12/10/2020
Schwarzman Scholars Announces Class of 2022
by Silke Stahl, Communications
Patrik Birkle, who graduated in Salem in 2015, has been selected as a member of the Schwarzman Scholars Class of 2022.

Each year up to 200 future leaders from the U.S., China and the rest of the world matriculate as Schwarzman Scholars at Tsinghua University in Beijing to pursue a one-year Master’s Degree in Global Affairs. This year, Patrik was selected as one of 154 Scholars chosen from more than 3,600 applicants.

Patrik Birkle is an Associate at Boston Consulting Group in Zurich where he specializes in digitization and technology to help the world’s leading organizations. Before joining BCG, he founded a virtual reality startup where he completed projects in Mexico, Haiti, the United States, and Europe. As an avid triathlete and Ironman triathlon finisher, Patrik is passionate about leveraging technology to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles. Through Schwarzman Scholars, he wants to forge close relationships with China’s technology and public policy sectors to identify scalable solutions to promote physical activity. Patrik is from Stuttgart in Germany.

“I see the Schwarzman Scholars programme as a continuation of what Kurt Hahn envisioned for Salem 100 years ago: Forging relationships between cultures und countries to foster collaboration. 

Salem sparked my curiosity to explore new cultures, showed me the strength of international collaboration and gave me the confidence to believe that we can have a positive impact in our world”, says Patrik.

Scholars chosen for this highly selective program have demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities and the potential to understand and bridge cultural and political differences. They live in Beijing for a year of intensive study and cultural immersion – attending lectures, workshops, and discussion groups; being mentored and advised by leaders across sectors; and traveling while developing a better understanding of China.

Silke Stahl, Communications

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