses major challenges in public governance posed by global changes, technological advancements, and societal transformation, building a robust talent development system with solid theoretical foundations and outstanding practical capabilities.

The faculty of this degree program boasts interdisciplinary educational backgrounds, with all instructors and graduate advisors holding doctoral degrees. Their professional qualifications span multiple disciplines, including management, economics, engineering, law, and more, reflecting a distinctive multidisciplinary integration. This composition has fostered a unique teaching team rich in both theoretical expertise and practical experience.

The Tongji University MPA “May” Lecture Series is a key component of the MPA program and has been successfully held for 22 consecutive editions. Each year, the series invites distinguished figures from government and academia who possess extensive practical experience and profound academic expertise in public administration. Over time, it has evolved into a high-level lecture series with widespread influence in China’s public management field.

The MPA program at Tongji University is closely aligned with national strategic objectives, committed to promoting high-quality regional economic and social development. Guided by the principles of “Green Development, Digital Intelligence, and Integrated Innovation,” it comprehensively strengthens talent cultivation, scientific research, social services, international collaboration, and cultural heritage preservation, providing robust support for the nation’s sustained and steady progress.

Rooted in China’s governance practices, the Tongji University MPA program adopts the pathways of “Green Development, Digital Intelligence, and Integrated Innovation” to cultivate high-level public administration professionals with both global vision and local expertise, continuously contributing “Tongji Wisdom” to global urban governance.