Renmin University of China

The origins of Renmin University of China date back to Shanbei Public School (simplified Chinese: 陕北公学; traditional Chinese: 陝北公學; pinyin: Shǎnběi Gōngxué), established in 1937 by the Communist Party of China in order to "bring up hundreds of thousands of revolutionary comrades to meet the needs of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression."[5] Later it was renamed as the North China United University and North China University. Several institutions were merged to form a single Renmin University of China in 1950. Wu Yuzhang, Cheng Fangwu, Guo Yingqiu, Yuan Baohua, Huang Da, Li Wenhai, Ji Baocheng, Chen Yulu had successively held the position of principal. The current principal of Renmin University of China is Liu Wei.[6]

The rock holding the engraved motto of the university, "seeking truth from facts"[2]

Currently Renmin University consists of 23 schools, 13 research institutes and the graduate school, with 60 specialties for undergraduate, 8 specialties for the second-bachelor's degree students, 140 specialties for the master's degree candidates and 92 specialties for the Doctor's degree candidates.

The University library has 2.5 million holdings, and is recognized as the Information Center of Arts Literatures by the Ministry of Education. The new library building opened in the second half of 2011. The Renmin University of China Press is one of the most famous publishers and the first university press in China which has published a large number of academic works in humanities and social sciences.

Renmin University has established its communications and cooperative relationships with 125 universities and research institutions of 32 countries and regions, which enables the University to be the center of academic and cultural communications between China and foreign countries. Many famous scholars have given lectures or attended special seminars in Renmin University, including the Nobel Prize in Economics winners Robert Mundell, Joseph E. Stiglitz, Michael Spence, John Forbes Nash, Edmund S. Phelps, Myron Scholes and Reinhard Selten.

Renmin University of China is one of the leading humanities and social science-focused universities in China, gaining national recognition for excellence in theoretical economics, applied economics, legal studies, sociology, journalism and communication, business administration, statistics, public administration, and Marxism theory. According to the evaluation report of Ministry of Education of China, Renmin University's Law School, School of Finance, School of Economics, School of Sociology and Population Studies, School of Journalism rank top one among China's universities. Generally speaking Renmin University is considered as one of the best places for social science students in China.

Renmin University of China Law School

• The School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development[7]
• The School of Arts
• The School of Business
• The School of Chinese Classics
• The School of Continuing Education
• The School of Economics
• The School of Education[8]
• The School of Environment and Natural Resources
• The School of Finance
• The School of Foreign Languages[9]
  • Department of English Studies
  • Department of French Studies
  • Department of German Studies
  • Department of Japanese Studies
  • Department of Russian Studies
  • Department of Spanish Studies
• The School of History
• The School of Information
• The School of Information Resource Management
• The School of International Studies
  • Department of International Politics
  • Department of Foreign Affairs
  • Department of Politics
• The School of Journalism
• The School of Labor and Human Resources
• The School of Law[10]
• The School of Literary Studies
• The School of Marxism Studies[11]
• The School of Teaching Chinese as Foreign Language
• The School of Philosophy[12]
• The School of Public Administration and Policy
• The School of Statistics
• The School of Sociology and Population Studies[13]
  • Department of Sociology
  • Department of Social Work
  • Department of Demography
• The School of Science
  • Department of Physics
  • Department of Chemistry
  • Department of Psychology
• The Institute of Qing History
• Sino–French Institute

Quadrangle in front of Number 2 Teaching Building.

East campus under construction in July 2018

Renmin University of China currently possesses two active campus, one campus under construction and one former campus.

• Renmin University main campus is located at No.59 Zhongguancun Street, Haidian district, and is less than 5–10 minutes drive away from other top schools in the nation, such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, Beijing Institute of Technology and Beijing Foreign Studies University. It is also only less than 10 minutes away from the Old Summer Palace and Summer Palace. Most schools, departments and institute are currently located at the Beijing campus. The English Corner at Renmin University is very famous in Beijing. Every Friday evening, people gather at the Qiushi Garden near the east gate to practice English. It is a good place to meet and communicate with the students of the university and the common people of China.[15] Besides, Renmin University is host to about 1,165 international students at present and many of the students are from South Korea. There are so many South Korean students that the International Students Dining Room has a separate Korean menu aside from their traditional Chinese menu.
• Renmin University of China has a secondary campus located in Suzhou Industrial Park, in the South-eastern province of Jiangsu.[16] It is home to the RUC Sino-French Institute (IFC Renmin) and its 900 Chinese and international students.[17] Besides, a number of Chinese and sino-foreign Master-level programs from several RUC faculties are also located on the same grounds under the supervision of RUC International College. RUC Suzhou campus is part of the Suzhou Dushu Lake Higher Education Town, together with other international Sino-Foreign oriented graduate and post-graduate schools such as Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool university or the Southeast University-Monash University Joint Graduate School.[18]
• Renmin University of China is currently building its future new main campus in Lucheng, Tongzhou district, currently named "Eastern Campus", to the east of Beijing central area.[19] It will be located in the same town as the soon-to-be relocated Beijing municipal government facilities.[20] Completion date is expected by the end of year 2017.[21]
• The former main campus of Renmin University of China is located East to the Forbidden City, in the Dongcheng district. Although it still belongs to the university, it is no longer used for educational purposes.

