Introduction

I. History and Overview

The School of Chinese Studies and Cultural Exchange was established in June 2019 as a secondary teaching and research school under Renmin University of China. 

Its predecessor was the Center for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, founded by the university in 1986. This center merged with the Language and Script Research Institute in 1996 to form the School of Foreign Language and Culture. In 2008, the School of Foreign Language and Culture merged with the School of Liberal Arts, becoming the Center for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language within the School of Liberal Arts.

The School of Chinese Studies and Cultural Exchange focuses on educating international students in China, training and developing international Chinese language teachers and other professionals in the field, and promoting the Chinese language and culture worldwide.

The School includes a university-level research institute called the Institute for International Promotion of Chinese, along with four teaching and research sections: Discipline Theory and Construction, International Chinese Language Education, Teacher Development, and Chinese Culture Research and Promotion.
It also has four administrative offices: the School Office, the Academic Affairs Office, the Party, Youth League, and Student Affairs Office, and the International Cooperation Office.

The school offers small-class teaching and is equipped with state-of-the-art multimedia facilities, including a Smart Classroom and a Cloud Platform for International Chinese Language Education, as well as self-study rooms. 

It also features an independent resource room with a diverse collection of over 20,000 specialized books in Chinese and foreign languages, and more than 80 types of professional journals from around the world, providing an excellent learning environment for international students.

II. Talent Cultivation

The talent cultivation programs are divided into degree and non-degree education. Degree programs offer doctoral and master's courses for both Chinese and international students in fields such as Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, Chinese Language and Philology, and International Chinese Language Education. 

There are also undergraduate programs in Chinese Language specifically for international students. Non-degree education includes long-term and short-term Chinese language courses and training programs for international Chinese language professionals, among other offerings.

1. Doctoral and Master's Students

Since 2000, our school's predecessor, the School of Foreign Language and Culture, began enrolling Chinese and international doctoral students in Chinese Language and Philology, Linguistics and Applied Linguistics. To date, it has cultivated a large number of excellent doctoral graduates for the discipline.
In June 2007, approved by the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council, Renmin University of China became one of the first institutions in China to enroll full-time Master of International Chinese Language Education students. 

In 2009, the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (formerly Hanban)/Confucius Institute Headquarters launched the project for the localization of international Chinese language teachers. This project, through the Confucius Institute Scholarship, sponsors international students aspiring to pursue a career in international Chinese language education to study for a Master's degree in International Chinese Language Education at Chinese universities. 

Our school enrolls 75 domestic and 20 international Master of International Chinese Language Education students annually. So far, it has produced over 1,000 graduates in this field, with international students coming from more than 70 countries including the Republic of Korea, Japan, the United States, France, Italy, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkiye, and Brazil.

2.Undergraduate Students (Chinese Language Major for International Students)

In 1996, the school's predecessor, the School of Foreign Language and Culture, enrolled its first cohort of undergraduate students. Since then, efforts in cultivating degree-seeking students have been intensified. The annual enrollment of undergraduates remains stable at around 40 students. 

Undergraduate teaching is managed uniformly under the university's Academic Affairs Office, strictly adhering to the “Teaching Quality Management System" for comprehensive monitoring and management of teaching plans, curriculum design, instruction, teaching evaluation, teaching research activities, student status management, attendance management, and guidance for academic year papers and graduation theses.

The guidance for undergraduate graduation theses involves a one-year system of weekly two-hour, one-on-one supervision by advisors and a defense system for outstanding theses. This not only effectively ensures the quality of undergraduate education but has also become a distinctive feature of our international student teaching. Currently, the undergraduate student body has reached nearly 200 students.

3. Chinese Language Non-Degree Students

Each semester, our school hosts around 200 long-term non-degree students studying Chinese, who are divided into six levels based on their language proficiency. We also offer specialized classes, intensive language programs, and Business Chinese courses.

International students are encouraged to join activities organized for Chinese students, which significantly boosts their motivation to learn. We regularly publish an International Student Newspaper that is displayed on the school's bulletin boards. 

At the end of each semester and during major festivals, we organize Chinese language performances for students to showcase their skills. We also publish attendance records regularly. This blend of strict management and personalized care has become a hallmark of our school.

Our short-term non-degree students include participants from Confucius Institutes partnered with universities, attendees of the International Summer School, and those involved in various domestic and international Chinese language education and cultural promotion projects in collaboration with relevant institutions.

III. Faculty and Development

The school currently has 31 faculty and staff members, including 23 full-time teachers, with two professors and nine associate professors. The faculty includes one member of the National Professional Degree Graduate Education Steering Committee for International Chinese Language Education, one doctoral supervisor, and 22 master's supervisors. 

The majority of teachers have studied or had work experience abroad or in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan for over two years. The professional backgrounds of the faculty encompass disciplines involved in International Chinese Language Education, such as Chinese Language and Literature, Foreign Languages and Literature, Education, Psychology, and Culture. The school has also invited several renowned domestic and international scholars to serve as guest professors.

IV. Discipline Construction and Scientific Research

The school focuses on talent cultivation and scientific research to drive discipline development and teaching innovation. We emphasize research in areas like International Chinese Language Education, Language Acquisition Theory, Teaching Methodology, Lexicology, and Grammar, achieving notable success. 

The school has received the National Award for Scientific and Technological Progress and the Outstanding Teaching Award for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language.

Our faculty has published over 200 papers in leading journals and more than 150 academic books. It has secured seven projects funded by the National Social Science Fund and the National Natural Science Foundation of China, along with over 30 ministerial/provincial-level projects. The Developing Chinese textbook series, created by our key teachers, was part of the National Eleventh Five-year Plan and has had a significant impact globally. 

Additionally, the New Momentum Undergraduate Chinese Language Textbook Series for International Students and the Thesis Reading and Writing Textbook Series for International Students complete our distinctive textbook system.

V. Student Activities

The school prioritizes education, management, and services for international students, offering diverse extracurricular activities. Popular events include the Renmin University of China International Culture Festival and the International Students Chinese Reporting Performance. 

Our students excel in competitions such as the CCTV Chinese Bridge, the Confucius Institute Cup, and the Beijing Chinese Star. 

Students from partner universities such as Boston University, University College Dublin, and the University of Zimbabwe have repeatedly won the CCTV Chinese Bridge championship.

These activities showcase our students' artistic talents and Chinese language skills, promoting cultural exchange and integration. 

VI. Contact Information

Address: School of Chinese Studies and Cultural Exchange, Renmin University of China, No 59 Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing, China, 100872

Email: scsce@ruc.edu.cn

Website: http://scsce.ruc.edu.cn/