From a single school focused on Russian, blossomed Shanghai International Studies University. It’s incredible to think that SISU, as it’s affectionately known, started so modestly. Shanghai International Studies University was founded in December 1949 as the Shanghai Russian School. The need for Russian speakers was critical then. The newly formed People’s Republic of China sought to learn from the Soviet Union’s experience with socialist construction. Shanghai’s mayor, Chen Yi, championed the school’s creation, and Jiang Chunfang, a prominent Russian translator, became its first president.
Shanghai International Studies University’s initial focus was narrow, specializing in Russian language and literature. Graduates primarily became translators, interpreters, and teachers. But the world was changing, and so was SISU. In 1950, Shanghai International Studies University expanded to include English programs. It was renamed the Shanghai Foreign Language College. Recognizing the growing importance of Asia, a Department of Oriental Languages and Literatures was added in 1951, offering Burmese, Vietnamese, and Indonesian. The campus moved to its current Hongkou location on Tiyuhui Road East.
A period of restructuring followed. Shanghai International Studies University, then the Shanghai Russian College, refined its teaching, shifting from basic training to formal education. Soviet experts helped develop new textbooks and syllabi. By 1956, Shanghai International Studies University boasted a faculty of 241, a mix of Chinese and Soviet instructors. Almost 4,000 students had passed through its doors, equipping them to play crucial roles in China’s engagement with the world.
Shanghai International Studies University officially became the Shanghai Foreign Language Institute in 1956, adding French and German programs. It received national recognition in 1963, designated a key national university by the State Council. With China’s opening up in the late 1970s, Shanghai International Studies University broadened its scope further. New programs in journalism, trade, law, and business emerged. The goal was to cultivate professionals fluent in multiple languages and equipped with the skills to navigate the complexities of international relations. Shanghai International Studies University even began offering doctoral degrees in English and Russian in 1983.
Finally, in 1994, it became Shanghai International Studies University, the institution we know today. It was jointly overseen by the state and Shanghai municipality. Recognized for its excellence, it became part of “Project 211,” a national initiative to support leading universities. A new campus in Songjiang was added in 2000. Shanghai International Studies University’s motto, “Integrity, Vision and Academic Excellence,” captures the essence of its transformation from a small language school to a renowned global university.