Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU), a university directly under the National Ministry of Education, was established in 1962 under the guidance of Prime Minister Zhou Enlai. BLCU is known as The Mini-United Nations, it is the only university of its kind in China that offers Chinese language and culture courses to foreign students. Meanwhile, BLCU provides professional courses in various fields, such as foreign languages, Chinese language, information science, finance, and other majors. BLCU’s current disciplines are composed of eight categories: literature, economics, law, engineering, history, education, management and fine arts. Besides a Post-Doctoral Research Center, there are 15 Ph. D. programs, 30 master’s degree programs and 27 bachelor degree programs, including 1 national key discipline and 10 municipal key disciplines. The university is also currently comprised of 3 divisions, 6 Schools and two research centers. Since its founding the university has trained some 160,000 foreign students who are proficient in the Chinese language and familiar with Chinese culture from 176 countries and regions.
(1) History
Early in the 1950s when the teaching of Chinese as a foreign language (TCFL) was still at the initial stage, the first generation of BLCU teachers took an active part in the pioneering work. As a result, the first school of higher education specially oriented to foreign students, "Higher Preparatory School for Foreign Students", was established in June 1962 under the guidance of Prime Minister Zhou Enlai. In June 1964, the school was officially named "Beijing Language Institute". In June 1996 it was renamed "Beijing Language and Culture University" Its Chinese name was shortened in July 2002 to Beijing Language University with the approval of the Ministry of Education, but the English name does not change. To date Beijing Language and Culture University is directly under the National Ministry of Education.
(2) Discipline and programs
Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) current disciplines and programs are composed of eight categories: literature, economics, law, engineering, history, education, management and fine arts. Besides a Post-Doctoral Research Center, there are 15 Ph. D. programs, 30 master’s degree programs and 27 bachelor degree programs. The university is also currently comprised of 3 divisions, 6 Schools and two research centers as follows: The Division of Chinese International Education which includes: the School of Chinese Studies, the School of Advanced Chinese Training, the School of Intensive Chinese Studies, the School of Preparatory Education and the School of Mandarin Education. The Division of Foreign Languages which includes: the English School, the School of Translation and Interpreting, the School of Applied Foreign Languages, the School of Eastern Language and Culture, the School of Western Language and Culture and the Mid-East School. The Division of Humanities and Social Sciences which includes: the School of Chinese Language Education, the School of Humanities, the School of Political Sciences, the School of International Relations and the School of Journalism and Communication. The School of Information Sciences, the International Business School, the School of Arts, the School of Training, the College of Network Education, the Division of Physical Education, the Academy of Languages and the TCFL Research Center.
(3) Academic facilities and Scientific research
Beijing Language and Culture University has many research bodies, such as the International Research Base for Chinese Language Teaching, the Capital International Culture Research Base, the Institute of Chinese Language Policies and Standards, and the Arabic Studies Research Center. The TCFL Research Center, known as one of the “100 Key research bases of Humanities and Social Sciences established by Ministry of Education,” is the only key research base of state level in the field of TCFL in China. The Arab Research Center is the research base for regions and nationalities. The Institute of Chinese Language Policies and Standards is the research base of the State Language Work Committee; the International Research Base for Chinese Language Teaching is the research base of NOCFL.
(4) Beijing Language and Culture University Achievement
In the area of Teaching Chinese as Foreign Language (TCFL) and the promotion of Chinese culture, Beijing Language and Culture University has the longest history, the largest size and the most well qualified academic faculty in the area. Since its founding the university has trained some 160,000 foreign students who are proficient in the Chinese language and familiar with Chinese culture from 176 countries and regions. Many alumni have become celebrities in various fields such as education, politics and business. BLCU publishes over 5 academic journals such as: Language Teaching and Linguistic Studies, Chinese Teaching in the World, Chinese Culture Research, International Chinese Teaching Research and Nationalities and Regions Research. Various teaching books published by the Beijing Language and Culture University Press are very influential both at home and abroad.. In 2014, BLCU made the explicit aim and plan to build a first-class language university and to promote the development of four great academic fields. The Global Times ranks the Chinese language school for foreigners very highly, citing a good campus life, lively location and an experienced faculty
(5) Communication and international cooperation
As China’s external exchanges and cooperation extended, BLCU built extensive and close relations with the institutions throughout world. BLCU has established cooperative relations with over 321 universities and educational institutions in 58 countries and regions worldwide. BLCU has built the Harvard-Beijing Academy with Harvard University and set up the School of Bangkok in Thailand. In addition, BLCU conducts Chinese-foreign cooperation in running schools with various forms. BLCU has also conducted joint-training undergraduate and graduate programs with over 10 foreign universities, such as Webster University and George Mason University in the U.S., Konstanz University of Applied Sciences in Germany and University of Manchester in Britain. In recent years about 100 teachers annually teach abroad and more than 400 students are exchanged to study abroad. The university receives over 1500 foreign guests each year as well.
The final information is subject to the University If there is any discrepancy!