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Peking University, Mar. 25, 2012: March 21, 2012 saw the inauguration ceremony of the Stanford Center at Peking University (SCPKU), which is situated in the Lee Jung Sen Building in the Langrun Yuan area of the PKU campus. John Hennessy, President of Stanford University led a delegation of 100 people to attend the event. As an important platform where the two countries can communicate and cooperate, the education and research center will provide more opportunities for scholars and youths both in China and in America. Also it is the first architecture set by an American university on Chinese campus. On this special occasion, we’ll look back on the history of the cooperation between Stanford University and PKU.

Presidents of Stanford and PKU with other leaders unveiled the plaque of SCPKU

As a big name of higher education in the US and China respectively, Stanford and PKU have held conversations since as early as 1980s. In the past decades, the great support of American and Chinese governments has driven communication between the two universities to a new level. The efforts paid off when "Stanford PKU-based branch program” and Stanford Confucius Center were established.

Overture: the speeding up of the cooperation

The official cooperation between Stanford and PKU can be dated back to the mid-1990s. In 1994, the Stanford -- PKU Chinese Summer Language Program was introduced. The program with about 20 Stanford students each year combines an intensive five-week language program at Stanford University for 8 units with a four-week practicum in Chinese at PKU for 7 units. Through this program, the two universities have built a close bond.

The friendship between Stanford and PKU has also been promoted through various cultural exchange events. In January 2005, the former president of PKU Professor Xu Zhihong led PKU Student Art Group to tour top America universities including Stanford, Columbia, Yale. It was the first time that PKU Student Art Group stepped onto American soil, showing to the world their talents.

Crescendo: the new development of overseas study program

Open during Autumn and Spring Quarters only, students are exposed to the rich culture of this paradoxically ancient and modern city through coursework and field trips. Through the program, the two universities share the same educational goal of producing qualified global talents. The influence of the program manifested itself gradually as the cooperation between the two universities reached a new phase of development.

In March 2009, the two universities co-hosted the first Cross-Cultural Design Workshop, which is mainly open to engineering students. The program has greatly inspired innovative ideas among the students, exposing the future leaders to different cultural experience in the field of design.

In the meantime, the Stanford Undergraduates Visiting Research (UGVR) program was launched. From June 23 to September 1, 2009, twelve undergraduates from PKU and Tsinghua University (THU) participated in the academic researches with renowned Stanford professors on Stanford campus. The project was intended to further high level academic exchanges on the international stage and enhance mutual understandings between college students of the two countries.

All of the above programs have been carried on since.

A New Chapter: long-lasting communication and stronger cooperation

At the end of 2009, Hanban, an administrative arm of the Ministry of Education in China, and Stanford University co-founded the Confucius Institute Fund and agreed on partnering with PKU to set up the Confucius Institute at Stanford. On October 28, 2011, the signing ceremony of the Confucius Institute at Stanford University was hosted at Peking University. Xu Lin, Director of Hanban, Professor John Hennessy, President of Stanford University, and Professor Zhou Qifeng, President of Peking University attended the ceremony and signed agreements. Previously PKU had founded and successfully run eight Confucius Institutes around the world. As the first research-oriented Confucius Institute in the world, the Confucius Institute at Stanford University will strengthen the academic exchanges between the two universities.

In November, 2011, PKU Council Chairman Zhu Shanlu visited many universities and research institutes in North America together with PKU delegation. Zhu Shanlu received a warm welcome by President John Hennessy while visiting Stanford University. During the visit, the PKU delegation was briefed on Stanford University’s scientific innovations, and had a deep discussion on the communication and exchanging mechanism between the two schools. Zhu Shanlu suggested that a long-term PKU office be set up at Stanford University, which was supported by President John Hennessy.

At the same time, the communication between the students at Stanford University and PKU speeds up, the highlight of which is FACES, short for Forum for America -- Chinese Exchange at Stanford. Faces was created by Stanford students in 2001. In March, 2005, the first FACES at Peking University was set up thanks to the support of the Office of International Relations of PKU, which became the first partner university of this forum in China. The forum was focused on promoting communications between China and America, enhancing the understanding of Sino-US relations, therefore making a valid foundation for a better relationship. In the following years, FACES at PKU successfully hosted a series of forums, in 2009 and 2011 in addition to 2005. Now FACES has become another window for PKU students to know about Stanford University and well recognized.

On March 21, 2012, the Stanford Center at PKU was officially launched. After signing a series of agreements, the center will be a new media and witness of the cooperation and communication between the two schools. The center will provide opportunities for Stanford teachers to cooperate with Chinese teachers, sharing and integrating the resources together.

Over the past decades, the communication and cooperation between Stanford University and Stanford University has gained great experience and achievements. In this era when higher education is becoming more globally connected, the two universities are determined to join their hands together to make new contributions, not only to the higher education in China and America, but also the academic communication around the world.

The path we’ve been through is fruitful, and there’s more promising news to come.

Extended Reading:
The Stanford Center at PKU inaugurated

Written by: Gao Hongfei, Yan Binghan
Edited by: Chen Long
Source: Office of International Relations, PKU