Renmin University of China

Last updated

Renmin University of China
中国人民大学
Renmin University of China logo.svg
Former names
People's University of China
Motto实事求是 [1]
Motto in English
Seeking truth from facts [2]
Type Public
Established1937;88 years ago (1937)
President Lin Shangli (林尚立)
Party Secretary Zhang Donggang (张东刚)
Academic staff
1,887 (September 2019) [3]
Students27,810 (September 2019)
Undergraduates 11,336
Postgraduates 10,505
Location,
China
Campus Urban
Affiliations BHUA
Website ruc.edu.cn
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese 中国人民大学
Traditional Chinese 中國人民大學
Literal meaningPeople's University of China
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin Zhōngguó Rénmín Dàxué
Renmin University of China
Renmin University entrance RenminUniversitysign.JPG
Renmin University entrance

The Renmin University of China (RUC) is a public university in Haidian, Beijing, China. The university is affiliated with the Ministry of Education, and co-funded by the Ministry of Education and the Beijing Municipal People's Government. [4] The university is part of Project 211, Project 985, and the Double First-Class Construction.

Contents

History

The origins of Renmin University of China date back to Shanbei Public School (陕北公学), established in 1937 by the Chinese Communist Party 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.

In 1950, several institutions were merged to form a single Renmin University of China. In 1954, Renmin University of China was established as one of six national key universities of China, becoming the youngest national key university at that time. [6]

Wu Yuzhang, Cheng Fangwu, Guo Yingqiu, Yuan Baohua, Huang Da, Li Wenhai, Ji Baocheng, and Chen Yulu had successively held the position of the president of the university. [7] As of 2022 the president is Lin Shangli. [8]

Present

Currently Renmin University consists of 25 schools, 13 research institutes and the graduate school, with 63 specialties for undergraduate, 8 specialties for the second-bachelor's degree students, 149 specialties for the master's degree candidates, 100 specialties for the Doctor's degree candidates and 33 national key disciplines. [9]

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. The library of the university covers a total area of 26,000 square meters. It has 15 reading rooms and an economics hall, with more than 2000 seats. [10]

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. [11]

Schools and departments

Renmin University of China Law School RenminUniversitypic1.jpg
Renmin University of China Law School

In 2015, the China Academy of Financial Inclusion was established at Renmin University. [20] The Academy is a government think-tank tasked with developing financial inclusion mechanisms for China. [20]

On 25 October 2017, Renmin University established a Xi Jinping Thought research center, the first of its kind. [21] :29

Rural Reconstruction Center of Renmin University

Rural Reconstruction Center of Renmin University was established in 2005 and is based in Beijing. Its main mission is to explore the theory and practice of rural reconstruction. It partakes in fair trade advocacy and coordinating urban and rural green energy initiatives as well as the promotion of fair education. [22]

Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China (RDCY)

1. General Introduction

The Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China (RDCY) was officially established on January 19, 2013. It was built on the education fund set up by Shanghai Chongyang Investment Management Co., Ltd. through a donation to Renmin University of China, and it is the core achievement of this donation project.

As a new-type think tank with distinct Chinese characteristics, RDCY has invited a wide range of talents, inviting dozens of former politicians, senior bankers, and renowned scholars from around the world to serve as senior fellows. It always adheres to the purpose of focusing on reality, advising the country and serving the people. Currently, RDCY has 7 departments and operates 4 professional research centers, namely the Center for Eco-Financial Studies, the Global Governance Research Center, the China-US People-to-People Exchange Research Center, and the China-Russia People-to-People Exchange Research Center. In recent years, RDCY has achieved fruitful results in research fields such as financial development, global governance, major power relations, and macro policies, winning extensive praise and high recognition at home and abroad.

In terms of operation and research, RDCY has built a capable and efficient full-time team. In research work, RDCY's research in areas such as global governance, macro finance, major power relations, and public diplomacy is at the forefront level in China. As of 2025, it has published over a hundred related works and released hundreds of research reports. Its research results have been repeatedly approved and affirmed by General Secretary Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders. On May 17, 2016, General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over a symposium on philosophy and social sciences. Prof. Wang Wen, the dean of RDCY, was invited to participate and speak, and was immediately recognized by the General Secretary.

