The Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Development at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, colloquially known as "the Institute," had its genesis as the Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Development at Huazhong University of Science and Technology (China - South), established on the auspicious date of December 31, 2012. Capitalizing on the formidable academic resources and research prowess of its parent university, the Institute has taken on the mantle of propelling China's endeavors in poverty alleviation and regional development, emerging as a preeminent academic entity in the realm of poverty alleviation and development research. Professor Wang Zongjun, a luminary from the School of Management, helms the Institute as Dean, with the esteemed Professor Chen Pinglu serving as Deputy Dean.
The Institute has successfully convened a cadre of interdisciplinary scholars from esteemed units such as the School of Management, the School of Health Management and Economics at Tongji Medical College, the School of Economics, the School of Public Administration, and the School of Sociology at Huazhong University of Science and Technology. With vigor, the Institute partakes in the refinement of poverty alleviation strategies, the dissemination of policies, the execution of investigative research, and the facilitation of educational workshops, all while stewarding the publication of the esteemed quarterly, "Poverty Alleviation and Development Research." In its research endeavors, the Institute has spearheaded pivotal projects, including those endorsed by the National Social Science Fund, the State Council's Poverty Alleviation Office, and the Hubei Provincial Poverty Alleviation Office. It has been instrumental in crafting the "Thirteenth Five-Year" poverty alleviation and eradication blueprints for local governments and has been at the forefront of research and advisory services for targeted poverty alleviation initiatives. The Institute's noteworthy triumphs in "Research on Several Issues of China's Post-2020 Poverty Alleviation Mechanism—Health Poverty Alleviation Sub-project" and "A Specific Practice of Targeted Poverty Alleviation in a Direct Ethnic Village" have earned commendations from past national leadership. During the pivotal moments of the poverty alleviation crusade, Professor Tan Shibin, then the Deputy Dean, was appointed to the State Council's Leading Group on Poverty Alleviation and Development Consulting Committee, which is the pinnacle of expertise in the field. The Institute's contributions to national and provincial endeavors in poverty alleviation and the execution of targeted poverty alleviation strategies in Hubei have been both substantive and impactful.
The National Summary and Commendation Conference on Poverty Alleviation in 2021 marked a seminal moment with its declaration of China's comprehensive triumph over poverty. As the nation strides into a new epoch of consolidating and amplifying the gains of poverty alleviation, seamlessly intertwining them with the revitalization of rural areas, the Institute upholds its founding principle of "focusing on poverty alleviation and development, in service of national strategies." It remains steadfast in its commitment to the Chinese context while also being receptive to global wisdom, tirelessly addressing pressing issues within the sphere of poverty alleviation and development. The Institute is poised to offer strategic counsel aimed at the modernization of the national governance framework and competencies. Moreover, it is poised to delve into the intricacies of global governance, fostering extensive international dialogue and collaboration, thereby enriching the global initiative for a community with a shared future for all.
