The Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) inaugurated its School of Global Governance intended to train professionals to be more multilingual, proficient in cross-cultural communication and achieve a global vision.
BFSU President Peng Long said that its innovative training model will cultivate the talents of those who are proficient in at least two working languages of the United Nations and in international rules.
According to Peng, BFSU will provide intellectual support for China's participation in international organizations and international affairs aside from carrying out research on international organizations. It School of Global Governance was launched in 2010, growing out of an education reform pilot program.
Established in 1941, BFSU offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. The school is known in China as the "cradle of diplomats."
Formerly known as the Beijing Foreign Languages Institute, BFSU was affiliated with the China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs from its establishment in 1941 in Yan'an by the Communist Party of China to the early 1980s. It was classified as a key university under the Ministry of Education.
The wide-ranging courses at BFSU are provided by over 600 faculty members, on top of around 120 international experts and teachers invited annually from over 20 countries.
BFSU graduates have been employed by such bodies as the United Nations Office at Geneva, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Pan American Health Organization.
University of Hong Kong chair in higher education Gerard Postiglione said that China is in the perfect position to become a global leader in educational opportunities and research with its number of world-class universities, many of which have invested significant amounts for research and development.
The country is attracting a great number of international students, making China the third-largest host of foreign students after the U.S. and the U.K. According to the 2015 data collated by the Institute of International Education, China has approximately 397,635 international students.