Renmin University of China; RUC, also known as People's University of China (simplified Chinese: 中国人民大学), and colloquially as “Renda” (Chinese: 人大), is a major research university in Haidian District, Beijing, China. Its campus neighbors those of Peking University and Tsinghua University.
Renmin University is one of the most prestigious universities in China, with a distinct focus on the humanities and social sciences. Renmin University has produced many influential figures in China's reform and development, and is home to many outstanding scholars in law, economics, journalism and other fields. As measured by admission scores of China's National Higher Education Entrance Examination, Renmin University has consistently ranked among the top three most selective Chinese universities in the liberal arts and social sciences division.
The High School Affiliated to with Renmin University of China is one of the most prestigious high schools in Beijing, and a sister school of Phillips Academy in Massachusetts and Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire.
History
The predecessor of the university was Shan Bei Public School (T: 陝北公學, S: 陕北公学, P: Shǎnběi Gōngxué), established in 1937 during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Later it was renamed the North China United University and North China University. Renmin University of China was officially established in 1950, the first national university of the People's Republic of China. Wu Yuzhang, Cheng Fangwu, Guo Yingqiu, Yuan Baohua, Huang Da, and Li Wenhai have successively held the presidential posts. The current university president is Prof. Chen Yulu, a renowned professor in the finance field.
Currently Renmin University consists of 23 schools, 13 research institutes and the graduate school, with 60 specialties for undergraduate, 8 specialties for the second-bachelor's degree students, 140 specialties for the master's degree candidates and 92 specialties for the Doctor's doctoral degree candidates. Renmin University is entitled 25 national key disciplines, ranks ranking No.5 of in China, 13 national key research bases of the humanities and social sciences, ranks ranking No.1 of in China, and 6 national teaching and research bases of fundamental arts disciplines, ranks ranking No.1 of in China.
The university library has 2.5 million holdings, and is recognized as the Information Center of Arts and 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 university publishers and the first university press in China which has published to publish a large number of academic works in the humanities and social sciences.
Renmin University has established its communications 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. Many famous scholars have given lectures or attended special seminars in at Renmin University, including the Nobel Prize in Economics winners Robert Mundell, Joseph E. Stiglitz, Michael Spence, John Forbes Nash, Edmund S. Phelps and Reinhard Selten.
Renmin University of China is one of the leading humanities and social science-focused universities in China, gaining national recognition for excellence in theoretical economics, applied economics, legal studies, sociology, and journalism and communication. According to the evaluation reports of the Ministry of Education of China, Renmin University’s Schools of Law of China Law School, Economics, Sociology, School of and Journalism rank top one number one among China's universities. Generally speaking Renmin University is widely considered as one of the best places for social science students in China.