• Huang Da (黄达) - Professor Emeritus, School of Finance; President, Renmin University of China (1991-1994).
• Jin Canrong (金灿荣) - Professor, School of International Studies.
• Liu Xiaofeng (刘小枫) - Professor, School of Liberal Arts.
• Manuel Pérez García (马龙) - Former Associate Professor, School of International Studies (2013-2017).
• Mao Shoulong (毛寿龙) - Professor, School of Public Administration.
• Pan Suiming (潘绥明) - Professor, School of Sociology and Population Studies, renowned scholar of sexology.
• Shi Yinhong (时殷宏) - Professor, School of International Studies,[22] see zh:时殷弘
• Song Xinning (宋新宁) - Jean Monnet Professor, School of International Studies.
• Wang Liming (王利明) - Professor and former dean (2005–09), School of Law, renowned scholar of civil law.
• Wen Tiejun (温铁军) - Professor and dean, School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development.
• Wu Xiaoqiu (吴晓求) - Professor, School of Finance.
• Yang Ruilong (杨瑞龙) - Professor and dean, School of Economics.
• Baron von Pfetten (Yi Si) - Visiting Professor, School of Economics.
• Zeng Xianyi (曾宪义) - Professor Emeritus and former dean (1990-2005), School of Law, renowned scholar of legal history.
• Zhang Kangzhi (张康之) - Professor in the Department of Public Administration.
• Zhang Ming (张鸣) - Professor, School of International Studies.
• Zhou Xiaozheng (周孝正) - Professor, School of Sociology and Population Studies.

Renmin University maintains collaborative relationships and exchange programs with many well-known universities around the world, such as Queen's University, Boston College Law School, Columbia University, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Princeton University, University of Geneva, McGill University, Queen Mary University of London, King's College London, Waseda University, Carleton University, the University of Chicago, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and the University of Michigan[25] and Yale University. In January 2010, Zhang Lei, a graduate of Renmin University and Yale School of Management (SOM), donated US$8,888,888 to the SOM, the largest alumni gift the school had received.[26] Under the auspices of the gift, Renmin University students study at Yale through a summer program.

Renmin University School of Labor and Human Resources maintains an exchange relationship with the Huamin Research Center and the School of Social Work at Rutgers University. Every year since 2010, study abroad students and faculty from Rutgers exchange with their Renmin University counterparts. Renmin University is a popular destination for visiting foreign dignitaries. During his state visit to China in January 2008, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited Renmin University with Premier Wen Jiabao to talk with students, scholars, athletes and entrepreneurs.[27]

The School of International Studies offers a Double Masters in Asian and European Affairs with King's College London.[28]

The research and opinions of Renmin University professors are frequently cited in influential media outlets, such as the New York Times. Professors cited in the New York Times in recent years include Chen Weidong, Hou Dongming, Jin Canrong, Pan Suiming, Shi Yinhong, Zhang Ming, Zhou Xiaozheng, among others, and their expertise covers law, economics, sociology, political science and international relations.

Renmin University students are actively engaged in academic and exchange programs overseas, such as the National Model United Nations conference held annually in the New York City.[29]

The University of Chicago Center in Beijing,[30] which opened in September 2010, is located at the Culture Plaza on the Renmin University campus.

The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China is one of the most prestigious high schools in Beijing, and is a sister school of Phillips Academy in Massachusetts, Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and Punahou Academy in Honolulu.

• Institute of International Relations, Renmin University of China

• University Official Website(in Chinese and English)
• Chin Renmin University Press (in Chinese)
• TDRD Internet Bulletin The quasi-official student internet forum of Renmin University (in Chinese)
• RUCOL Forum A non-official student internet forum of Renmin University (in Chinese)