Taking as its philosophy “To study the world, to explore the way ahead, to learn through experience the natural order of things, and to govern wisely with sound statecraft”, the Institute for International Affairs (IIA) strives to be a think tank of strategic importance in academic and policy research. Based in Shenzhen, it will provide insightful and timely policy analysis and consultancy for central and local government, and train outstanding talents with a national and a global perspective. It seeks to become an international academic platform with profound global influence, in research fields including the Greater Bay Area, South China common markets, China’s reform and opening up, maritime economics, international strategy and affairs, and global development.

As part of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, which is in the frontline of national reform and opening up, IIA enjoys an outstanding advantage in its location. By connecting research across China and the world, it both supports strategic local development and provides a knowledge resource for world-class development of the Greater Bay Area. IIA will undertake key national-level scientific and social science research projects in Hong Kong and Mainland China, thereby contributing at both a theoretical and practical level to major national strategy development.

IIA offers first-class disciplinary development within an international environment. Committed to independence and freedom of academic enquiry, it breaks new ground with its training programmes for outstanding talents and is equally committed to the pursuit of academic research.  At the same time, it works closely with government, society and the local community to explore global and national challenges and find solutions to major development problems confronting China and the world. IIA seeks to integrate the experience of China and other countries within a comprehensive social science model.

IIA aims to explore a mechanism that combines teaching, research and policy consultation, as separate but mutually supportive strands. Work will be organized around a core education group which will focus on training programs, a dedicated research group, and smaller project management teams responsible for individual projects. IIA will host international academic seminars and conferences around a selected annual theme. It will host a global visiting scholar program, and will publish its own original research output and learning resources, both online and offline. Drawing on the successful experience of other international research institutions, IIA will provide a powerful platform for interdisciplinary connectivity, linking outstanding established and early-career academics across Hong Kong and Shenzhen, as well as nationally and globally. 

As an integrated teaching, research and policy consultancy platform under the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, the Institute for International Affairs will fully leverage its advantages of location, disciplinary strength and internationalization. It will bring together outstanding young talents in the social sciences from China and abroad, actively develop elite training programmes which provide a global perspective, seek to integrate theory and practise, and create innovative academic connections between China and the world. As it contributes to the advancement of social sciences capacity in the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, IIA will surely play a significant part in furthering mutual connectivity between Chinese and international social science, while building national expertise in social sciences based on China’s own experiences.

IIA boasts world-class faculty, scholars and research staff from international academic backgrounds. Its founding Director is Professor Zheng Yongnian.

For more information. please click: https://iia.cuhk.edu.cn/en