April/May – The inaugural class in the international master of environmental policy (iMEP) program graduates at ceremonies held in Kunshan and Durham, North Carolina.
A groundbreaking ceremony is held to launch phase two construction of the campus. In attendance are senior representatives from Duke University, Wuhan University, Suzhou and Kunshan. The Innovation Building also officially opens, marking the end of phase one construction.
Duke Kunshan welcomes its inaugural undergraduate class of 262 students. The university also launches a master of engineering in electrical and computer engineering.
The university launches the Regional Ozone Sino-U.S. Collaborative Research Center with the government of Jiangsu province, which administers Kunshan, as well as the PRCEE-Duke Kunshan Joint Laboratory on Quantitative Environmental Policy Analysis in partnership with the Ministry of Environmental Protection’s Policy Research Center for Environment and Economy.
Duke Kunshan welcomes its first students in the MMS, M.Sc. in global health and M.Sc. in medical physics programs, as well as students taking part in the undergraduate Global Learning Semester program.
Liu Jingnan, scientist and former president of Wuhan University, becomes the first chancellor of Duke Kunshan. Mary Brown Bullock, former president of Agnes Scott College and a scholar of U.S.-China relations, is appointed executive vice chancellor.
Duke officials, American diplomats and Chinese government officials join Duke alumni in China for a grand ceremony to celebrate the Ministry of Education granting approval to Duke Kunshan.
Duke University and Wuhan University sign a statement on cooperation principles, establishing Duke Kunshan as a joint-venture between the two institutions.
Duke University signs a cooperation agreement with the government of Kunshan city to establish Duke Kunshan University and a groundbreaking ceremony is held at the site of the new campus. In attendance is Richard Brodhead, president of Duke University.
