With the efforts of all our faculty members and staff over the past half a century, the program of Agricultural and Forestry Economics and Management has grown up to a national wide leading teaching and research program. Our influential research enables SARD the most important research institution typically concerning the basic theory of economic management of Chinese agriculture and forestry with Chinese characteristics. Particularly, SARD has obtained outstanding research achievements in the field of “three dimensional agrarian issues”, which directly affect the central government’s decision for planning and carrying out rural policies in China. Not only has SARD trained a large number of talents for the government in the related field, but also made important contributions to the development of agricultural and forestry economics and management research.

SARD offers undergraduate, master, doctoral, and postdoctoral programs. We have two majors for the undergraduate students: agricultural finance and rural development. We have eight specialized research fields for our master program: agriculture economics and management, forestry economics and management, technology economics and management, rural development, public policy (sustainable development), and food science and engineering, as well as one field for extension master degree. The research concentrations of Ph.D. program include agricultural economics and managements, technology economics and management, rural development, and public policy (sustainable development). The post-doctoral research mainly focuses on agricultural economics and management. The students at SARD can also benefit from taking courses at other outstanding programs at Renmin University of China, such as economics, management, sociology, and law.

Committed to doing research on the theoretical and practical issues on China’s agricultural and rural development, SARD is the most important research center and training base for agriculture related issues. Currently, the faculty members of SARD are undertaking over 100 research projects, with about 30 projects funded by Chinese National Science Foundation and other national research foundations. More than 20 research projects at SARD have received national or other types of awards.

One research tradition of SARD is to combine the theoretical innovations with the practice. The school has proposed a new land economics theory with the key contents of “three block” theory and the price scissors theory between industrial and agricultural products. The school also introduced its new teaching system for agricultural technology economics. Moreover, SARD established a poverty reduction experimental zone in the Taihang Mountains area in 1994. The experiment applied comprehensive rural development theory to the development of poor areas, which created a successful experiment zone for anti-poverty practice.

Also, further international cooperation is another key factor for SARD to make a big breakthrough.  SARD has emphasized on its internationalization since the day of its founding. The school has undertaken over 20 significant international research programs and participated in over 100 international conferences.

Science of economics and management, which directly determines the contributions of theories，is to explain social and economic phenomenon. Undoubtedly, the 21st century will be the China`s century. While the opening market and internationalization are continuing to accelerate the development of China, the critical question is what is the largest explanatory variable of the dramatic development. The theory of "three dimensional agrarian issues" is destined to be the key explanation of China's economic development, and draw the most extensive attentions from both academia and government, due to its specialties in geographic concepts, population and market share. Moderating the three dimensional agrarian issues, and increasing peasant income not only contribute to the acceleration of agricultural and rural economic development, but also maintaining a sustainable, rapid, coordinated and healthy development of the country.

Over the past 60 years, SARD has reached significant achievements and got high honor during the rural transformation and development in China. Tomorrow, SARD will provide a wider academic and research stage for talents all over the world. We have the confidence that more glory for the rise of China's agricultural and rural economy will be achieved.

For More Information:

http://sard.ruc.edu.cn

Yiqiu Xiao, +8610-62511061

Dean’s Message

Welcome to the School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (SARD) at Renmin University of China. SARD is one of the most famous research programs focusing on world-wide agricultural issues and rural development because of its high-level undergraduate and graduate program and outstanding research achievements.

The issues related to agricultural sustainability have been drawing tremendous concerns recently. To meet this demand of training qualified researchers on “three dimensional agrarian issues”, we encourage our students to directly get engaged in field survey after they finish their course work instead of staying in 'ivory towers'.

We strongly believe that excellent scholars are critical to build a solid foundation for our research program. To keep the diversity of our faculty members, we recruit from Asia, America, Africa and Europe. Two renowned professors from Stanford University serve as Cheng Kong Scholar chair professor in our school. Our faculty and students are highly involved in exchange programs overseas.

You are welcomed to visit our website or contact us directly for more information. We warmly welcome outstanding scholars and talented students to join us in various ways!

Tiejun Wen
 
Dean of SARD

School Administration

Dean:
Professor Wen Tiejun：Hosting a comprehensive work of SARD and making strategic plans for the school’s overall development

Chief Executive Dean:
Professor Kong Xiangzhi: Assisting Dean with all-round work of SARD

Associate Deans:
Professor Zheng Fengtian: In charge of post-graduate teaching and research

Professor Zhang Lixiang: In charge of international communication and training programs

Professor Zhu Xinkai: In charge of undergraduate teaching, editorial office and department office.

Ms. Tang Chuanying: In charge of student affairs

History 

In 1950, SRAD was founded as Agricultural Economics Major of the Department of Planned Economics in Renmin University of China.

In 1954, department of Agricultural Economics, the predecessor of SARD, was founded .

In  1978, SARD restarted its normal teaching and research activities once stopped because of the Cultural Revolution period.

In 1985, the undergraduate Major of Land Management started .

In 1986, the Ph.D.  programs in Agricultural Economics, Master  programs in Technological Economics started.

In 1988, Agricultural Economics Program was selected as the national key discipline by former National Educational Committee.

In 1991, SARD established the second Bachelor  Major in Environmental Economics and Management.

In 1993, undergraduate Majors in Real Estate Business Management, Township and Village Enterprises (TVEs) Management were established.

In 1996, the undergraduate Major in Environmental Economics and Management was added.

In 1999, 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 2000.SARD started to provide the Ph. D. programs in the fields of Forestry Economics and Management, Technological Economics and Management.

In 2001, Master and Ph.D. programs in the field of Population, Resources and Environmental Economics were transfered to the newly established School of Environment & Natural Resources.

In 2004,.Rural Development Department of Agricultural Economics was reorganized to the School of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development .

In 2005, SARD was selected as the innovation base of China's rural development in philosophy and social sciences .

In 2007, the Master program of Agricultural Extension was provided.

In 2007, Agricultural Economics Program was selected as the national key discipline by the Ministry of Education for the second time.