Cooperation

Leiden University has long had a special interest in and relationship with China.

Cooperation with China today

Joint projects with China are found across many institutes and all faculties of Leiden University and encompass cooperation with more than 20 Chinese universities. In addition, developments in China are studied by a growing number of Leiden University institutes, centers and programmes.

Programme for cooperation

In order to deepen cooperation with Chinese partner universities, Leiden University has launched it's University-wide programme for cooperation with China that seeks to develop joint research and education programmes that can make a difference in terms of innovation and impact. The implementation of this programme is overseen by the Leiden University China Region Group, in which all Faculties are represented. The China Region Group is chaired by Prof. Jasper Knoester, Dean of the Faculty of Science.

Long and special relationship with China

Leiden University has long had a special interest in and relationship with China. In 1857 the first two students from Leiden went to China to study the Chinese language. Leiden was the first university in the Netherlands to establish a Chair in Chinese Language in 1877, and the only Dutch university that developed a department of Sinology and a library for Chinese studies that became leading in the Western world. More on the history of China studies at Leiden University can be found in The Early Dutch Sinologists.