[120th Anniversary] Know Beida via Keywords: International exchange
May 03, 2018
Peking University, April 20, 2018: Peking University is going to celebrate its 120 anniversary on May 4, the date of its foundation in 1898. As a milestone in the history of PKU, the 120th anniversary serves as a key point to review the past achievements and to look forward to future development. Knowing Beida via 120 keywords, produced by Beidanews, is a series of historical snapshots that provide a fresh and immersing entrée to PKU’s illustrious past.
1. Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development
On September 26, 2015, during the High-Level Roundtable on South-South Cooperation, President Xi Jinping announced that China would set up the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development (ISSCAD). On April 29, 2016, Peking University ISSCAD officially established. It aims at building communication platform for developing countries, and pushing forward the South-South Collaboration, in the hope of contributing to the world’s common development.
“I hope that all of you can persist in your learning and put what you have learned into practice as you strive to explore a path to sustainable development that suits your own country. I hope that you will become leaders of reform. -President Xi Jinping, a write back to the first master graduate of ISSCAD
2. Beijing Forum
Beijing Forum was founded in 2004, it has welcomed more than 5,000 politicians and eminent scholars from more than 70 countries and regions all around the world. The theme selected for the inaugural Bejing Forum in 2004, "The Harmony of Civilizations and Prosperity for All" has been kept as the overall theme for each subsequent edition. The forum is based on Beijing's abundant cultural heritages and committed to promoting academic development and social progress worldwide, promoting the dialogue of civilizations and making a contribution to the common prosperity of all mankind.
3. The UK campus of Peking University
On March 25, 2018, the launch ceremony of the UK campus of Peking University was held. It’s the first time that Chinese university runs a entity educational institution overseas in independent management. According to the plan, the campus will recruit students from Britain and other European countries, and provide master study in finance, management, economics, and MBA (Master of Business Administration) from Peking University. The successful establishment of the PKU UK campus is a positive try for Chinese universities to “go external”. As Lin Jianhua, President of Peking University, mentioned during the inauguration , “The meaning of the PKU UK campus establishment is not only a 'small step' in the progress of friendship development between Peking University and UK, but also 'a big step' in the history of higher education in Peking University and China. ”
4. International Cultural Festival
French Cultural Day, held in PKU on March 9th, 2018, is the opening event of the 15th International Cultural Festival of Peking University also one of the PKU 120th anniversary celebration activities. The International Cultural Festival started in 2004 aims to foster young people's global vision and build a harmonious international campus. It is a brand activity that shows the harmonious atmosphere of Peking University.
5. Confucius Institute
Peking University is the undertaker of 10 Confucius Institutes and 46 Confucius Classrooms across Europe, Asia and Africa. After years of effort, Confucius Institute has become the overseas exchange base of Peking University, Chinese Teaching and Promotion Center and the cultural exchange platform between China and foreign countries. Confucius Institute at the Free University of Berlin, the Confucius Institute at Ritsumeikan, and the Confucius Institute at Chulalongkorn University have been awarded the honorary title of "Advanced Confucius Institute" by the Office of Chinese Language Council International.
6. “60”“380”
Peking University has bilateral exchange relationship with more than 380 universities and research institutions in more than 60 countries and regions. At the same time, Peking University has formed strategic partnerships with world-class universities, such as Harvard University, Yale University and Cambridge University, and established the Cambridge-Peking University China Center and the Stanford Center at Peking University. Peking University is actively planning and participating in international organizations for universities, and is involved in IARU (International Alliance of Research Universities), APRU (Association of Pacific Rim Universities), the Forum of University Presidents of East Asian Nations, etc.
7. Guests of Peking University
Since PKU’s 100th anniversary celebration in 1998, Peking University has been visited by more than 50 state heads of states and governments, eminent celebrities in kinds of fields: U.S. President Clinton, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Schroeder, French President Chirac, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Brazilian President Lula, Australian Prime Minister Rudd and South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Microsoft’s President Bill Gates, financial mogul Soros, former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, etc.
8. Exchange with Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan
Peking University implements work policies for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan from the government, and carries out exchange activities with all sectors of society in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, focusing on expanding substantive and high-level cooperative relationships with Taiwan University, Hong Kong University and other universities. PKU attaches great importance to the education of students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, actively explores the efficient and distinctive education system for students from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.
9. Peking University Global Fellowship
In 2012, Daniel Chee Tsui, Nobel Prize winner in physics in 1998 and a professor at Princeton University, became the first scholar to be selected in the program “Peking University Global Fellowship”. “Peking University Global Fellowship” aims to invite top scholars from all fields on a global scale to deliver lectures, offer courses and conduct collaborative researches in PKU. It brings together a group of world-class top scholars at Peking University, at the same time, it raises the academic sights of teachers and students from PKU. The scholars selected by the program, are believed to have these futures: their research level is at the forefront of the world, and their academic achievements have global influences”. Selected scholars, including the Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry Michael Levitt, the famous French linguist Professor Peyraube and German well-known sociologist Hans Joas, have successively lectured at Peking University.
10. Foreign students in Peking University
Every year, there are more than 8,000 international students from over 130 countries in the world studying at Peking University. Among the PKU alumni, there is a head of state, many current or former foreign dignitaries. Peking University's alumnus, also the current Ethiopian President, Murat Tusseau has been very concerned about the development and changes of Peking University, he says, “I have always been proud of once being a student of Peking University. I am also very glad that Peking University is proud of me. I am grateful to Peking University for cultivating me.”
11. “EAP”
Education Abroad Program (EAP) was founded to set up international communication platform and opportunities for short-term abroad study. It helps students foster an international vision in a globalization age. Peking University has more than 150 abroad study programs, including inter-school exchange in more than 260 universities, oversea summer schools and internship programs. Students have the opportunity to be an exchange student in foreign universities such as Stanford University, Yale University, University of California and other world-class and prestigious institutions for a period of time.
12. China-U.S. Youth Maker Exchange Center
On February 2, 2018, the China-U.S. Youth Maker Exchange Center was unveiled at Peking University. The center coordinates the deep participation of universities, corporations, think tanks, and communities from China and the United States, also conducts cooperation in curriculum construction, international exchanges and operation modes. It provides innovation and entrepreneurship training courses for youth from China and the United States. The center has become an important part of the China-U.S. cultural exchange mechanism, further boosting the exchanges among young students. Peking University has created different forms of exchange, such as the China-US Humanities Exchange Base, which has set a solid foundation for the friendly cooperation between countries.
Written by: Fu Gengwei
Edited by: Wang Chengsiou
Source: PKU News(chinese)
