Zhengzhou University (ZZU) founded Henan's first national security research institute in July 2021. Following the approval of a doctoral program in a sub-discipline of national security, ZZU achieved a major milestone in October 2024 by securing a first-level doctoral degree authorization point in national security studies.
The institute, operating under the School of Politics and Public Administration, boasts a strong faculty of 39, including 14 professors. Its leader is a nationally acclaimed scholar with prestigious titles such as leading talent of the National High-Level Personnel of Special Support.
Over the past five years, the team has amassed significant achievements, securing 87 research projects, including three major projects funded by the National Social Science Fund, and earning 12 high-level research awards. The team's publication record is equally strong, with nearly 200 academic papers in leading journals, many of which were reprinted in influential national digests, signifying their broad academic impact. They have also authored 14 scholarly monographs on key topics.
As a pioneer in the region, ZZU has become the first university in Central China to independently admit doctoral candidates in the field of national security studies. Guided by a holistic approach to national security, the institute prioritizes political security, while advancing critical research in cyber sovereignty, food security, and technological security.