Renmin University of China
中国人民大学 | |
| File:RenminUniv..jpg | |
| Motto | Pursuing the Truth (实事求是) |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1937 |
| President | Ji Baocheng |
Academic staff | 1,618 (December 2006) |
| Students | 18,998 (December 2006) |
| Undergraduates | 9,571 |
| Postgraduates | 9,427 |
| Location | , |
| Campus | Urban |
| Website | http://www.ruc.edu.cn |
Renmin University of China (RUC), previously known as People's University of China (simplified Chinese: 中国人民大学; traditional Chinese: 中國人民大學; pinyin: Zhōngguó Rénmín Dàxué), colloquially Renda (Chinese: 人大; pinyin: Réndà), is a national comprehensive university located in Beijing, China.
History
The predecessor of the university was Shaan Bei Public School established in 1937 during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Later it was renamed the North China United University and North China University. Renmin University of China was officially established in 1950, the first national university of People's Republic of China. Wu Yuzhang, Cheng Fangwu, Guo Yingqiu, Yuan Baohua, Huang Da, and Li Wenhai have successively held the presidential posts. The current university president is Prof. Ji Baocheng, a renowned expert in trade economics and educational administration.
Present
Renmin University is commonly considered among the top universities in China. 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. Renmin University is entitled 25 national key disciplines, ranks No.5 of China, 13 national key research bases of humanities and social sciences, ranks No.1 of China, and 6 national teaching and research bases of fundamental arts disciplines, ranks No.1 of China.
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 is under construction at this time. The Renmin University of China Press is one of the most famous pulishers 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 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 and Reinhard Selten.
Renmin University traditionally attracts China's best minds on humanity and social sciences. According to the evaluation report of Ministry of Education, Renmin University of China Law School, Economics, Sociology, School of Journalism rank top one in China's universities. Generally speaking Renmin University is considered to be the best place for students to study social sciences in China.
Campus
Renmin University is located at No.59 Zhongguancun Street, Haidian district, nearly the center of Beijing city, and is less than 5-10 minutes drive away from other top schools in the nation, for example, 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 New Summer Palace.
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 practise English. It is a good place to meet and communicate with the students of the university and the common people of China.
Renmin University is host to about 1,165 international students at present and many of the students are from Korea. There are so many Korean students that the International Students Dining Room has a separate Korean menu aside from their traditional Chinese menu.
Famous alumni
- Han Xu - China's Ambassador to the United States, 1985-1989.
- Wang Xiaobo - Famous modern writer
- Xiao Yang - Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China (1998-2003；2003- )
- Ma Kai - Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (2003- ), People's Republic of China
- Zhang Zhixin - Famous dissident during the Cultural Revolution for criticizing idolization of Mao Zedong; Jailed since 1969 and cruelly executed in 1975. Restored as "Martyr" in 1979
- Guo Jingjing - 2004 Summer Olympics 3m Springboard & Synchronized Springboard gold medals winner
- Wang Junxia - 1996 Summer Olympics women's 5000m running gold medal and 10000m silver medal winner, the world record holder of women's 10000m since 1993 with 29:31:78, a graduate of Renmin University of China Law School
Affiliated Schools
- The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China
- The Primary School Affiliated to Renmin University of China
- The Kindergarten Affiliated to Renmin University of China
External links
- University Official Website in English
- TDRD Internet Bulletin The quasi-official student internet forum of Renmin University (Simplified Chinese)
- RUCOL Forum A non-official student internet forum of Renmin University (Simplified Chinese)