The School of Arabic Studies of BFSU was first established as the Arabic Language Program in 1958 and became the Arabic Department in 1981. The department started to offer China’s first postgraduate program and doctoral program in Arabic language and literature respectively in 1981 and 1986. It was identified as one of Beijing’s key disciplines in 2002. In 2007, it was identified as a key discipline by the Ministry of Education. In June 2015, the Arabic Department was renamed as the School of Arabic Studies.

For over half a century, the School of Arabic Studies has made remarkable achievements, with tireless efforts of several generations of professors such as Prof. Na Zhong and Prof. Yu Zhangrong. Now the School offers a rich variety of academic programs, boasts a strong faculty and high-level teaching and research capacities, and ranks top among its Chinese peers. The School currently has 17 teaching and administrative staff members, including 4 full professors, and 4 associate professors. 8 faculty members have PhD degree. Professor Firas Sawah from Syria, as one of our faculty, is a well known scholar in the Arab world with many works to his credit.

Over the years, more than 2000 students have graduated from the School of Arabic Studies. With good language competence, profound academic knowledge and strong capabilities, they have been active in many fields related to foreign affairs and won a good reputation for the School. In the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs alone, more than half of Arabic speaking staff are graduates from our School, including Vice Minister Zhang Ming, and over 30 ambassadors and dozens of counselors. At present, the School has 190 students enrolled in our undergraduate programs, 44 in our master’s programs and 10 in our doctoral programs.

The School has traditionally excelled in such research fields as Arabic language, literature and culture. In order to broaden our academic horizon, pool academic resources and better combine our academic research with national needs, we have recently set up three research centers — Zayed Center for Arabic Language and Islamic Studies, Sino-Arabic Media Exchange Center, and Center for Middle East Studies.

The School of Arabic Studies maintains close cooperation with over 10 prestigious universities from the Arab world, such as Lebanese University, Ain Shams University, Suez Canal University, Université Hassan II of Morocco, Algeria Second University, UAE University, Zayed University of UAE. Each year our faculties and students are sent to have short-term exchange and study in well-known universities and academic institutions in the U.S., U.K., Israel and so on.

Today, the School of Arabic Studies is seen as a cradle for top-level professionals with Arabic language competence, a center for Arabic studies, a platform for the spread of Chinese culture to the Arab world, and a bridge of friendship between the Chinese and Arabic people.