Recently, the Alliance for Talent Training and Discipline Construction of Area Studies in Universities, referred to as “Gaomen-g,” released the Regional and Country Studies Fundamental Competitiveness of Disciplines Top 100 (2022–2023). Guizhou University (GZU) has earned a spot on this national Top 100 list with a “B-” rating, recognized for its strong disciplinary strengths in Southeast Asian studies and proactive innovative practices. As the only institution from Guizhou Province to make the list, this acknowledgment signifies the university’s entry into the top tier of Western China’s higher education institutions for area studies, highlighting its significant progress in developing emerging disciplines.
Since Area Studies was formally approved as a first-level interdisciplinary discipline in September 2022, GZU has seized the opportunity to advance the field. By leveraging the academic platform of the ASEAN Research Institute (a Key Research Institute of Regional and Country Studies under the Ministry of Education) and building on the disciplinary strengths of its nationally recognized “Political Science and Public Administration” program, the university has integrated multidisciplinary resources—including international relations, linguistics, history, big data, and environmental science—to establish a distinctive “Southeast Asian Studies” research cluster.
Guizhou University’s area studies research features the following innovative aspects:
Historical Relations and Country Studies within Southeast Asia
Sustainable Development in Southeast Asian Countries and Regions
Sustainable Governance in Southeast Asian Countries and Regions
Language Data Mining and Educational-Cultural Development in Southeast Asia
Over the years, through interdisciplinary collaboration and synergy between industry, academia, and research, the university has cultivated a three-in-one disciplinary development model: “Basic Research-Policy Consultation-International Cooperation.” This framework provides intellectual support for China’s neighboring diplomatic strategies and deepens China-ASEAN cooperation.
In the long run, GZU will leverage this Top 100 recognition to strengthen its disciplinary positioning: “Rooted in Southwest China, Engaging ASEAN, Serving the Nation.” The university plans to increase research investment, expand research teams, and broaden research scopes. It will conduct in-depth studies on regionally distinctive and nationally strategic topics such as green governance, poverty reduction cooperation, digital connectivity, and educational exchange. Through these efforts, the university aims to contribute meaningfully to China’s neighborhood diplomacy and the construction of a “China-ASEAN Community with a Shared Future.”
Editor: Zhang Chan
Chief Editor: Li Xufeng
Senior Editor: Ding Long
Translator: Li Xiaorong
