Purpose
The Southeast University Center for Area Studies serves as a comprehensive academic platform for area studies at Southeast University, conducting interdisciplinary, multi-dimensional, and holistic investigations of various countries and areas in line with China's global vision. The center addresses major theoretical and practical issues in national and social development by integrating talents and teams within and outside the university. With an emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches, it combines historical insights with a focus on current affairs to meet the developmental needs of both the country and society. Furthermore, it is committed to academic advancement, talent cultivation, knowledge production serving the country and society.
Functions
The center draws on the strengths of disciplines such as art, law, architecture, economics, and foreign languages and literature to integrate talent cultivation, academic research, think tank , and international academic exchanges. Its aim is to enhance capabilities in the following areas:
Academic Management: Coordinating area study teams within and outside the university; organizing center members for project application, result assessment, and other tasks; thereby strengthening the university's research potential.
Academic Research: Organizing various kinds of academic activities, aiming at professional, in-depth and creative academic achievements, and contributing academic insights to society.
Think Tank: Capitalizing on its multilingual strengths, the center will provide policy proposals for major issues and solutions for theoretical and practical problems with the support of the research sources
Talent Cultivation: Contributing to area studies by cultivating highly skilled professionals with solid language foundations engaging in research, teaching and practical wok in relevant fields and departments.
Academic Exchanges: Strengthening and expanding exchanges both at home and abroad; broadening overseas exchange and joint education programs to provide necessary environments for China and other countries and regions.
Main Research Focus and Key Achievements
The center focuses on conducting research on the United States, Japan, Russia, Spain, and ASEAN countries. The main areas of focus include the establishment of a community of shared future for mankind, language policies of countries along the Belt and Road initiative, China's overseas national image construction, as well as security issues pertaining to major global powers.
Over the past five years, center members have led forty-two projects funded by national and provincial social science foundations, published over a hundred papers in journals indexed in SSCI, A&HCI, and CSSCI. Furthermore, eight reports submitted to provincial and ministerial leaders have received positive feedback.
Personnel
The center is composed of core faculty members from the School of Foreign Languages at Southeast University, as well as teachers from related disciplines such as Arts, Religious Studies, Law, Architecture, Economics, and Military Science.
Director: Professor Chen Meihua
Deputy Director: Professor Liu Kehua
