The Hopkins–Nanjing Center (HNC; ), formally the Johns Hopkins University–Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies (), is an international campus of the

Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) is a graduate school of Johns Hopkins University based in Washington, D.C., United States, with campuses in Bologna, Italy, and Nanjing, China. It is consistently ranked one of th ...

and a joint educational venture between

Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University (Johns Hopkins, Hopkins, or JHU) is a private university, private research university in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins is the oldest research university in the United States and in the western hem ...

and

Nanjing University Nanjing University (NJU; ) is a national public research university in Nanjing, Jiangsu. It is a member of C9 League and a Class A Double First Class University designated by the Chinese central government. NJU has two main campuses: the Xianl ...

that opened in

Nanjing, China Nanjing (; , Mandarin pronunciation: ), alternately romanized as Nanking, is the capital of Jiangsu province of the People's Republic of China. It is a sub-provincial city, a megacity, and the second largest city in the East China region. T ...

, in 1986. Former Hopkins President

Steven Muller Steven Muller (November 22, 1927 – January 19, 2013) was the president of the Johns Hopkins University, serving from 1972 to 1990. He was born in Hamburg, Germany, the son of Marianne (née Hartstein) and Werner A. Muller. His father was J ...

and former NJU President Kuang Yaming worked together to create the center, recognizing the importance of improved understanding and relations between their respective countries. Muller believed China to be "the country of the future."

History

In 1981,

, then the president of The Johns Hopkins University, conceived of the HNC as a legacy of his presidency, and as an opportunity for JHU to be the first American university to establish a formal presence in China. Nanjing University was chosen as a partner because of its prestige, as one of the best universities in China, because of its location, and because of its willingness to devote resources to the center. After breaking ground in 1984, the HNC officially opened in 1986, and has operated continuously since, even during tumultuous periods like the

1989 Tiananmen Square Protests The Tiananmen Square protests, known in Chinese as the June Fourth Incident (), were student-led demonstrations held in Tiananmen Square, Beijing during 1989. In what is known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre, or in Chinese the June Fourth ...

and the 2003

SARS Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory disease of zoonotic origin caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-1), the first identified strain of the SARS coronavirus species, ''sever ...

crisis. In the latter case, the program was shifted to a temporary location in Hawaii for the duration of the outbreak. In 2006, the HNC underwent a considerable expansion, overseen by then HNC American Co-director Robert Daly (director), adding a large new building to complete the compound. The COVID-19 pandemic saw the HNC shift to virtual course delivery in March 2020. In fall 2020, students were offered the option of relocating to The Johns Hopkins University SAIS Europe campus in Bologna, Italy, for an in-person community while continuing to take HNC virtual courses. Since the shift to virtual delivery in March 2020, as of September 2021, virtual delivery has continued and American and other international students have been continuously denied visas to attend the HNC in-person. There is no indication of when American and international students will return to Nanjing for the foreseeable future. In recent years, the HNC has strengthened integration with the other SAIS campuses in Washington, DC and Bologna, Italy.

Mission

The mission of the Hopkins–Nanjing Center is "to develop and train professionals to provide leadership in managing successful bilateral and multilateral relationships involving China and the West in an increasingly complex international environment." In the early years of the HNC, one long-term vision was that one day, the

United States Secretary of State The United States secretary of state is a member of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States and the head of the U.S. Department of State. The office holder is one of the highest ranking members of the president's Ca ...

and the

Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China (; ''Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Wàijiāobù Bùzhǎng'') is the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China and one of the country's most imp ...

would discover that they were both graduates of the HNC.

Academics

The HNC integrates a graduate-level academic program with the opportunity for deep cultural engagement. Students benefit from modern facilities, such as the only uncensored, open-stacks library in China, offering both English and Chinese collections totaling 120,000 volumes. Full academic freedom is guaranteed in the center's founding documents, however, this guarantee has been questioned by many students in recent years. For example, the Chinese administration previously blocked American students from starting an academic journal, a common fixture of top ranked graduate programs. The HNC is the only institution of its kind that is fully bilingual, English and Chinese, in its academic programs. All students must have advanced proficiency in both languages. A strong “target language” component requires students to take a substantial number of courses in their target language and, if writing a thesis, to write and defend it in their target language (English for Chinese students and Chinese for international students). Chinese faculty teach primarily in Chinese and international faculty in English. Most classes have a mix of Chinese and international students, and some co-taught classes are fully bilingual.