At the international cooperation level, RDCY actively expands international exchanges and has established a stable cooperation mechanism with major think tanks in more than 40 countries around the world. It has successfully carried out a series of related activities in more than 20 countries such as the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Russia, Malaysia, and Iran, playing a positive role in promoting China's public diplomacy.

RDCY is very active on overseas media platforms and in the public opinion arena, actively spreading Chinese perspectives and wisdom. It has been interviewed and reported by hundreds of overseas media such as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the Russian Telegraph Agency - TASS, The New York Times, the Financial Times, and Russia Today. In 2024, RDCY voiced its opinions through more than 300 overseas media, covering more than 20 languages. In 2020, RDCY took the lead in publishing the "An Open Letter to the People of the United States from 100 Chinese Scholars" jointly written by 100 Chinese scholars and launched the global initiative of "No the New Cold War" in the internationally renowned magazine The Diplomat, which has hundreds of millions of international audiences and has attracted extensive attention.

In terms of operation management, RDCY has made efforts to build a new-type think tank that has a well-rounded new media operation system. It has established a Chinese-English all-media matrix covering more than 20 platforms, ranging from official Chinese and English websites, WeChat, Weibo, Bilibili, Toutiao, to X, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn, attracting more than5 million followers worldwide, demonstrating RDCY's influence on international communication.

In the rankings of major global and domestic think tanks, RDCY, with its outstanding research results and extensive international influence, firmly ranks among the first-line think tanks in China. It is listed among the “Top 150 Global Think Tanks”, “the most influential ‘Belt and Road’ university think tanks”, “the top 100 university think tanks A++”, “the top 90 global university think tanks” . Its dean, Prof. Wang Wen, was selected as one of the “Top 40 think tankers in 40 years of reform and opening up”.

Campuses

The university currently possesses two active campus, one campus under construction and one former campus.[ needs update ]

Cultural tradition

The rock holding the engraved motto of the university, "seeking truth from facts" RenDaMottoRock.jpg
The rock holding the engraved motto of the university, "seeking truth from facts"

The motto of Renmin University is "Seek truth from facts"; the spirit of Renmin University is "Establishing learning for the people, and governing the country"; the goal of talent training of Renmin University is "a national example, a social pillar"; and the idea of running Renmin University is "people, people-oriented, and humanistic", which is also the meaning of the three parallel "人" characters in the seal script on Renmin University's emblem.

School Song

The school song of Renmin University of China has gone through multiple versions, including the "Song of Northern Shaanxi Public School" created in Yan'an in 1937, "The School Song of North China Associated University" in Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei border area in 1937, and "School Song of North China University" in Zhengding, Hebei in 1948, [30] "Song of Renmin University of China" written by Wu Yuzhang, "Song of Renmin University of China" written by Cheng Fangwu, and "Song of Renmin University of China" written by Ji Baocheng. [31] "The Song of Renmin University of China", written by Ji Baocheng, was identified as the school song in 2007, replacing the old school song that has been adopted since 1980 with a strong political color. In 2017, "Song of Northern Shaanxi Public School" was identified as the representative school song of Renmin University of China.

Rankings and reputation

University rankings
BCUR National [32] Domestic 17
Wu Shulian National [33] Domestic 21
CUAA National [34] Alumni 12
QS National [35] General 38
QS Asia
(Asia version) [36]
General 103
ARWU World [37] Research 301–400
QS World [38] General =566
USNWR World [39] General =394

Renmin University, along with Nanjing University became the first batch of elite institutions in China to drop out of all international rankings. The University is selected as a pilot program to test a new system of local rankings that reflect “Chinese characteristics” and are representative of their Chinese traits. It is expected that more Chinese institutions will drop out of international rankings as China aims to create its own benchmark for elite institutions. [40]

However, in 2015, the Chinese University Alumni Association (CUAA) in partnership with China Education Center considered it 5th among all Chinese universities. [41] The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2014 placed Renmin 5th in China (after Peking, Tsinghua, University of Science and Technology of China, and Fudan), 13th in emerging countries, 32nd in Asia, and inside the top 250 in the world. [42] [43] [44]

In 2020, the QS World University Rankings had the university as one of the top 300 worldwide for academic reputation and employer reputation. [45] [46] Renmin graduates are highly desired in China and worldwide, with its Graduate Employability rankings placed in the top 181–190 universities globally and a crop of high-achieving graduates every year, according to the 2022 QS Graduate Employability Rankings. [47]

