Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences (YASS) was founded in 1980, on the basis of the former Yunnan Provincial Institute of Historical Studies, which was commited to studies of the local history of Yunnan, history and theory of ethnic minorities, and other issues related to ethnic groups living in the province. Since then it has developed into an institute of 10 disciplines through integration of various subjects, with the focus being on studies of Marxism, ethnology, studies of Southeast Asia and South Asia, and economics. Its strength is especially demonstrated in such areas as studies of Southeast Asia and South Asia and ethnology.
With China deepening its reform and opening its door wider to the outside world in the 21 st century, YASS has redefined its goasls and objectives and taken concrete measures to build itself into a topnotch institute of its kind by mobilizing available resources and integrating the strengths of its staff. With priorities clearly defined, it has scored outstanding achievements in academic research and in academic exchange with foreign countries. Finding itself in its heyday, the academy now has under its administration 11 research institutes,8 centers, and 16 task-based work units. Its academic activity covers a range of 4 key disciplines,9 first-class disciplines, and 58 second-class disciplines. Structurally it has 7 managerial departments,2 logistic units and 1 mandatory organization. It also runs 3 publicly-issued academic journals. Presently it has a staff of 365, with 266 of whom being on the job and 99 retired. Its library has a collection of more than 700,000 volumes, ranking the third among libraries of its kind in.the province. The academy also has branches in 12 prefectures and cities, which enable it to keep a close contact with its counterparts at prefectural and municipal levels.
In the last 25 years, YASS has carried out 50 projects sponsored by the National Social Sciences Funds,83 projects planned by Yunnan province, about 40 projects entrusted by central and provincial governments,4 programs in collaboration with institutions of higher learning of Yunnan, more than 30 projects in cooperation with foreign countries,300 projects planned by YASS itself and 200 projects of other kinds. It has published more than 50 monographs,90 reference books, treatise and translated books" 700 research reports and 6600 academic papers. Among them 3 dissertations have won the national "Five- One Project" Award,5 books won the National Book Award, more than 10 projects have been awarded with prizes by various departments of the central government, more than 250 programs have won awards from the provincial government for "Outstanding Achievements in Philosophical and Social Science Studies,4 programs have won the Yunnan Provincial Awards for Science-Technology Advancement and more than 10 papers won prizes for "Treatise par Excellence in Cultural Construction Project of Yunnan Province”
Guidelines:to cary out the policy ofreform and openin9—up in a way to set up core programs of research while consolidating the existing key programs,and to turn out a team of outstanding researchers and produce first—class academic works,and finally to achieve new glories by mobilizing the initiative ofthe staff.
Goals:To build“Four Bases”following the principle of scientific development,SO as to achieve integral and harmonius development ofboth the academy and the individuals,with collective interests and individual interests Well.coordinated,and finally to make YASS a first-class academy of its kind throughout the nation.
Obiectives:to construct“Four Bases”,that is,to make YASS an important base for studies and publicity of Marxism-Leninsm,Mao Zedong Thought,Deng Xiaoping’S theory and Jiang Zeroin9'S theory of the role of the Communist Party,an important base for policy— making consultation for party committees and governments of different levels and
organizations of various fields:all important base for theory and knowledge innovation in the field of philosophical studies and social sciences;and an important base for Yunnan to carry out cooperation and exchange programs with foreign countries.
A11.around Improvement of the Staff:While constructing the“Four bases”, efforts will be made to improve the quality of staff in YAS S by creating conditions and milieu for individual researchers to give full display to their talents and individuality,and following the principle of“man as center of centers”.to make YASS an organization which best enables the staff members t01earn and to improve themselves.