On November 4, the Ministry of Education held the awarding ceremony for winners of the 9th Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Achievements Award (Humanities and Social Sciences), with Renmin University of China (RUC) achieving the highest number of first-place awards among Chinese universities.
The Award was established in 1995 to recognize significant achievements in humanities and social sciences by university researchers, encouraging rigorous scholarship and innovation. It aims to accelerate the development of philosophy and social sciences with Chinese characteristics and build an independent knowledge system. The 9th Outstanding Achievements Award began its appraisal in early 2022 and presented a total of 1,496 awards, including 1,196 for published works, 76 for consulting reports, 21 for popular literature, and 203 for youth research. RUC received a record 85 awards, including 14 first prizes, 30 second prizes, and 27 third prizes, as well as one popular literature award and 13 youth research awards.
RUC’s Recent Educational Achievements
RUC is advancing its role as a leader in China’s independent knowledge system. Under the “Xi Jinping Thought Research Project,” the university has launched five core initiatives focused on research, talent cultivation, team building, cultural communication, and cadre training. RUC has also hosted major academic forums, established a research archive for new ideological studies, and organized brand activities centering on political education.
The university also expanded its efforts in Chinese civilization studies. Launching the “Civilization History Research Project,” it created a first-level discipline in Civilization Studies and an undergraduate program in Chinese Classical Studies. It also established six new Chinese-style colleges for all undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students, and expanded research institutes focused on traditional Chinese studies, including the Qing History Research Center.
To support curriculum development, RUC set up a textbook committee that produced the “China Series Textbooks” and partnered with national museums and libraries to conduct research on museum and bibliographic studies.
Internationally, RUC promotes global engagement through initiatives such as the Tongzhou Global Development Forum and the China-Europe Civilization Forum, establishing platforms for cross-cultural exchange. It is involved in global projects like the Nyerere Leadership School and has developed tools like the “Higher Education Power Index” to evaluate global higher education development.
Aligned with China’s 2035 modernization vision, RUC has recently established over ten new educational institutions, including schools dedicated to Intelligent Governance, Ecological Environment, and Population and Health. The university is also developing the “Digital Humanities World” literature platform, bringing together 1,290 humanities journals and advancing the construction of key laboratories in philosophy and social sciences, as well as new research platforms in big data and artificial intelligence. In collaboration with 60 universities, RUC established the “University Alliance for Constructing China’s Independent Knowledge System” and eight academic alliances, including philosophy, law, and art.
Meanwhile, RUC is implementing a comprehensive reform strategy aimed at the university’s centenary, advancing reforms in faculty management, institutional arrangement, education evaluation, academic promotion, salary systems, and logistical support. In September this year, the Tongzhou campus was officially launched, supporting the construction of an independent knowledge system with new space, mechanisms, and momentum.
Moving forward, RUC will position itself as a leading force in Chinese academia, contributing to a distinct system of humanities and social sciences rooted with Chinese characteristics.
