Russian Economic Education in China (1920–1945)

• Xu Hong

  Xu Hong. Harbin Institute of Technology. Harbin. China

• Khisamutdinova N.V.

  Natalia V. Khisamutdinova. Vladivostok State University. Vladivostok. Russia

This study explores the development of Russian economic education in China, driven by two primary factors: the need to address economic challenges related to the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER) and the expansion of international trade, as well as the arrival of a significant number of Russian refugees, including economists. Their prior experience in teaching economic disciplines at Russian universities ensured continuity in both the content of economic courses and the broader approach to training specialists capable of solving economic problems across various fields. Economic specialization was primarily offered at the Faculty of Law (Higher Economic and Legal Courses, 1920–1922) and the Institute of Oriental and Commercial Sci ences (1925–1934) in Harbin, though it was also present in several other institutions. The study highlights the regional characteristics of Russian economic education in China, particularly its strong focus on Oriental studies, which was common to all Russian educational institutions in the country at the time. This included mandatory instruction in Eastern languages and courses covering regional topics such as the history, geography, politics, economy, and legal systems of Far Eastern countries. The article also presents information on the academic interests and bio graphical details of economics faculty members. The research draws upon Russian-language press publications in China and archival materials. The study concludes that the organization of Russian economic education in China offers valuable lessons that remain relevant for training economic specialists in modern Russian universities. Key takeaways include the incorporation of Oriental studies into curricula and the emphasis on maintaining close regional educational ties with neighboring countries. Keywords: economic education, Russians in China, Harbin, Higher Economic and Legal Courses, Faculty of Law, Institute of Oriental and Commercial Sciences, Chinese Eastern Railway, CER Economic Bureau.