Following a rigorous process of application preparation, expert review, and an on-site defense organized by the China Scholarship Council (CSC), the “Sino-Italian Dual Perspective Future Leaders Program in Area Studies”—led by the School of Global and Area Studies—has been successfully approved. The project has been selected for the CSC’s “Country and Regional Research Talent Support Program.”

This project aligns closely with national strategic needs, serving the talent requirements for deepening the Sino-Italian Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and advancing the Belt and Road Initiative in Europe.

Adopting a dual-track model of “Joint Dual Master’s Degree + Semester Exchange,” the program aims to cultivate composite future leaders who possess both a Chinese perspective and European insights. Graduates will be proficient in Area Studies research methods and equipped with exceptional cross-cultural communication skills and international practical abilities.

The program covers a range of majors, including: Area Studies, International Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, Chinese and Foreign Political Systems, Chinese Politics, Diplomacy

Partner Institution: Luiss University The partner institution for this project is Luiss University (Luiss Guido Carli) in Italy. Renmin University of China (RUC) and Luiss University share a long-standing and solid foundation of strategic cooperation. Since signing the first student exchange agreement in 2011, cooperation has deepened continuously, including the joint initiation of the Social Sciences Universities Network (SSUN).

To date, the School and the University have sent nearly 30 exchange and dual-degree students to Luiss and received over 40 Italian students, accumulating extensive experience in collaborative education. Luiss University enjoys a prestigious reputation in European humanities and social sciences. Its Political Science and International Studies disciplines have consistently ranked 1st in Italy, top 3 in the EU, and among the best globally in recent years, earning it the moniker “The Harvard of Italy.”

Significance and Future Outlook The successful approval of this project marks a significant breakthrough for the School of Global and Area Studies in promoting international talent training within the emerging interdisciplinary field of Area Studies and deepening high-level academic cooperation with foreign institutions.

Moving forward, the School of Global and Area Studies will earnestly fulfill its project management responsibilities to ensure the quality of student selection and deployment. The Institute will further deepen all-around cooperation with Luiss University in curriculum alignment, academic research, and faculty-student exchanges. This initiative aims to provide solid talent and intellectual support for China’s deep participation in global governance, the construction of a Chinese knowledge system for Area Studies, and the enhancement of international discourse power.

Text: Song Baowen

Layout: Yao Jiayu

Reviewer: Song Tingting