Taking as its philosophy “To study the world, to explore the way ahead, to learn through experience the order of things, and to govern wisely with sound statecraft”, the the Institute for International Affairs strives to be a think tank of strategic importance in academic and policy research. Based in Shenzhen, it will provide insightful and timely policy analysis and consultancy for the central as well as the local government, and train outstanding talents to take on a nuanced national and a global perspective. It seeks to become an international academic platform with profound global influence, in research fields including the Greater Bay Area integration, the South China common market, China’s reform and opening up, maritime economics, international strategy and affairs, and global development.

As part of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen)—an institution on the front line of national reform and opening up—the Advanced Institute enjoys a marked advantage in its location. By connecting research across China and the world, it supports strategic local development and provides a knowledge resource for world-class development of the Greater Bay Area. The Advanced Institute will undertake key national-level scientific and social science research projects in Hong Kong and Mainland China, thereby contributing at both a theoretical and practical level to major national strategy development.

The Institute offers first-class disciplinary development within an internationally-oriented environment. Committed to independence and freedom of academic enquiry, it breaks new ground with its training programmes for outstanding talents and is equally committed to the pursuit of not only policy-oriented but academic research as well. At the same time, it works closely with the government, society, and the local community to explore global and national challenges and find solutions to major development problems confronting China and the world. The Advanced Institute seeks to integrate the experience of China and other countries within a comprehensive social science framework.

The Institute aims to explore a mechanism that combines teaching, research, and policy consultation, as separate but mutually supportive streams for bringing together policymakers and scholars. Work will be organized around a core education group that will focus on training programmes, a dedicated research group, and smaller project management teams responsible for individual projects. The Advanced Institute will host international academic seminars and conferences around a selected annual theme. It will host a global visiting scholar programme and will publish its own original research output and provide learning resources, both online and offline. Drawing on the successful experience of other international research institutions, the Advanced Institute will provide a powerful platform for interdisciplinary connectivity, linking outstanding established and early-career academics across Hong Kong and Shenzhen, as well as nationally and globally.

As an integrated teaching, research, and policy consultancy platform under the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), the Institute for International  Affairs will fully leverage its advantages of location, disciplinary strength, and internationalization. It will bring together outstanding young talents in the social sciences from China and abroad, actively develop elite training programmes which provide a global perspective, seek to integrate theory and practice, and create innovative academic connections between China and the world. As it contributes to the advancement of social sciences in the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), the Institute will surely play a significant part in furthering mutual connectivity between Chinese and international social science, while building national expertise in social sciences based on China’s own experiences.