[interview] Yenching Academy, A Flagship of Peking University's Globalization

China is rising. More international students are setting their sights on this old, yet modern, country and have decided to pursue their studies in China, where they can explore China's role in the world ? past, present, and future. Amid this trend, Yenching Academy was established in 2014 and this year marks its five-year anniversary. On the beautiful campus of Peking University, Yenching Academy exemplifies the university's quest for excellence.

This week, I met Professor Fan Shiming, Associate Dean of Yenching Academy of Peking University.

Q: Could you briefly introduce Yenching Academy?

A: The Yenching Academy aims to build bridges between China and the rest of the world through an interdisciplinary master's program in China studies. This initiative brings together young people from around the globe who have demonstrated a talent for leadership and innovation. The academy's goal is to shape new generations of global citizens with a nuanced understanding of China.

The Yenching Academy provides full fellowships to its scholars and offers them a wide array of interdisciplinary courses on China. Working closely with their academic mentors, Yenching scholars create their own study paths by choosing courses from six research areas.

Here at Yenching Academy, we are a residential program aiming to create a community for scholars to take full advantage of this unique opportunity by participating and engaging in campus life.

Q: As an international program, what are the targets for international diversity?

A: The Yenching Academy annually enrolls approximately 120 new scholars from both China and abroad. International scholars comprise roughly 80 percent of the student body, while scholars from China comprise the remaining 20 percent. The academy has already recruited four cohorts in total, with 440 scholars from 73 countries and regions and 222 universities.

Q: With such a diversified student body, language must play an integral part in the study process?

A: The academy offers an English-taught program. Meanwhile, Chinese language study is an important component of the Yenching learning experience. There is no Chinese proficiency requirement for incoming international students, however, Chinese language study is compulsory at the academy and international students will be placed into different levels of Chinese language courses according to their performance in the placement test at the beginning of the academic year.

Q: Besides diversity being...