Subject rankings

According to the latest evaluation by the Chinese Ministry of Education RUC ranked No.1 among all Chinese universities for 9 disciplines, which include theoretical economics, applied economics, law and legal studies, political science, sociology, journalism, statistics, business management and public administration. [48] RUC is also entitled 25 national key disciplines (ranked number 5 in China), 13 national key research bases of humanities and social sciences (ranked number 1 in China), and 6 national teaching and research bases of fundamental arts disciplines (ranked number 1 in China). [48] Renmin has taken a leading position among Chinese universities in the number of social science and arts and humanities-related majors. [49] For example, in the 2022 rankings of Chinese universities by undergraduate majors in 92 professional categories, Renmin had 25 majors ranked as the best in the country, 48 majors in the top 5, and 57 majors in the top 10. [50]

According to the 2021 QS World University by subject, RUC was ranked among the top 100 in the world in "Arts and Humanities" & "Social Sciences & Management" related subjects. [51] [52] According to the 2021 QS World University by subject, the university was ranked among the top 40 in the world for philosophy, [53] top 80 in social sciences and management [54] and top 51 in legal studies and law. [55]

According to the Financial Times , its business school, the Renmin Business School, is one of the top 50 in the world, [56] with its global MBA ranked 38th, [57] Executive MBA ranked 43rd, [58] and its executive education ranked 11th internationally (the best in Asia). [59]

As of 2025, the U.S. News & World Report ranked Renmin 3rd in China, 4th in Asia, and 17th globally in economics and business. [60]

As of 2024, according to the Academic Ranking of World Universities , RUC ranked #9 in the world in "public administration", #31 in "finance", #43 in "Library & Information Science", #51 in "management" & "statistics, and #76 in "business administration" & "economics". [61]

Notable faculty

Notable alumni

Academics

Law and politics

Business and media

Human rights activists

Writers

Others

Global reach

Renmin University maintains collaborative relationships and exchange programs with many well-known universities around the world, such as the Singapore Management University, 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, the University of Michigan and Yale University. [11] 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. [63]

It is also a member of Worldwide Universities Network, [9] the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education, [64] and Beijing-Hong Kong Universities Alliance. [65]

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. [66]

The School of International Studies offers a Double Masters in Asian and International Affairs with King's College London. [67]

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. [68]

The University of Chicago Center in Beijing, [69] which opened in September 2010, is located at the Culture Plaza on the Renmin University campus.

