Regional Snapshot: Asia

In addition to maintaining a wide network of research partners and initiatives, Pitt offers numerous opportunities for students and faculty to study or work abroad, learn languages, and focus on a global education no matter their area of study.

Featured Partnerships

The University of Pittsburgh currently has approximately 70 agreements with partner institutions in Asia as of Fall 2022. Key partners in this region include:

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Website: https://www.ucis.pitt.edu/global/pints
University Lead: Global Studies Center (GSC)

 

Administered by the Global Studies Center with support from the Provost's Office, the PiNTS network convenes diverse local and national partner organizations to bring threatened scholars, artists, and practitioners to Pitt and to Pittsburgh. The program aims to provide scholars with safe and stable working and living environments as a way of helping them to regain their footing, rebuild their professional networks, and reset their careers.

 

By leveraging the Provost's funding with GSC endowment monies and partnerships with national organizations like the Artist Protection Fund and the Scholar Rescue Fund, PiNTS provides its visitors with salaries, benefits, visa and other legal assistance, and help acclimating to University and local life. Through membership of the New University in Exile Consortium, PiNTS provides scholars with intellectual and professional development opportunities and a network for engagement with similarly situated colleagues around the world. Scholars work with Pitt faculty and students – as teachers, interlocutors, and colleagues – and contribute to the rich intellectual life of the University.

 

Past scholars include a political scientist from Turkey, a Vietnamese rock star and free speech activist, a Congolese documentary filmmaker, and a Cuban dissident couple (a writer and a women’s rights activist). PiNTS also has emergency efforts underway to assist scholars displaced as a result of the changing political situation in Afghanistan.

Location: Beijing, China
Website: https://www.ruc.edu.cn/
University Lead: Asian Studies Center (ASC)

 

Renmin University of China is a prestigious, research-oriented, comprehensive university renowned for its work in humanities and social sciences. The institution sits under the Ministry of Education of China and is jointly financed and supported by both the Ministry of Education and the Beijing Municipal People’s government. Per the 2021 QS World University Ranking by Subject, Renmin University was ranked among the top 40 in the world for Philosophy, top 51 in legal studies and law, and top 100 in arts and humanities related subjects.

 

Active Formalized Agreements:

  • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) through the University Center for International Studies’ Asian Study Center (ASC)
  • Cooperative Agreement through the University Center for International Studies’ Asian Studies Center (ASC)

 

Featured Program:

The Pittsburgh-Renmin Joint Seed Fund offers grants to faculty of up to $10,000 to facilitate joint research and publication projects between faculty at University of Pittsburgh and Renmin University. While the scope of these collaborations are wide, preference is given to projects with a focus on: Green Supply Chains; Impact/ Management of urban environments on sustainability and health outcomes; Research in the areas of transportation and connectivity, and Food-energy-water connections.

Location: Seoul, South Korea
Website: https://en.snu.ac.kr/
University Lead: Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA)

 

Founded in 1946, Seoul National is a national public research university consistently considered to be a top institution in Asia. In 2023, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranked Seoul National 17th in Asia and 29th in the world. The university is made up of sixteen colleges, one graduate school, and nine professional schools and (as of the AY22-23) boasts nearly 17,000 undergraduate and 11,000 graduate students. SNU’s vision focuses on fostering global convergence talent; building an innovative knowledge ecosystem; creating knowledge-based social values; and establishing a foundation for sustainable university development.

 

Active Formalized Agreements:

  • Memorandum of Understanding
  • Cooperative Program Agreement through Pitt’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA)
  • Undergraduate Exchange Agreement
  • Graduate Exchange Agreement

 

Featured Program:

The University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) has worked with Seoul National to develop a cooperative degree-conferring graduate student program. This program enables students from Pitt’s Maters of Public Policy and Management program and Seoul National’s Mater of Public Administration program to earn credits toward their degrees by taking courses at the partner institution for one academic year. This program provides valuable hands-on experience to globally-minded scholars.

Location: Xi’an, China
Website: https://english.snnu.edu.cn/
University Lead: Asian Studies Center (ASC)

Directly administered by the Ministry of Education of China and sometimes referred to as the “Cradle of Teachers”, Shaanxi Normal University is a major hub for training teachers and administrators of higher education institutions, secondary schools, and other high-level professionals. In 2022, the University reported over 17,700 full time undergraduate students, 20,000+ postgraduate students, 48,000+ students in continuous education and long-distance learning programs, and approximately 800 international students.

 

Active Formalized Agreements:

  • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) through the University Center for International Studies’ Asian Studies Center (ASC)

 

Featured Program:

The University of Pittsburgh is privileged to engage with Shaanxi Normal University in continued research on public health conditions in rural villages in China as well in the areas of student and faculty exchange. We have completed three major grants on public health issues in rural areas, including work on infant nutrition and standard patient care.

 

Yaojiang Shi, a Professor of Economics at Shaanxi Normal University is currently serving as a visiting scholar at Pitt’s Institute for International Studies in Education (IISE) and is the founding Director of the Center for Experimental Economics in Education (CEEE). He is the Principal Director responsible for “The Development of an Innovative Think Tank with International Experts to Build Rural Human Capital in Impoverished Western China,” a 111 project fund supported by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.

 

His research focuses on the experimental economics of rural education and development. Through field surveys, policy experiments, and randomized controlled trials, he has led the implementation of more than 50 projects in areas of health, nutrition & education; early child development; technology and human capital; teaching; and public health.

Location: Quezon City, Philippines
Website: https://upd.edu.ph/
University Lead: Asian Studies Center (ASC) and Dr. Maggie McDonald - Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic and Global Affairs

The University of the Philippines Diliman is a modern research university advancing sustainable, innovative, and people-centered national development. This public mission is carried out by a socially engaged community that prioritizes honor, excellence, and integrity in all areas of research and education. The University currently has approximately 17,500 undergraduate, 8,800 graduate, and 1,175 JD students as of academic year 2022-2023.

 

Active Formalized Agreements:

  • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) through the Senior Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences
  • Cooperative Agreement the University Center for International Studies’ Asian Studies Center (ASC)

 

Featured Program:

Center faculty are currently working with UPD faculty on a number of research projects in the social sciences including research on Overseas Filipino Workers, international relations, and economic development.