Established in 2003, the School of Public Affairs at Xiamen University currently has 67 full-time faculty members, including 23 professors, 25 associate professors, and 19 assistant professors. The majority have international academic or research experience, contributing to a globally engaged and research-intensive faculty community.
The School comprises four academic units: the Department of Political Science, the Department of Public Administration, the MPA Education Center, and the Institute of Psychology. It is authorized to offer doctoral and master’s programs, as well as postdoctoral research stations, in two national first-tier disciplines—Political Science and Public Administration. Additionally, it offers PhD programs in specialized subfields, including Public Policy and Cognition and Public Service, along with a professional Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree program.
The School hosts multiple high-level research platforms, including the New Zealand Research Center—an institution officially registered with China’s Ministry of Education—and several provincial-level research centers. These platforms position the School at the nexus of academic inquiry and real-world governance, enabling it to respond directly to national and local policy priorities. Over the past decade, the School has undertaken more than 200 policy-oriented research projects commissioned by central government ministries and local authorities across Fujian Province and beyond. The School has delivered over 200 high-quality research and policy advisory reports, many of which have received formal endorsements from leaders at the national and provincial/ministerial levels—affirming its standing as a leading think tank in public affairs.
Leveraging Xiamen University’s strengths in interdisciplinary integration, the School anchors its work in China’s public administration practices and is dedicated to advancing the professional competencies of public officials. It has systematically developed a forward-looking, pioneering, and nationally recognized training system for public sector leadership.
Looking ahead, the School is committed to becoming a globally influential institution in public affairs, harnessing Chinese wisdom to advance both national governance and global public service.