High school

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

References

  1. "人大校训". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  2. 1 2 "RUC advertisment[sic] shown at Times Square" . Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  3. "Renmin University of China". Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  4. "教育部 北京市人民政府关于重点共建中国人民大学的决定 - 中华人民共和国教育部政府门户网站". www.moe.gov.cn. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  5. "History [of Renmin University]". Renmin University. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  6. Yudkevich, Maria; Altbach, Philip G.; Rumbley, Laura E. (2 March 2016). The Global Academic Rankings Game: Changing Institutional Policy, Practice, and Academic Life. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-317-38737-4.
  7. "刘伟". Renmin University. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  8. "University Leadership". Renmin University of China. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Renmin University of China". WUN. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  10. "Renmin University of China". China Admissions. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  11. 1 2 "RENMIN UNIVERSITY of CHINA | International Partners". www.ruc.edu.cn. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  12. "The School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development". Archived from the original on 23 January 2014.
  13. "中国人民大学教育学院". soe.ruc.edu.cn.
  14. "中国人民大学外国语学院". ruc.edu.cn.
  15. "中国人民大学法学院 - 首页". www.law.ruc.edu.cn. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  16. "中国人民大学马克思主义学院". ruc.edu.cn.
  17. School of Philosophy
  18. "中国人民大学社会与人口学院". ssps.ruc.edu.cn. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  19. "中国人民大学心理学系官网psy" . Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  20. 1 2 Laikwan, Pang (2024). One and All: The Logic of Chinese Sovereignty. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press. p. 176. doi:10.1515/9781503638822. ISBN   9781503638815.
  21. Tsang, Steve; Cheung, Olivia (2024). The Political Thought of Xi Jinping. Oxford University Press. ISBN   9780197689363.
  22. "Rural Reconstruction Center of Renmin University". China Development Brief.
  23. "English Corner: China's Free Speech Zone". The Face of China. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  24. "中国人民大学苏州校区". sc.ruc.edu.cn. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  25. "中国人民大学中法学院". ifc.ruc.edu.cn. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  26. "中华人民共和国教育部 中外合作办学监管工作信息平台". www.crs.jsj.edu.cn. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  27. "中国人民大学东校区筹备工作办公室". dxq.ruc.edu.cn. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  28. Johnson, Ian (25 June 2015). "China Aims to Move Beijing Government Out of City's Crowded Core". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  29. "中国人民大学东校区筹备工作办公室". dxq.ruc.edu.cn. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  30. "纪念抗战胜利70周年 人民大学学生艺术团寻根陕北公学旧址".
  31. "人大新闻网-中国人民大学校歌-音乐中的人大——纪宝成校长谈《中国人民大学之歌》". 20 November 2008. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008.
  32. "2025 Best Chinese Universities Ranking". Shanghai Ranking. 2025. Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  33. "Wu Shulian 2025 China University Evaluation". Chinese Academy of Management Science. 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  34. Chinese Universities Alumni Association (2025). "Alumni Association (22nd Edition): Chinese University Rankings 2025" . Retrieved 7 January 2025. Alternative URL
  35. "QS University Rankings 2026 - China (Mainland)". Top Universities. 2026. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  36. "QS World University Rankings: Asia 2025". QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. 2025. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  37. "Academic Ranking of World Universities". Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  38. "QS World University Rankings". QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. 2026. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  39. U.S. News & World Report (2025). "2025-2026 Best Global Universities Rankings" . Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  40. 严茂强. "Renmin University pulls itself out of overseas ranking systems". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  41. "China University Ranking - China Education Center". www.chinaeducenter.com. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  42. "World University Rankings 2014". Times Higher Education (THE). 13 April 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  43. "Emerging Economies 2014". Times Higher Education (THE). 13 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  44. "Asia University Rankings". Times Higher Education (THE). 13 April 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  45. "QS World University Rankings 2020 – Rankings Indicators, Academic Reputation". Top Universities. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  46. "QS World University Rankings 2020 - Rankings Indicators, Employer Reputation". Top Universities. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  47. "QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022". Top Universities. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  48. 1 2 "The Official Release of Chinese University Ranking by Disciplines: RENMIN UNIVERSITY of CHINA". www.ruc.edu.cn. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  49. "2022软科中国大学专业排名 (China University Rankings by Major)". www.shanghairanking.cn. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  50. "中国大学专业排名|优势专业: 中国人民大学 (Renmin University of China)". www.shanghairanking.cn. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  51. "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Arts & Humanities". Top Universities. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  52. "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Social Sciences & Management". Top Universities. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  53. "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Philosophy". Top Universities. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  54. "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Social Sciences and Management". www.qschina.cn. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  55. "QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Law and Legal Studies". www.qschina.cn. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  56. "Renmin University of China Business School (RMBS)". Financial Times. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  57. "Global MBA Ranking 2020". Financial Times. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  58. "Executive MBA Ranking 2014". Financial Times. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  59. "Executive Education Ranking 2020". Financial Times. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  60. "U.S. News & World Report Best Universities for Economics and Business in Asia 2025". U.S. News & World Report. 17 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  61. "ShanghaiRanking-Univiersities". www.shanghairanking.com. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  62. Studdart, Amy (16 June 2017). "How China Sees the World in the Age of Trump". Medium. I'm back in beautiful Stockholm for the 10th anniversary of the Stockholm China Forum where I just concluded an interview with Shi Yinhong, professor at Renmin University.
  63. "SOM announces largest alumni gift to date". Yale Daily News . Archived from the original on 26 April 2011.
  64. "APAIE Founding Institutions | APAIE" . Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  65. "京港大学联盟". www.bh.ualliance.bici.org. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  66. "China, Britain highlight rapport, friendship amid deals". chinese-embassy.org.uk.
  67. "Double Masters in Asian and European Affairs" . Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  68. "Students from Renmin University School of Finance participate in the National Model United Nations 2011 conference". sfruc.edu.cn. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  69. "Center in Beijing | The University of Chicago". www.uchicago.cn.

39°58′13″N116°19′04″E / 39.97028°N 116.31778°E / 39.97028; 116.31778