Contact
China Open-Source Research Course for Rising China Specialists
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR THE OCTOBER 22-24 COURSE
Apply here: Application Portal
Overview
Against the backdrop of intensifying strategic competition between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC), access to knowledge and data materials in and from China is an essential component of informed policymaking. However, tightening censorship, heightened control of information flows, and restrictions on scholarly and people-to-people exchanges, pose unique yet familiar challenges for outside observers to access and use primary sources. It is crucial to invest in tools to overcome information barriers and use skillsets to improve analytical capacity and decision making across U.S. society.
The China Open-Source Research Course for Rising China Specialists is a three-day professional development course to train the next generation of analysts in how to conduct open-source research and analysis on China.
Nadège Rolland
Distinguished Fellow, China Studies
Through a combination of traditional and innovative open-source research techniques and methods—from parsing and interpreting authoritative documents or satellite imagery, to applying forensic procedures and other analytical tools—the course will ensure the participants’ sustained ability to conduct research despite increasing barriers.
Key Personnel
The course is directed by Nadège Rolland, NBR’s Distinguished Fellow in China Studies. Featuring 11 sessions led by eminent China experts from academia, government, media, and the private sector, participants will be afforded an unparalleled range of experience and insights on and how to conduct professional China-related research.
| The Chinese Party-State as an Organization |
| The Institutions and Producers of Knowledge in China |
| Evolution of Sinology in the United States since 1949 |
| Sources and Methods for Researching China |
| Tracking China’s Communist Party Elite Politics |
| Researching the Chinese Economy and Trade Statistics |
| Researching China’s People’s Liberation Army |
| Monitoring China’s United Front Work and International Networks |
| Uncovering China’s Nuclear Modernization Efforts |
| Exposing China’s Industrial Espionage and Intellectual Property Theft |
| Unpacking China’s Domestic United Front Work |
Course Eligibility
- Recent or current MA or PhD Student (seniors and recent graduates from undergraduate programs will be considered for admission).
- Intermediate to advanced Chinese-language proficiency (a brief language proficiency exam will be conducted for all applicants prior to admission).
- Academic or professional interest and background in China studies, U.S.-China relations, U.S. foreign policy, and national security.
- Must currently reside in the United States, irrespective of citizenship status.
Application Process
The next offering of the course is scheduled for October 22-24, 2024.
Interested applicants can apply HERE.
The deadline to apply is September 18. This course has limited openings and is free of charge for applicants who meet the course eligibility criteria. All applicants will learn of their application results following the deadline.
| Sign up to receive updates when upcoming course dates are announced. |