Pan Shiyi, founder of SOHO China Limited, a well-known Chinese real estate company, donated US$10 million to Yale University on Wednesday under the name of SOHO China Foundation.

This is the second time the Chinese tycoon has donated to an Ivy League School - Harvard University received a grant worth US$15 million from him in July of this year.

SOHO China plans to donate US$100 million to prestigious overseas schools, meaning US$75 million still remains to be distributed.

The donation will provide grants for needy Chinese students to attend Yale University, said Pan after signing the agreement with Peter Salovey, president of Yale.

According to Salovey, the donation will be managed with investments and will bring in profits, thereby creating long-term and sustainable funding for the Chinese student grant program.

"This donation is designated for overseas students from China, because education should be without boundaries," Pan said after his donation to Harvard University. "SOHO China also has helped domestic universities," he continued

However, some people suspect that Pan's donation is designed to pave a road for the higher education of his sons.

In response to the skepticism, Pan said, "All parents hope to send their children to prestigious universities such as Harvard and Yale. But the universities have requirements for enrolling students and won't compromise for unqualified students because of a donation."

Salovey also said that the student grants will focus on qualified needy Chinese students, but it is by no means intend to pressure Yale to favor admitting Chinese candidates.

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