Shanghai Jiao Tong University has announced a significant donation from a prominent alumnus.

Neil Shen, founding and managing partner of Sequoia Capital China, has contributed 300 million yuan to his alma mater.

The donation will establish the "Sequoia Academy Construction Fund," aimed at supporting the university's educational initiatives.

The university plans to create a new platform for cultivating top-tier talent, named Sequoia Academy, which will be developed based on the Zhiyuan College.

Mr. Shen has been appointed as the honorary dean, while President Ding Kuiling will serve as the inaugural dean.

The academy will feature a flexible academic system lasting 3 to 6 years and will begin selecting "Sequoia Scholars" from the class of 2026 in early 2027.

Public records indicate Neil Shen was born in 1967 in Haining, Zhejiang Province, and is a graduate of both Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the Yale School of Management.

He is the global executive partner of Sequoia Capital and the founding and managing partner of Sequoia Capital China, as well as a co-founder of Ctrip and Home Inns.

It is noted that Mr. Shen has made several previous donations to Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

In April 2016, he donated 50 million yuan to establish the Shanghai Jiao Tong University "Medical Research Fund."

In 2011, he personally funded the "Zhiyuan Outstanding Student Scholarship" at the university, which was later extended in 2023 through a joint contribution with alumnus Academician Ye Jun.

Furthermore, the university has received multiple other substantial donations from alumni this year.

On April 6, Yang Yuanqing, Chairman and CEO of Lenovo Group, a university trustee, and a 1981 computer science alumnus, announced a personal donation of 200 million yuan to support the renovation of old buildings at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

On March 31, Robin Zeng, Chairman of

CATL

and a 1985 naval architecture alumnus, donated 5 million unrestricted A-shares of

CATL

to the Shanghai Jiao Tong University Education Development Foundation, valued at approximately 2 billion yuan.

On March 17, Eric Jing, Chairman of Ant Group and a 1994 undergraduate alumnus, along with his wife, also a 1994 alumna, jointly donated cash and Ant Group shares worth 130 million yuan to their alma mater.

This donation will be fully allocated to the "AI Future Cornerstone Fund" established by the university.