Dear Members of the TC Community,

It is with sadness that we write to share news of the passing of Dr. Mun C. Tsang, founding Director of the Center on Chinese Education (CoCE) and Professor Emeritus of Economics and Education Policy at Teachers College, Columbia University, on Monday, April 15. He was also Changjiang Professor of Economics of Education at Peking University in China.  

Dr. Tsang was an internationally renowned economist, and a beloved colleague and mentor to dozens of students over many decades. Through his scholarship and international development work, he championed equity in education for marginalized populations in regions throughout the world, focusing in the areas of education finance, cost analysis in education, economic effects of education and Chinese education development and policy. “Dr. Mun Tsang was a model of compassion, encouragement, and thought as a scholar, mentor, colleague and friend,” said Thomas Bailey, President of Teachers College. “He leaves a tremendous legacy of scholarship exploring the ways economics and education can generate new understanding and solutions to pressing global issues. He also provided visionary leadership through the creation of the Center on Chinese Education that has deepened and expanded the College’s connection with China.  In promoting equity for all of humanity, Dr. Tsang represented the very best of Teachers College. He will be greatly missed.”

Dr. Tsang joined Teachers College as Professor of Education in 1998 in the Department of International and Transcultural Studies (ITS), where he also served as chair. He was jointly appointed to ITS and the Education Policy & Social Analysis department (EPSA) after the latter was established. In 2000, he founded the Center on Chinese Education — the first U.S. academic center with a special focus on education development in China — providing leadership in programs of research on Chinese education, training of education leaders, and U.S-China educational exchange.

“Founding the Center reflected Professor Tsang’s commitment to promoting a better understanding of education in China by building a bridge between China and the U.S.,” observed Dr. Henan Cheng, Deputy Director of CoCE. “During his tenure, he hosted hundreds of visiting professors, scholars and exchange doctoral students from prestigious Chinese universities, fostering collaboration on research projects on Chinese education finance reforms, education for children of migrants and ethnic minorities, early childhood education, higher education and technology innovation. Professor Tsang and CoCE have played an invaluable role in strengthening the historical ties between Teachers College and China.” 

One of the Center’s first prominent projects involved raising more than $1 million in funding to support 5,000 female students from rural, impoverished regions in Yunnan Province. The success of this project spurred the creation of a similar program by China’s central government, enabling the most underserved children in China to continue their education. 

Dr. Tsang received his B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from MIT and his M.A. in Economics and his Ph.D. in the Economics of Education from Stanford University. He authored and co-authored numerous books and articles, including: Access, Equity and Performance: Education in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago; Critical Issues in Policy Analysis and Management of Education; and Cost analysis of educational inclusion of marginalized populations.

Recognition of Dr. Tsang’s tremendous leadership and scholarship has been widely recognized through awards, including: the Richard Swanson Excellence in Research Award from the American Academy of Human Resources Development and the Award for Poverty Reduction through Education from the Yunnan Education Society in 1995; and the International Scholar Award for Excellent Contributions to Chinese Educational Development by the Chinese Society of Education and the Chinese Association for Nongovernmental Education in 2010. He held honorary professorships at multiple universities in China, including Beijing Normal University and South China Normal University. From 1996, Dr. Tsang served as Honorary President of the Chinese Economics of Education Association. Additionally, Dr. Tsang consulted on education projects and studies for international agencies, including the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and UNESCO.

Dr. Tsang’s contributions to strengthening China’s education development and TC and China’s relationship will stand the test of time. On behalf of the entire Teachers College community, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Tsang’s family, friends and colleagues and ask you to share in celebrating his remarkable life. Remembrances of Dr. Tsang may be shared here, and plans for a virtual memorial celebrating his life will be communicated here at a later date.

Sincerely,

KerryAnn O'Meara
Provost and Dean of the College
Professor of Higher Education
Teachers College, Columbia University
she/her/hers


Luis A. Huerta
Professor of Education & Public Policy
Chair, Department of Education Policy and Social Analysis
Teachers College, Columbia University


Hervé Varenne
Gardner Cowles Professor of Anthropology and Education
Chair, Department of International & Transcultural Studies
Teachers College, Columbia University