Overview
The School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (SARD) at Renmin University of China was founded in 2004 and its predecessor was the Department of Agricultural Economics established in 1954. The School, selected as national key discipline by former National Education Committee in 1988, is recognized nationally for quality of its research and for the strength of its undergraduate and graduate programs in the fields of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development.
SARD provides undergraduate and master, Ph. D. degree programs. There are over 260 students in 2004, among whom 65 % are undergraduates and 35% are graduates. In the past 50 years, more than 3000 students have been graduated from this school.
SARD has 7 research institutes and centers, including Rural Development Institute, Land Economics Institute, Real Estate Research Center, Rural Enterprises Development Institute, World Bank's Development Theory Research Center, Western China Development Center, and Rural ReConstruction Center which was newly established in 2004.
SARD pays great attention to international exchange and cooperation, and established close academic relations with a number of research institutes, universities in United States, Europe, Japan, Korea and other countries.
SARD engages in policy research for government, provides consultant service for agribusiness, carries out multi-level training service, and regards serving our society as its important responsibility.
Dean’s Message
Welcome to the School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (SARD) at Renmin University of China. SARD is referred to as one of the famous schools focusing on agricultural economics and rural development in the Chinese universities for its high-level undergraduate and graduate program and outstanding research achievement.
As we know, rural China, the one of the most important areas, is also one of the fastest growing. So, our faculty and student are asked to be directly engaged in field survey after they finish their course studying. Our academics are valued for their pursuit of academic research that is relevant to the needs of rural development in China; we demand that they do not live in 'ivory towers' but that their research has impact in the world beyond academia.
We firmly believe that a first-class faculty is essential for keeping our school attracting. We recruited such faculty from China, Japan, America and Europe. We have visiting professors from Stanford University and the University of South California, etc. to give lectures to graduate students. We also send such faculty to be a visiting scholar in the U.S., the Netherlands, Canada and Japan.
I hope you will find our website useful in finding out more about what we offer, who we are and what impact we are having on the field of agricultural economics and rural development. Warmly welcome outstanding scholars and talent students to join us, either as a student, a member of faculty, a partner company, and an employer of our graduates, a research partner or in numerous other ways.
Tiejun Wen
Dean of SARD
School Administration
Honorary Dean:
Professor Du Runsheng
Dean:
Professor Wen Tiejun
Deputy Deans:
Professor Kong Xiangzhi
Professor Zeng Yinchu
Professor Zheng Fengtian
Chairman of the School Council:
Professor Kong Xiangzhi
Vice Chairman of the School Council:
Mrs. Tang Chuanying
History
In 1950, SRAD Started as Agricultural Economics Major of the Department of Plan Economics in Renmin University of China. Department of Agricultural Economics, the predecessor of SARD was found in 1954. In the Cultural Revolution period, SARD stopped its normal teaching and research activities until recovery in 1987.
After 1987, SARD developed speedily. The undergraduate Major of Land Management started in 1985 and the Ph. D. degree programs in Agricultural Economics, Master degree programs in Technological Economics started in 1986. In 1988, Agricultural Economics Program was selected as the national key discipline by former National Educational Committee.
In 1990s, SARD established the second Bachelor degree Major in Environmental Economics and Management, undergraduate Majors in Real Estate Business Management, Township and Village Enterprises (TVEs) Management, and Environmental Economics and Management. The undergraduate Major in Agricultural Economics was renamed as Agricultural, Forestry Economics and Management and the undergraduate Major in Environmental Economics and Management was renamed as Public Administration in 1999.
SARD started to provide the Ph. D. degree program in the fields of Forestry Economics and Management, Technological Economics and Management, Master and Ph.D. degree program in the field of Population, Resources and Environmental Economics, and the undergraduate Major in Rural Development in 2000. Department of Agricultural Economics was reorganized to the School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development in 2004.
