The University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) was founded in 1951 and was known at that time as the Beijing Institute of Foreign Trade. In 1960, it was designated as a "key university" by the government for its outstanding programs.
In May 1997, UIBE was put on the list of "Project 211" universities, a governmental program aimed at turning about 100 Chinese universities into exceptionally high quality academic institutions in the new century.
UIBE was under the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (now known as the Ministry of Commerce) until 1999. Then in 2000, UIBE became one of the state universities under the leadership of the Ministry of Education, and in June the same year, UIBE merged with the China Institute of Finance and is recognized in China as one of the leaders in the studies of business and finance.
UIBE consists of the following Schools: International Trade and Economics; Finance, International Business Management; International Studies; Foreign Languages; Law; Sino-German; Continuing Education; Humanities and Public Administration Management; Information Management; International Education; and Department of Insurance and Department of Graduate Studies.
Among the over 30 bachelor, master and doctoral programs that UIBE offers, International Trade, International Economic Law, English Language and International Business Management have been designated as key programs under "Project 211".
In December 1989, UIBE became the first university in China to have a Board of Trustees composed of members from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, Bank of China, People's Insurance Company of China, Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce, etc. Li Lanqing, the former Vice-Premier of the State Council, took the chair for its first session, and Wu Yi, Vice-Premier of the State Council, chaired the Board for its second session.
At present, UIBE has a total enrollment of more than 21,000 students coming from 30 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China as well as from over 30 countries and regions in the world. The university invites dozens of foreign academic professionals to teach or lecture every year in addition to its 1,600 teaching and administrative staff members who carry out its regular curricula.
UIBE is one of the first universities in China to have initiated academic exchanges with foreign academic institutions. Currently UIBE has exchange programs with over 60 universities and institutes in more than 20 countries or regions, including the United States, Canada, Britain, Germany, France, Finland, Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and Russia.
UIBE has produced many outstanding graduates in the past few decades. Many of them are now playing active roles in promoting business and economic cooperation between China and other countries. UIBE wants to help students develop bright futures and so welcomes the new enrollment.
