The Stanford Center at Peking University underscores a long-term partnership between Stanford and Peking University. Stanford's relationship with China stretches back to the late 1970s when the university began accepting Chinese graduate students. Students from China have accounted for a large portion of Stanford's foreign graduate students for many years. Stanford's relationship with Peking University also has grown over the past several decades from an initial collaboration between the schools' Asian language departments to a wide range of joint research and courses, faculty and student exchanges, and conferences. In 2004, Stanford's study abroad and internship programs began at Peking University, and there have been a growing number of other collaborations between PKU and Stanford programs including the School of Engineering, School of Law, and the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies. Recognizing the potential for a Stanford presence at PKU more than a decade ago, President Emeritus and FSI Director Gerhard Casper proposed a formal relationship with PKU that resulted in the creation of numerous academic exchanges between the two campuses. This relationship was taken to the next level with President John Hennessy’s vision of global outreach for Stanford and a multi-year effort led by Professors Jean Oi and Andrew Walder, with the support of former FSI Director Chip Blacker and the International Initiative. This effort forged the necessary partnerships with both the PKU leadership and Stanford donors to establish a presence in China.

Expanding Stanford's Role in Global Education and Research to China. 

Strategically located on the Pacific Rim, Stanford is home to many of the world’s leading scholars on Asia. The burgeoning interest among scholars from across the university in China-based activities makes SCPKU an ideal base of operations for multidisciplinary research, teaching, training and outreach activities in East Asia.

SCPKU provides a welcoming environment for anyone in the Stanford community seeking to advance research or education by spending time in China. This includes those looking to pursue fieldwork, coursework or internships; to collaborate with Chinese colleagues; to examine world issues as they play out in China; or to study China, its people, and policies through firsthand experience. The Center accelerates the flow of people, ideas, research, scholarship, and training aimed at benefiting both China and the U.S. and strengthens Stanford's relationship with PKU by enhancing and strengthening established programs and initiating new ones on both sides of the Pacific.

SCPKU facilitates a long-term and deepening presence in Asia and represents a model for possible future presence in other regions of the world.

Please download the SCPKU brochure here.

The Stanford Center at Peking University plays a pivotal role in the vision of "taking Stanford to the world." SCPKU contributes directly to the University's mission to seek solutions to difficult global problems and educate leaders from all corners of the world. SCPKU provides the physical platform for faculty and students to experience East Asia first hand, establish relationships with Chinese counterparts, and conduct innovative, internationally-focused research at its source. For more information, please click here.