Students

The student body at the center is composed of approximately 50% Chinese citizens and 50% international students. Chinese students are admitted through Nanjing University, while international students are admitted through Johns Hopkins University, though both are considered fully students of both universities at the same time. The international population is made up largely of Americans but includes individuals from all over the world. Many students hold undergraduate degrees with a Chinese or East Asian Studies component. Some also hold advanced degrees prior to attending the Hopkins–Nanjing Center.

Programs of Study

The Hopkins–Nanjing Center offers two distinct academic programs: a two-year Master of Arts in International Studies and a one-year graduate Certificate program. Both credentials are issued jointly by Johns Hopkins University and Nanjing University and are recognized in the United States and China. The Certificate can be combined with further master's study at campuses of the School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC or Bologna, Italy.

HNC Certificate in Chinese and American Studies

The one-year certificate gives students flexibility in course selection while deepening their knowledge of Sino-global relations. Graduate-level courses on topics such as Chinese studies, energy, economics, and law help students advance their research and language skills while gaining the multidisciplinary background needed in today's global workforce. The certificate is jointly awarded by Johns Hopkins SAIS and Nanjing University.

Master of Arts in international studies (MAIS)

This two-year master's program with a thesis component is the first master's degree to be fully accredited in both China and the United States. Thesis topics reflect diverse course offerings and have covered areas ranging from women's rights in China to Chinese soft power.

HNC Certificate + Johns Hopkins SAIS MA in International Relations (MAIR)

After completing the one-year certificate in Chinese and American studies, students continue their studies to complete the Master of Arts in international relations degree from Johns Hopkins. The program's interdisciplinary coursework emphasizes international economics, geopolitics, data analysis, quantitative methods, decision-making, and policy studies. Students receive a jointly awarded certificate from Johns Hopkins SAIS and Nanjing University, and a Master of Arts in international relations from Johns Hopkins SAIS. At least one semester of the degree must be completed in Washington, DC.

HNC Certificate + Johns Hopkins SAIS Master of Arts in International Affairs (MAIA)

Students in this research-focused program complete the certificate in Nanjing and continue their studies for one year at SAIS Europe in Bologna, Italy. Students personalize the curriculum to their professional interests and focus on contemporary issues in international affairs. Graduates receive a jointly awarded certificate from Johns Hopkins SAIS and Nanjing University, and a Master of Arts in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins SAIS.

Notable alumni

* Rosemary Gallant, '87, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the US Embassy in London * David B. Shear '87, Former US Ambassador to Vietnam *

Chen Deming Chen Deming (; born 1949) is a former the President of Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits of the People's Republic of China. Early life Chen was born in Shanghai in 1949. He went on to receive a Bachelor's Degree in Economics, a ...

'88, Former Chinese Minister of Commerce * Brian Linden '88, Author and co-founder of the Linden Centre * James Heller ‘92, Consul General, US Consulate General Shanghai * Anthony Kuhn '92,

National Public Radio National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other n ...

correspondent in Seoul, South Korea; Former NPR correspondent in Beijing, China * Hua Xinghong '93, Managing Director-China, Lone Star Funds *

Amy Celico Amy P. Celico is a Principal of Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG). She is the head of the firm’s China team in Washington, DC. She previously worked as a diplomat for the US Departments of State, Defense, Commerce, and the Office of the US Trade R ...

'94 Principle at Albright Stonebridge Group; Former Senior Director for China Affairs at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative *

Julia Lovell Julia Lovell (born 1975) is a British scholar and prize-winning author and translator focusing on China. Life and career Lovell is professor of Modern Chinese History and Literature at Birkbeck, University of London, where her research has bee ...

'98, Author, Translator, and Professor of Modern Chinese History and Literature, University of London * Margaret Myers '11, Director of the Asia & Latin American Program, Inter-American Dialogue *

Slater Rhea Slater Rhea (; ; literally: "Handsome Virtue") is an American singer, songwriter and TV personality on national TV in China. Rhea is a regular performer on Chinese music and entertainment programs, having made appearances on China Central Televis ...

'17, American entertainer and TV personality in China

Former Faculty

Barry Sautman Barry Victor Sautman (born July 11, 1949) is a professor emeritus with the Division of Social Science at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He holds both Canadian and American nationalities and he speaks both English and Cantonese ...

(1991-1992), Professor Emeritus/Visiting Professor Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Division of Social Science

References

External links

Hopkins-Nanjing Center website

Hopkins-Nanjing Center Instagram

Hopkins-Nanjing Center Twitter

SAIS - Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies

Nanjing University's Hopkins-Nanjing Center website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hopkins-Nanjing Center Educational institutions established in 1986 Schools of international relations Johns Hopkins University Nanjing University 1986 establishments in China