Agenda set for fresh challenges

In celebration of its 80th anniversary, Beijing Foreign Studies University is hosting a number of diverse events between Sept 17 and 26 that emphasize its goals to help the world understand a changing China and to enable China to understand the diversified world.

This year, the celebrations include international conferences and forums to boost cultural exchanges, academic lectures, stage performances, a collective wedding-style, commemorative event for married couples who are alumni, as well as the opening of its two museums, one about world languages and the other focusing on the university's history.

"The 80th anniversary celebrations are a comprehensive display of the university's history under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, a vivid record of the university's advancement, and a snapshot of China's higher education in foreign languages," Yang Dan, president of the university, tells China Daily.

Beijing Foreign Studies University is China's first higher education institution of foreign languages founded by the CPC. Established in 1941 in Yan'an, Shaanxi province, it was originally known as the Russian Language Team in the Third Branch of Chinese People's Anti-Japanese Military and Political College.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, in 1954 the school was renamed as the Beijing Foreign Languages Institute. In 1994, it took on its current name, Beijing Foreign Studies University, and is now listed under Project 985's Innovation Platform, Project 211 and the national Double First-Class initiative.

The hallmark of the university is its courses providing training in 101 languages－the most offered by any Chinese university－covering those used by countries China has diplomatic relationships with, 47 of which are only available at BFSU.