Tsinghua University on Thursday established a school of public health to help "enhance China's capabilities in public health management."

Margaret Chan, former director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), will be the first dean of the school that will focus on research fields including preventative medicine, comprehensive healthcare, big data in healthcare and public health policy and management.

The school on Thursday received a donation of 200 million shares of Vanke, a Shenzhen-headquartered property developer. The donation, worth 5.3 billion yuan (747 million U.S. dollars) according to the closing price on Wednesday, was made by Vanke staff to set up a special fund for the school's development.

Tsinghua said the school will in the next five to 10 years "provide support to China's epidemic control, vaccine development and decisive think tanks related to major public health policy making."

In a recorded video message, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said "the opening of this school could not come at a more critical moment."

"You have already begun making progress on COVID-19 research into vaccines, testing and epidemic prevention systems. I look forward to future collaborations between the School of Public Health and the WHO, as we strive together to keep the world safe through research and by strengthening our health and preparedness systems," he said.