Beijing International Studies University

The Beijing International Studies University (BISU) is a public research university based in the city of Beijing, China. Founded in 1964, it was part of the national initiative to promote tertiary foreign language education. The institute grew out of a subsidiary of Xinhua News Agency and has developed into one of the most notable universities of foreign languages and cultural studies in China. Today, the university pioneers in the fields of international trade, tourism studies and hospitality management. It maintains links with national institutions including the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the National Tourism Administration. In addition, it holds formal collaborative agreements with more than 140 universities and academic institutions of about 40 countries spanning the continents, providing a wide range of study opportunities for inbound and outbound students alike. According to the China Education and Research Network, the university is ranked fourth for the most satisfactory international admissions and services among Chinese universities. BISU sits primarily in the central east of Chaoyang District, home to the city's CBD and the majority of foreign embassies. It is broadly organized into four academic divisions—Arts, Management, Economics and Political Sciences—within which there are 19 main departments and institutes, facilitated with numerous research centers, laboratories, interdisciplinary units and supporting services. History The history of Beijing International Studies University dates back to the 1950s, when People's Republic of China started to gain international recognition and the need emerged for proficient foreign language speakers. In the early 1960s, after completing the 14-country state visit, the then-Premier Zhou Enlai initiated the Seven-Year Plan for Foreign Language Education and proposed to establish the Beijing Second Foreign Languages Institute, now known as the Beijing International Studies University. The whole founding process was under the supervision of Zhou.