About us

The University of Sydney China Studies Centre started operations in January 2011. Our principal goal is to provide the University of Sydney with coordination and direction to the study of China and interaction with it.

The study of China is crucial for the development of tertiary education in Australia. Apart from the obvious and direct impact of China’s economic growth on life in Australia, one in eight of Sydney’s residents is Chinese. China is one of the world’s great civilisations, alongside the European and Middle Eastern traditions.

For contemporary academics, the integration of China into systems of knowledge and analysis is a great and potentially fruitful challenge.

The China Studies Centre has a unique opportunity to make a major contribution in this area. Being based at the University of Sydney, the centre is able to tap into the great minds of more than 150 academic staff working across all major disciplines.

The China Studies Centre’s 17 academic groups facilitate cross-disciplinary research collaboration on wide-ranging themes of relevance to China. This knowledge informs the initiatives of the University as well as business, government and community groups in Australia and China. We aim to:

• develop an international centre of excellence for research on China
• develop high-quality programs of teaching and learning, especially those building cross-disciplinary approaches to the study of China
• provide support to the academic activities of the University’s students and staff in China
• develop networks in Australia and China for deeper and broader engagement with government, business and society
• encourage informed discussion and outreach to Australian and Chinese societies, to help us know each other better and prosper together.

Our focus and approach

The China Studies Centre is a significant strategic endeavour of the University of Sydney to harness its existing expertise in a wide range of disciplines across the University to provide a greater understanding of China and its impact on local, regional and global affairs.

The China Studies Centre’s primary intellectual goal is to foster the study of China from multiple scholarly perspectives in order to expand and deepen our knowledge of China’s rapidly changing economy, society, culture and history in its many diverse and complex manifestations.

The China Studies Centre encourages, organizes and publishes research in China Studies; develops and delivers cross-disciplinary programs of postgraduate research and education in China Studies; facilitates community engagement with the Centre’s scholarly activities and acts as an informed voice in Australia-China relations.

The University of Sydney has the longest history of academic endeavour in China Studies, and the largest number of academics undertaking China related research, of any university in Australia. The Centre will utilize these resources fully in pursuing its objectives of promoting and delivering cross-disciplinary research and teaching.

Working with the New South Wales government

Barry O'Farrell, Premier of NSW

The University of Sydney’s China Studies Centre works with the support of the Government of New South Wales to develop relations between Australia and the People’s Republic of China.

"As the Premier of NSW, I congratulate the University of Sydney and its China Studies Centre for their leading role in harnessing expertise across a wide range of disciplines to provide a greater understanding of China and its impact on local, regional and global affairs. The China Studies Centre is a good example of the contribution our universities, both in NSW and in China, can make to help understand the social, cultural and economic environment, and to identify emerging trends and opportunities. The NSW Government is delighted to be working with the China Studies Centre."

Barry O'Farrell
Premier of NSW