The Research Center for German Studies

The Research Center for German Studies of Renmin University of China was established and developed amidst the university's increasing internationalization and growing exchanges with other universities worldwide. The center primarily focuses on scientific research while also engaging in teaching and external exchange. With the German Department of the School of Foreign Languages as its core, the center utilizes the resources concerning German studies of the entire university and leverages the research capabilities of the society and other domestic universities to conduct research, and teaching and external exchange activities. The center has a high-level full-time research team, including renowned professors and researchers in relevant fields, and senior diplomats from Chinese embassies and cultural institutions who have long been stationed in German-speaking countries as special advisers. Additionally, the center appoints scholars from domestic and foreign universities in related fields as part-time researchers. The center was established on November 16, 2001 and registered with the Research Center on Area Studies of the Ministry of Education in 2017. Professor Lai Zhijin and Professor Ren Guoqiang were former directors of the Research Center for German Studies. The current director Professor Zhang Yi has been in charge since February 2010. Considering the current personnel structure, the research focus is situated on German issues including literature, culture, language, history, society, education, and politics. The center maintains close cooperation with relevant German institutions, especially cultural institutions stationed in China such as the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst) and the Beijing German Cultural Center-Goethe Institute. Meanwhile, it also received enthusiastic support from many senior scholars, researchers, and other university faculty members who are engaged in German studies. The center is directly administrated by the School of Foreign Languages and supported by the office of research and the international office of Renmin University of China. We hope that through our efforts and the active participation and support of relevant scholars, the German Studies Center will develop into a research institution with abundant academic achievements and significant social impact. We also aim for the center to play a role in advancing Renmin University of China towards its goal of becoming a world-class university. With our efforts and the active engagement and support of scholars, we aspire to develop the German Studies Center into a research institution renowned for its academic excellence and broad societal impact, contributing to Renmin University of China on its journey towards becoming a world-class university.